Fixing “Failed to Enumerate Objects in the Container” Error on Windows 10

The “Failed to Enumerate Objects in the Container. Access is denied” error message can be frustrating, as it prevents you from accessing files or folders. This error typically occurs due to permission issues. Here are some steps you can try to fix it:

1. Take Ownership of the File or Folder:

This method grants you full control over the affected file or folder. Here’s how:

• Right-click on the problematic file or folder and select Properties.
• Click the Security tab.
• Click Advanced.
• Click Change next to the “Owner” under “Owner”.
• In the “Enter the object name to select” field, type your username (e.g., your Microsoft account name) and click Check Names. Click OK.
• Select the checkbox for “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and “Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object”.
• Click Apply and then OK.

2. Run the Application as Administrator:

If you’re trying to access the file or folder through an application, try running it as an administrator. This can grant the application the necessary permissions:

• Right-click on the application’s shortcut and select Run as administrator.

3. Disable User Account Control (UAC) Temporarily (Not Recommended):

Warning: Disabling UAC can make your computer more vulnerable to malware and unauthorized changes. Only use this method as a last resort and re-enable UAC after fixing the issue.

• Search for “UAC” in the Windows search bar.
• Click “Change User Account Control settings”.
• Move the slider down to “Never notify” (not recommended) and click OK.
• Restart your computer.
• Try accessing the file or folder again.
• Remember to re-enable UAC by following the same steps and moving the slider back to its original position.

4. Use Safe Mode:

Booting into Safe Mode can help troubleshoot the issue by starting Windows with only the essential drivers and services. Here’s how:

• Open the Start menu and click on the Power icon.
• Hold down the Shift key while clicking Restart.
• Click on Troubleshoot.
• Select Advanced options.
• Click on Startup Settings.
• Click Restart.
• After restarting, you’ll see a list of options. Choose Safe Mode (using the appropriate number key or F key).
• Once in Safe Mode, try accessing the file or folder again.
• After you’re done, restart your computer normally.

5. Check for Disk Errors:

Corrupted disk sectors can also cause this error. Run a disk check to identify and fix any issues:

• Open File Explorer.
• Right-click on the drive containing the problematic file or folder and select Properties.
• Click on the Tools tab.
• Under “Error checking”, click Check.
• Choose both options: “Automatically fix file system errors” and “Scan for and attempt to recover bad sectors”.
• Click Start.

6. Update Drivers and System:

Outdated drivers or system files can sometimes cause permission issues. Updating them might resolve the problem:

• For drivers: Open Device Manager, right-click on each relevant driver (e.g., disk drive, display adapter), and select “Update driver”.
• For system updates: Open Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update and click “Check for updates”. Install any available updates.

7. System Restore (if applicable):

If the error started recently and you haven’t made significant changes to your system, System Restore can revert your system to a point before the issue occurred.

• Search for “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar.
• Click on “Create a restore point”.
• Click on “System Restore…”.
• Choose a restore point from a date before the error started and follow the on-screen instructions.

8. Seek Professional Help:

If none of these solutions work, consider seeking help from a qualified computer technician. They can diagnose the issue further and provide a more specific solution.

Remember: It’s important to try these steps one at a time and restart your computer after each attempted fix to see if the problem persists.