How to Add “Take Ownership” Option to File or Folder Context Menu in Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Windows 8

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NOTE: This article has been featured by Microsoft. AskVG.com was the first website posting this unique trick.

Many times you need to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows. For example, when you want to customize Windows UI and need to replace existing system files with a new one.

You have to follow no. of steps to take ownership and grant yourself full permission to access the file or folder. But now you can do it in a single step.

You just need to download following zip file and extract it. You'll get a .REG file. Run the file and accept the confirmation:

Download Link

It'll add an extra option "Take ownership" in file and folder context menu:

Now you can right-click on any file or folder and select "Take ownership" option. It'll make you the owner of the file or folder and you can perform your desired operation on that file or folder.

NOTE: If you face problem while taking ownership of a file or folder using above method, you can try manual method which is mentioned in following article:

[Guide] How to Take Ownership (Permission) of a File or Folder Manually in Windows?

[Guide] How to Restore “TrustedInstaller” as Default Owner of a File or Folder in Windows?

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This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP.

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Noah

it dosent work when i do the take ownership thing cause it wont let me replace my basebrd! or anything else i try, it dosent work
Eric R

Whenever I try to use this, It doesn't include the "Administrator" icon next to it. Also, when I run it, in the console it states that I do not have permission to access the file (I'm talking about a System32 file).
Dustin

Hey VG, I have an interesting situation. I used one of your older versions of this script to install the Take Ownership option in Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I upgraded to Windows 7, and I had two Take Ownerships in my context menu, one with a shield and one without. I ran the uninstall script and I still have the Take Ownership without the shield in my context menus. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Dustin

Maybe old copies of the unistall script would help. Can I obtain the previous versions from you via email?
VG

^^ It seems you have used another reg file to add the option which is causing this duplicate entry issue. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell

and delete "runas" key under it. It should solve your problem.
Dustin

Thanks! You are a great guy!
Dustin

Just a note, I had to repeat the step for directory, exefile, and dllfile. It solved the issue though.
Sean

I have the same problem as Eric R
Oskar

hey, anyone know how i can take the ownership of a folder? cuz i use the script in this page and when i try to change it comes up a messager saying that i need the trustedinstaller rights, how can i change it?

anyway, great tutorial
Astrid

When I try to use this with paint, it says "You need agreement from trustedInstallers" :( doesn't work with me :( :(