As a Windows user, you might have come across a situation where you are denied permission to access or modify certain files or folders. In such cases, you need to take ownership of the file to gain full control over it. However, taking ownership of files can be a tedious task, especially when you need to do it frequently. To simplify this process, you can add “Take Ownership” to the right-click menu in Windows Explorer.

Here’s how you can add “Take Ownership” to the right-click menu in Windows Explorer.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

Click on the Start menu and type “regedit” in the search bar. Click on “Regedit” from the search results to open the Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to the right registry key

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell

Step 3: Create a new key

Right-click on the “shell” key in the left pane and select “New” > “Key.” Name the new key “TakeOwnership.”

Step 4: Create a new command key

Right-click on the “TakeOwnership” key you just created and select “New” > “Key.” Name the new key “command.”

Step 5: Update the Registry

Double-click on the “(Default)” value in the right pane of the “command” key. In the “Value data” field, enter the following command:

cmd.exe /c takeown /f “%1” && icacls “%1” /grant administrators:F

Click “OK” to save the changes.

Step 6: Test the new option

Close the Registry Editor and open Windows Explorer. Right-click on any file or folder and you should now see the “Take Ownership” option in the context menu. Click on it to take ownership of the file or folder.

In conclusion, adding “Take Ownership” to the right-click menu in Windows Explorer can save you a lot of time and effort. With just a simple right-click, you can gain full control over any file or folder. However, be cautious when making changes to the Windows Registry and always create a backup before proceeding.