How to Make a File Read Only

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Making a file Read-only is an effective way to protect it from an unwanted edit or deletion. This wikiHow guide can help you get started.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

GUI Method

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3e\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3e\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1570273-v4-728px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/aid1570273-v4-728px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/aid1570273-v4-728px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/aid1570273-v4-728px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Command Prompt Method

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/aid1570273-v4-728px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can open it by clicking on Start->Run , then type cmd and hit Enter . You can also press Win Key+R .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-6.jpg\/aid1570273-v4-728px-Make-a-File-Read-Only-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    • attrib +r "<file path="">"</file>
    • Example: attrib +r "D:\wikiHow.txt"
    3. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Making a file Read-only helps you in many ways.
        • It prompts when you try to change that file name.
        • It prompts when you try to delete it.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • To remove Read-only from a file
        • In GUI method, just deselect that Read-only check box.
        • In command prompt method, write that code with -r instead of +r .
          Example: attrib -r "D:\wikiHow.txt"
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Write a Batch File
      6 Easy Ways to Use Shortcut Keys to Shut Down a Windows PC
      4 Easy Ways to Paste Text Using Keyboard Shortcuts
      How to
      Copy and Paste on Any Device
      How to
      Select All
      5 Quick Ways to Change Your Desktop Wallpaper on Windows
      How to
      Make a Zip File
      How to
      Check Your Mouse DPI on Windows & Mac
      How to
      Reset Your Graphics Drivers
      How to
      Create a Desktop Shortcut for Google on Any Browser
      How To Refresh a Webpage: Desktop & Mobile
      2 Simple Ways to Print a Document From Your Computer
      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      How to
      Restart Windows 10
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 137,459 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement