Fix: Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device Path/File Windows 10

One of the most recent iterations of Microsoft’s hugely popular operating system is Windows 10. Although it has brought about numerous enhancements that consumers adore, there are still a good number of mistakes and issues that seem to appear out of nowhere.

An application or file cannot be opened, modified, or deleted; instead, the message “Windows cannot access the specified device path or file” is displayed.

If this error message is bothering you, there’s no need to continue looking. If you need help diagnosing the problem or resolving it so that your system can work again, we’re here to help.

Why does Windows fail to recognize the specified device path or file?

Just like the majority of Windows 10’s errors, there’s no definitive cause for this one either. Nonetheless, the user base managed to assemble potential reasons that typically result in the issue on this page. We discovered the following from numerous user reports:

• You cannot access the file because you have insufficient permissions. You may not have the necessary permissions to open or alter the application or file, whether on purpose or not.
• The file location is either not available or not present. It is possible that the file you are trying to view has disappeared from the computer.
• Malware has either erased or altered the file. It is possible for malicious software to alter or remove your files if you have malware infections.
• An antiviral program is preventing you from accessing it. Windows 10 issues are frequently caused by antivirus software. Below is a way to make sure that the problem is not being caused by your antivirus.
• There is no external site where the file may be accessed. You will receive the message “Windows cannot access the given device path or file” if you have saved the file on a network or an external hard drive that is not correctly linked to your computer.

These are merely the most prevalent factors that the community is aware of. There may be another cause for your error. Still, the instructions in the following part ought to assist you in fixing the problem.

How to Resolve “Windows Is Unable to Open the Specified File or Device Path.”

It is time to correct the mistake now that we have determined the bulk of plausible reasons. The below approaches will walk you through the steps required to fix the “cannot access the given device path or file” error in Windows 10.

Note: Using an administrator account on your device is necessary for certain of these approaches. This indicates that the account has the ability to carry out a number of operations that might modify system configurations, which might be necessary to recover your system.

Are you unsure about how to modify your account’s rights to become an administrator? Do you want to make an administrator user just for this kind of thing? We recommend watching “Making a User an administrator on a Windows 10 System” by StormWind Studios to learn how you can make admin users like a pro.

It is necessary to fix the “Windows cannot access the specified device path or file” problem, so let’s do it!

Method 1: Change the File or Folder’s Permission

It is also likely that you may not have the necessary permissions to access or edit a file.

If this computer is in a public place or you share it with others, it is probably a security precaution to ensure that no one can damage it. In this instance, get in touch with an administrator to inquire.

If the problem happens on your own machine, though, you will need to adjust the permissions manually. Here’s how you can accomplish it.

• Select Properties by right-clicking on the issue file or folder.

• Navigate to the Security tab using the tab labels at the top of the window.

• Select your account by clicking on it under “Group or user names.” What permissions you now have will be displayed by this.
• Press the Edit button to change the permissions.

• Ensure that every checkmark in the Deny column is removed. As a result, all file-related restrictions will be automatically removed.

• Once these modifications have been made, click the OK button to see if you can now open or edit the file.

Approach 2: Verify the File Path

The “Windows cannot access the given device path or file” problem may be appearing if you are trying to use a shortcut to a file because it is now pointing to an invalid location.

Let us take the following actions to locate the file and confirm that it exists.

• Select Properties by right-clicking on the issue file or folder.

• Verify that the General tab is the default one. This is the location for file, folder, and shortcut information.

• Verify the Address. This will provide the path to the file that you are attempting to open or edit.

• Select the area with your mouse pointer, then right-click on the text. From the context menu, select the Copy option.

• Using the taskbar icon, open the File Explorer.
• Using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + P, click the header section and insert the location text you copied in Step 4. To access the file’s location, press Enter.

• Check to see if this is where the desired file is located. If it is not possible, it is most probable that the file has been transferred or erased.

Step 3: Unblock the Document

It is possible that Windows 10 attempted to safeguard your PC by blocking the file. The system can encounter false positives and block the file you are attempting to access or edit, even if it is not harmful. All you need to do in these situations is unblock it by following these easy instructions.

• Select Properties by right-clicking on the issue file or folder.

• Verify that the General tab is the default one. This is the location for file, folder, and shortcut information.

• In the Security section, look for the line “This file came from another computer and might be stopped to help protect this computer.” Put a checkbox next to Unblock if you like.

• After selecting OK, try to open or edit the file once more.

Method 4: Make the File Shortcut Again

A shortcut path does not update immediately when its position changes. This suggests that you may be attempting to open a shortcut that no longer points to the correct location of the file. All you need to do in this situation is recreate the shortcut.

• On the Desktop, click a blank area, then select New → Shortcut.

• Click the Browse button, choose the file you want to open or edit, and then select Next.

• Give the shortcut the name you want it to have. There are no restrictions on what can be done with Windows 10; thus, you can not utilize any particular special characters. Click Select “Finish.”

• On your Desktop, the working shortcut ought to have been generated.

Method 5: Turn Off Your Third-Party Antivirus Temporarily

As we previously indicated, this issue on your machine could be brought on by a third-party antivirus program. As we mentioned above, a third-party antivirus application may cause this error on your system. Do not rule out this option, as numerous antivirus programs have been reported by Windows 10 users to be able to generate this problem.

The most effective and secure method to verify this is to turn off your antivirus software momentarily and observe if the issue persists.

Note: Ensure that your third-party antivirus is disabled before turning on Windows Defender. Defender is a built-in malware prevention tool in Windows 10 that can provide you with essential security when using your computer.

This is how to turn off an antivirus program for a while.

• Use one of the following methods to launch the Task Manager:
  • To access Task Manager, right-click on your taskbar and select it from the context menu.
  • 
  • To access the security options box, press and hold the Ctrl, Alt, and Del keys on your keyboard. Select Task Manager next.
• Click the More information option located in the lower-left corner of the window if your Task Manager opens in compact mode.

• Go to the top of the Task Manager window and click on the Startup tab. Here, you can view each and every program that starts up on your computer.

• Once you’ve selected your third-party antivirus product, go to the window’s bottom right and click the Disable option. At this point, the application should be marked as disabled.
• After doing this for each installed third-party antivirus program on your computer, restart it.

Once these steps are finished, your computer will start up without the third-party antivirus software, allowing you to see if the problem has been fixed.

If you are able to open, edit, and remove the desired folder or file, the issue was probably generated by the antivirus program you were using. We advise searching for an alternative application or getting in touch with customer service.

In summary

With any luck, you should no longer be able to fix Windows 10‘s “Windows cannot access the specified device path or file” issue by following this tutorial.

Read our other articles if you’re interested in learning more about Windows, need assistance troubleshooting, or just want to satiate your hunger for knowledge.

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