File Permissions Check for Windows

Utility summary

File Permissions Check is a Windows utility that helps administrators and power users manage access rights on shared folders. The program is offered at no cost and provides a straightforward graphical interface for locating and correcting files whose permissions deviate from their parent folders.

Core capabilities

• Runs scans across multiple folders to locate files that either block inheritance or have explicit access entries.
• Lets administrators restore inheritance and strip explicit ACL entries from selected items.
• Provides results exportable as CSV or HTML for logging and review.
• Presents an easy-to-use GUI so tasks can be performed without command-line tools.

Scan and filter options

• Exclude operating-system files from scans when those files should not be evaluated.
• Limit how deep the scan traverses into subfolders to reduce runtime or scope.
• Target specific shared directories or run broader sweeps across drives.

Remediation actions

• Reapply inheritance from parent folders to bring permissions back in line with directory policies.
• Remove individual explicit permissions that were added to files or subfolders, returning them to a clean inherited state.

Reporting and documentation

• Save scan output in CSV format for spreadsheet processing or automated imports.
• Export HTML reports for easy sharing with stakeholders or inclusion in change tickets.

Suggested alternate tool

• Dave Gnukem — a free alternative worth considering for similar permission-auditing tasks.

Intended audience

This utility is particularly useful for system administrators, IT support staff, and power users responsible for enforcing consistent access controls on shared file systems.