Recovery steps: Samsung Galaxy Connect or Samsung Continuity Service might cause loss of access to C: drive

If Samsung Galaxy Connect or Samsung Continuity Service is installed and your Samsung device is experiencing an issue where you lose access to the C: drive and encounter app failures, please follow these steps:

Before you start​

• Plan for 10–15 minutes to complete these steps.
• You must sign in to Windows using an Administrator account.
• If you are uncomfortable doing this, contact Samsung Support and ask them to perform the “C: drive permissions restore” steps.

Step 1: Start the affected system​

1. Turn on (start) the affected device.
2. Sign in to Windows.

Step 2: Remove the Samsung app​

1. Select Start > Settings.
2. Select Apps > Installed apps.
3. Find Samsung Galaxy Connect (or Samsung Continuity Service)
4. Select the app and choose Uninstall.
5. Restart your device.

Step 3: Temporarily allow Windows to repair drive permissions​

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select This PC.
3. Right-click Local Disk (C:), and then select Properties.
4. Select the Security tab, and then select Advanced.
5. Next to Owner, select Change.
6. Type the following, and then select OK:
   
   Everyone
7. Select Yes if prompted.

Step 4: Add a temporary permission​

1. In Properties, select Security > Edit.
2. Select Add.
3. Type the following, and then select OK:
   
   Everyone
4. Select OK, and then Yes if prompted.
5. If multiple security alerts appear, press Alt + C to continue.

Step 5: Restore Windows default permissions​

Create the repair file

1. Open Notepad.
2. Copy and paste the following text:
   
   
   Code:

   BAT 
   
   icacls c:\ /grant BUILTIN\Administrators:(OI)(CI)(F) 
   
   icacls c:\ /grant "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)(F)" 
   
   icacls c:\ /grant BUILTIN\Users:(OI)(CI)(RX) 
   
   icacls c:\ /grant "NT AUTHORITY\Authenticated Users:(OI)(CI)(IO)(M)" 
   
   icacls c:\ /grant "NT AUTHORITY\Authenticated Users:(AD)" 
   
   icacls c:\ /setowner "NT Service\TrustedInstaller" 
   
   icacls c:\ /remove everyone 
   
   pause
   
   Show more lines

3. Select File > Save as.
4. Set Save as type to All Files.
5. Name the file RestoreAccess.bat.
6. Save it to your Desktop.

Run the repair

1. On your Desktop, right-click RestoreAccess.bat.
2. Select Run as administrator.
3. Select Yes if prompted.
4. Wait until the process completes.
5. Restart your device.

After restarting your device​

The following should be true:

• Local Disk (C:) opens normally.
• Windows system behavior returns to normal.
• Drive ownership is restored to Windows (TrustedInstaller).

This process restores Windows default, secure permissions on the system drive and does not access or modify personal files.

If you still cannot access the C: drive after completing all steps, contact Samsung Support and reference: “C: drive access issue caused by Galaxy Connect app permissions.”