Permissions

Don Kee · 2026-07-13T15:50:56-0400

Is there a tutorial showing how to get rid of "read only"?

Try3 · 2026-07-13T15:56:35-0400

Please post a screenshot showing this "read only".
Then suitable advice can be given.

If, for example, it's this in the properties of a folder:-

Then it is virtually meaningless and can safely be ignored.
[Note that the one thing it does not mean is read-only.]
See also, but only if you really really want to, folder read-only indicator [KeithM] - TenForums

Denis

Don Kee · 2026-07-13T16:21:53-0400

I have tried giving myself (user/bob) and administrator full control. I use apply on the popups and it seems to take. But when I kill the properties window and call it back up it is still read only. The file in OneNote show up as read only.

OAT · 2026-07-13T16:34:11-0400

Read only is a file/folder attribute and has nothing to do with file permissions and user rights.
If you want to remove the Read attribute from a file, you would type from the command line:

Code:

attrib -r <filename>

Of course this is not very useful now within the GUI.
Type in Attrib <enter> for more options.

Don Kee · 2026-07-13T16:45:50-0400

OK, Let me restate the problem. Office 2024, OneNote, all of the notes I have entered have become read only.

OAT · 2026-07-13T16:56:59-0400

Don Kee said:
OK, Let me restate the problem. Office 2024, OneNote, all of the notes I have entered have become read only.

Double check the files with the Read attributes:
Right click on Type, size, that will bring up the option for more.

You can always use a wildcard to remove the Read only globally from the command line assuming you are in the right directory and all the directories below that (/s) ( where those Read only files reside)

Code:

attrib -r  *.* /s

If some files have the system attribute, those will not be reset.

HTA · 2026-07-13T17:10:21-0400

I'm not sure if this will help you, but it unlocks any file I've tried.

UnLock IT Free - Unlock a File or Folder Locked by the System

EMCO UnLock IT is a Windows file unlocker utility that allows you to unlock a locked file or folder and rename, move or delete locked resources.

emcosoftware.com

Try3 · 2026-07-13T17:10:33-0400

Don Kee said:
all of the notes I have entered have become read only

I think you have clicked twice on the Attributes tri-state checkbox I first drew your attention to. This will cause the files to become read-only.
I now think you need to study that link I first gave you so you understand that tri-state checkbox. It is easier to just always leave that tri-state checkbox alone - then you don't need to understand it.

But it is difficult to advise you without knowing exactly what you have done.
You could try clicking on that folder's tri-state checkbox once more to clear the R attributes on its files & make that tri-state checkbox once again show the nondescript not set state I first illustrated [i.e. not like the state you showed on your post #3.

AND
- Don't mix up discussing folder / file properties with Permissions. They are different things.
- Don't try HTA's suggestion. That is something different as well.

All the best,
Denis

antspants · 2026-07-13T17:11:56-0400

Did you copy them over from an External drive or USB?

Open the folder with the documents.
Select all
Properties
Uncheck read only.

If it's anything more than that then my guess is there's another issue?

Try3 · 2026-07-13T17:25:24-0400

antspants said:
Uncheck read only

I'm sorry but that checkbox is tri-state.

Denis

Don Kee · 2026-07-13T17:27:43-0400

Some good replies. Give the old man some time to try them out.

antspants · 2026-07-13T17:59:02-0400

You can also add this to the context menu

Add Read-only Context Menu to Files and Folders in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add a Read-only context menu to files and folders for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can apply or clear the read-only attribute for files and folders in Windows 10/11. When setting a folder as read-only, read-only is actually only applied to all...

www.elevenforum.com

Scroll down to "Remove" on the page

Add that to the context menu
Select all files
Right click / "Clear read only for selected files"

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