The “failed to enumerate objects in the container” is a pretty popular error faced by many Windows 10 users. The error is encountered when the users try to change the permission of a specific folder or file. Or more accurately when the administrator of a folder or file that is being shared between multiple users tries to change its access permissions. There are only two reasons why the error could have been encountered. First, there might be a clash between file or folder permissions or second, incorrect configuration of settings of a particular file or folder.
Fortunately, the solution is simple and straight forward. So stop worrying about losing the pictures that you haven’t been able to access lately and read on.
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Fix “Failed To Enumerate Objects In The Container” error on Windows 10
As mentioned in the introductory paragraph of this article, there are only two reasons why the error could have occurred. Similarly, there is just one solution for the error and it has been known to solve issues for the majority of the users. The solution is to change the permissions of the file or folder causing the error. Although some users haven’t been able to solve the error using this method. So if you happen to be one of them then there’s another method for you.
It’s essentially just an extra step or two followed by the first method. Nevertheless, both the methods have been explained below and there are some pictures for more ease.
Method 1: Changing Ownership Of The Folder or File
You will need to change the permission of the file or folder causing the error to solve the error. By changing, we mean you will need to get ownership for the item and then try opening the file. To change ownership, you will need to first get the authorization to do so and then change the permission. So we have divided the method into two parts and each has been explained in detail with all the steps and pictures below.
Getting Authorization to Change User Permission
Step 1: Start off by locating the file or folder whose access is being denied. Once found, right-click on the item.
Step 2: Right-clicking on the item would display the context menu. From the context menu, select Properties (present at the bottom of the list)
Step 3: A pop-up menu will appear with various tabs and control settings. We need to head into the Security tab to solve the error. So switch to the Security Tab and in the security tab click on the Advanced button. The Advanced settings menu will let us edit some special permissions.
Step 4: The advanced security settings menu will display information regarding the name, destination, owner, permissions, access and all that. Click on the Change option highlighted in blue next to the owner info.
Step 5: From the next screen, we again need to click on the Advanced button (on the lower left side)
Step 6: Now, click on Find Now button (present on the right-hand side) from the screen displayed. Clicking on the Find Now button will display some more information and options on the bottom of the screen.
Step 7: From the displayed list of options, select the desired user account by left-clicking on it once. Next, press OK as shown below.
Step 8: After you click OK, the textbox under ‘Enter the Object Name to Select’ should display the info in the format ‘from this location/user account name’ (check the image out below). Confirm that the info is correct and then click on OK again.
Step 9: Clicking on OK, will bring you back to the Advanced Security Settings tab. Over here, tick the checkboxes next to “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and “Replace all child object permissions entries with inheritable permission entries from this object”. Apply the changes made by clicking on Apply followed by OK.
Performing the above nine steps have now provided you with the authorization to change the user permissions of any folder or file you wish to. So now let us get started with changing the permission of a file or a folder to check if the “Failed to enumerate objects in the container” error is still present or if it is been take care of.
Changing Permissions of a file or folder
Step 1: Right-click on the file or folder again and select Properties from the Context menu. Again switch to the Security tab and click on the Advanced button.
Step 2: We need to add a new Permission Entry. To do so, click on the Add button below the Permission Entries window.
Step 3: Click on Select a Principal next to the Principal label. Now follow steps 4 to 8 from the previous method to Select the desired user account.
Step 4: Now under Basic Permissions, click on the checkbox next to Full Control to provide full control to the user. Press OK to exit.
Step 5: You should now be able to see a new entry in the Permission entries window.
Step 6: The final step is to checkmark “Replace all existing inheritable permissions on all descendants with inheritable permissions from this object” option and click on Apply and then OK.
Method 2: Suppress Warning
If the first method was unsuccessful in solving the error, maybe suppressing the warning itself can help you out. But note: only try this method after you have given the previous method a shot. In this method, we will change the User Account Control Settings which will suppress the warning notification and help you change the folder permissions. The method is pretty simple and straight forward to execute. Find the steps with pictures below:
Step 1: Press Windows key on your keyboard and Search for User Account Control Settings and press enter or left click to open it.
Step 2: Drag the slider on the left side of the screen to the absolute bottom that is to Never Notify. Click OK to save the changes.
Step 3: Perform a restart and then trying changing the owner user settings of the desired file or folder using the first method.
Conclusion
We hope you were able to solve the Failed to enumerate objects in the container Windows 10 error using the above methods. If you are having some problem in performing the method or any difficulty in understanding them then please comment down below and we will get back to you in a flash.
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