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Reset NTFS Permissions to Inherited Defaults with icacls /reset

Undo broken or chaotic NTFS permissions on a folder tree by making every file inherit fresh ACLs from its parent with icacls /reset /t.

WindowscmdpermissionsaclMedium risk
Run icacls "D:\folder" /reset /t /c /q to replace every ACL in the tree with the inherited permissions from the folder's parent.

01Command

Command
$ icacls "D:\Projects\OldApp" /reset /t /c /q

02What it does

After copying folders from another disk, restoring a backup, or fighting with access-denied dialogs, a folder can end up with a messy mix of explicit ACLs on individual files. icacls /reset throws those away and rebuilds each object's permissions purely from what it inherits — usually exactly what you want, since the parent folder's permissions are typically sane. /t applies to the whole subtree, /c keeps going past errors, /q keeps the output short. This replaces the old icacls-style fix-then-propagate dance.

03Risk

RiskMedium risk
RequirementsRun Command Prompt as administrator for folders you don't own. /t recurses, /c continues on errors, /q silences output.
!Warning: This discards explicit permissions on every file in the tree — if a subfolder intentionally had unique restrictions, they're gone. Check the parent folder's permissions first; you'll inherit whatever they are, good or bad.

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • icacls
    Microsoft Learn · vendor-doc · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: The icacls /reset switch replaces ACLs with default inherited ACLs for matching files, and /t /c /q control recursion, error continuation, and quiet output.
  • icacls - SS64
    SS64 · technical · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Explains that icacls /reset restores each object's ACL from its parent's inheritable permissions across the whole subtree with /t.

Last verified: 2026-09-18 · Category: Files & Folders

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