How to fix it

0x80070005 translates to 'Access is denied.' Windows is telling you, quite literally, that your account doesn't have permission for the thing you're trying to do — copying, moving, deleting or changing a file or folder.

This is one of the most common file errors because it has several different causes, so work through them in order.

What's actually happening

Every file and folder in Windows has an owner and a set of permissions that say who can read, change or delete it. If your account isn't on the allow list — or a previous user or program left restrictive permissions behind — you get 0x80070005. It's not a crash; it's a permission decision.

Step 1 — Take ownership

  1. Right-click the file or folder → Properties → Security → Advanced.
  2. At the top, next to 'Owner', click Change.
  3. Type your username, click Check Names, then OK.
  4. Tick Replace owner on subcontainers and objects if it's a folder, then Apply.

Step 2 — Give yourself full control

  1. Back in the Security tab, click Edit → Add.
  2. Type your username → Check Names → OK.
  3. Tick Full control under Allow → Apply → OK.

Step 3 — Try the operation again

Now the move/copy/delete should work. If it still fails: try it from an Administrator account, or boot into Safe Mode and retry — a running app or a stuck handle can mask the real permission fix.

If it's a system folder

If the file is inside C:\Windows or C:\Program Files, be careful — some of those files are protected by Windows File Protection and can't be changed, and that's normal. If you're trying to delete a normal user file and still get denied, check File Explorer → View → show/hide → hidden items and make sure nothing is locked by an open program.

0x80070005 is almost always a permissions problem, not a broken system. Take ownership, grant yourself Full control, and it clears.