FIX Controlled Folder Access Not Available in Windows 11 & 10

Is Windows Security saying Controlled Folder Access is not available? Here’s why that happens and how to fix it in simple steps.

Controlled Folder Access is a built-in Windows Security feature that protects files and folders added to it by setting up restrictions on which apps and executables can access or modify them. This feature is very useful to protect your important files and directories from ransomware threats. Generally, you can find and open Controlled Folder Access under the “Virus & threat protection > Ransomware protection” section in the Windows Security app.

However, under certain circumstances, the Controlled Folder Access is not available and if you try to open it by searching for it in the Start menu, you will see the “Page not available: Your IP administrator has limited access to some areas of this app, and the item you tried to access is not available. Contact IT helpdesk for more information.” message.

In this quick guide, let’s explore why you are getting this error message and the steps you can take to fix it. Let’s get started.

Before You Start

• This guide applies to both Windows 11 and Windows 10.
• Fixing this issue requires administrator rights.

Reasons Why Controlled Folder Access Is Not Available

Reason 1 (most likely): If you are using a third-party antivirus software, such as Bitdefender, Avast, Malwarebytes, etc., it registers itself as the primary antivirus, and Windows Security is automatically turned OFF for compatibility reasons. Since Controlled Folder Access is a feature of Windows Security, it will also be unavailable in this situation.

Reason 2 (less likely): If you are not using a third-party antivirus and still cannot access the Controlled Folder Access feature, the Windows Security components may be corrupted. In that case, repairing it will most likely fix the issue.

How to Fix the “Controlled Folder Access Not Available” Error

Check if You Are Using a Third-Party Antivirus Software

1. Open the Start menu by pressing the “Windows” key on your keyboard.
2. Search for “Windows Security” and click on it to launch the app.
3. Click the “Settings” option bottom left corner.
4. If you have a third-party antivirus installed, you will see it at the top under the “Antivirus” section on the right panel. For instance, on my PC, I’m using Bitdefender as my primary antivirus.

If you’re using a third-party antivirus but want to use Windows’ Controlled Folder Access, you’ll likely need to uninstall your current AV. This is because Controlled Folder Access requires Windows Security’s real-time protection feature turned ON to work. So, if you want to use Controlled Folder Access, uninstall your third-party AV.

Follow these steps to uninstall any third-party antivirus software in Windows.

Reinstall Windows Security App in Windows 11 & 10

If you have verified that you are not using any third-party antivirus software by following the above steps and are still unable to access the Controlled Folder Access feature, it is possible that some components of Windows Security might be corrupted. In that case, you have to reinstall Windows Security. Here’s how

1. Press “Windows key + I” to open Settings.
2. Go to the “Apps” tab on the sidebar.
3. Click the “Installed Apps” option on the right panel.
4. Scroll down and click the “System Components” option.
5. Click the “three dots” (more options) icon next to “Windows Security“.
6. Select “Advanced Options“.
7. Scroll down and click the “Reset” button.
8. Click the “Reset” button.
9. Close the Settings app.
10. Restart your system.

After restarting, you should be able to access Controlled Folder Access. To do that, open the Start menu, search for “Controlled Folder Access”, and click on it to launch.

Note: If you still cannot access it, you have to factory reset your PC.

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Wrapping Up — Fixing Controlled Folder Access

In conclusion, the two reasons why you cannot Controlled Folder Access are that you are either using a third-party antivirus software or some components of Windows Security are corrupted. If you are using a third-party AV, you have to uninstall it to use Controlled Folder Access. If you are not using a third-party AV, you have to reinstall/reset the Windows Security app via the Settings app.

In case you still cannot access this feature, you must factory reset your PC.

That is all. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.