How to Fix a “Failed to enumerate objects in the container” Error on Windows 11/10

Have you encountered a “Failed to enumerate objects in the container” error while accessing or making changes to a folder or file on your PC? It’s likely your user account doesn’t have permission to view or edit that specific item. There are other reasons this error occurs. We’ll show you how to fix your permission issue as well as other items that can cause the above error on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.

Another reason you can’t access or edit a file or folder on your PC is that a virus or malware has infected your system. Such an item can make changes to your folder and file permissions, disabling your user access to various items.

Make Sure You’re Using an Administrator Account

The first item to check when you run into the above error is your account type. Ensure you’re using an admin account to access files and folders on your system. If yours isn’t an admin account, you can ask an admin account holder on your PC to follow the following steps to make you an admin.

Note that you’ll need an admin-level account while following the below troubleshooting tips on your PC, so it’s a good idea to convert your current ordinary account to an admin one.

On Windows 11

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Select Accounts in the left sidebar and Other users on the right pane.
3. Select your ordinary account and choose Change account type.
4. Select Administrator from the Account type drop-down menu and choose OK.

5. Sign out of your account and log in to your converted account.

On Windows 10

1. Launch Settings using Windows + I.
2. Select Accounts in Settings.
3. Choose Family & other users in the left sidebar.
4. Select your regular account on the right and choose Change account type.
5. Select Administrator from the Account type drop-down menu and choose OK.

6. Log out of your current account and log in to your converted account.

Manually Change Your File or Folder’s Owner

If your file or folder permission issue persists, manually change that specific item’s ownership to get rid of your issue. You can transfer your item’s ownership to your account, which will allow you to access your folder or file without errors.

1. Launch File Explorer and find your folder or file.
2. Right-click your item and select Properties.
3. Access the Security tab and choose Advanced on the Properties window.
4. Select Change next to Owner on the following window.

5. Type your account name in the Enter the object name to select box, select Check Names on the right, and choose OK.
6. Turn on the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects option.

7. Enable the Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object option.
8. Select Apply followed by OK at the bottom.
9. Choose Yes in the prompt.

Take Your Folder or File’s Ownership Using an Elevated Command Prompt

Another way to transfer your file or folder’s ownership to your account is to use a command in Command Prompt.

1. Open your PC’s Start menu, find Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
3. Type the following command on the Command Prompt window, replace PATH with the full path to your file or folder, and press Enter:
   takeown /F PATH /r /d y

4. Close Command Prompt when your command has finished running.

Run a Virus and Malware Scan to Fix Failed to Enumerate Objects

If you still can’t access your folder or file, your computer may be infected with a virus or malware. Such malicious items can prevent your access to various items on your computer.

In this case, run a full virus and malware scan on your system and remove all the malicious files. You can use your favorite third-party antivirus program or Microsoft Defender Antivirus to perform a full system scan. Here’s how to use the latter option.

1. Open your PC’s Start menu, find Windows Security, and launch the app.
2. Select Virus & threat protection in the app.
3. Choose Scan options on the following screen.
4. Select Full scan and choose Scan now.

5. Wait while the antivirus finds and removes viruses and malware from your system.
6. Reboot your PC.

Tip: Boot Your Windows PC in Safe Mode

If you can’t use the above methods for some reason, boot your PC in Windows’ safe mode and follow the methods again. Loading your system in safe mode helps you isolate your third-party items, allowing you to perform your tasks without interference.

On Windows 11

1. Open Settings using Windows + I.
2. Select System in the left sidebar and Recovery on the right pane.
3. Choose Restart now next to Advanced startup.

4. Select Restart now in the prompt.
5. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings and select Restart.
6. Select the safe mode option to boot your PC in safe mode.

On Windows 10

1. Launch Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Select Update & Security in Settings.
3. Choose Recovery in the left sidebar.
4. Select Restart now in the Advanced startup section on the right.

5. Head into Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings and choose Restart.
6. Choose the safe mode option to enter safe mode on your PC.

Resolve File or Folder Permission Issues With Ease on Your Windows PC

Windows’ file and folder permission issues are common, and these usually occur when someone else has taken your items’ ownership. You can fix that by transferring ownership to your user account, as explained above. We hope this guide helps you resolve your issue so you can access your files and folders. Enjoy!