Windows change access permissions from the command line

Linux and Unixish system comes with chmod and other commands to setup/change access permission from command line/shell.

However, when it comes to windows chmod is not available. Windows comes with a special command line utility called CACLS.

You can use it as follows:
CACLS files /e /p {USERNAME}:{PERMISSION}

Where,

• /p : Set new permission
• /e : Edit permission and kept old permission as it is i.e. edit ACL instead of replacing it.
• {USERNAME} : Name of user
• {PERMISSION} : Permission can be:
• R - Read
• W - Write
• C - Change (write)
• F - Full control

For example grant Rocky Full (F) control with following command (type at Windows command prompt):

C:> CACLS files /e /p rocky:f

Read complete help by typing following command:

C:> cacls /?