Unable To Save To Desktop

All of a sudden I'm unable to save any kind of file to various folders on my computer, including c:\users\me\desktop. Also unable to be saved to is c:\users\me\downloads. Other locations under c:\users\me are, however, okay.

When I create a new file (say, a text file in Notepad) and try to save it to c:\users\me\desktop I get the following popup:



Note that the popup is headed 'Save As', but I get it when I try to save any file that doesn't already exist on the desktop.

@Budfudder, that 'file not found' when saving is typical of an app being blocked by Controlled Folder Access. Now Notepad should not be blocked, it should be in the built-in whitelist. Sometimes however controlled folder access can get confused and 'misplace' its whitelist.

If that is the case, then click the power button on Start and select Restart (not Shut down, it must be Restart). A full restart from cold should restore normal behaviour. A shut down may be using fast startup and would not produce the full boot from 'cold' that's required to reset things like this.

Enable or Disable Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10 | Tutorials

Bree said:

@Budfudder, that 'file not found' when saving is typical of an app being blocked by Controlled Folder Access. Now Notepad should not be blocked, it should be in the built-in whitelist. Sometimes however controlled folder access can get confused and 'misplace' its whitelist.

If that is the case, then click the power button on Start and select Restart (not Shut down, it must be Restart). A full restart from cold should restore normal behaviour. A shut down may be using fast startup and would not produce the full boot from 'cold' that's required to reset things like this.

Enable or Disable Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10 | Tutorials

Thanks a lot, that was the problem. Fixed it now.

Glad to hear that @Budfudder. You can mark your thread 'solved' to help others find the solution, button at the bottom of the thread.

Thanks for the Thread, this is the perfect solution, my inability to save a new file on my laptop has been solved, all thanks to the person who post a link for the solution.