FIXED: An Error Occurred While Attempting to Create the Directory on Windows 11

There are times when your PC reports that an error occurred while attempting to create the directory. Users usually think this error occurs due to a corrupted installation file. While this may be true, it only partially represents the whole reason.

This error may trigger when your PC cannot create a folder for the application you tried to install. Other causes include permissions problems, user profile issues, folder redirection, or conflicting security software or policies. Restarting the PC in safe mode doesn’t always solve the issue. Here are some other effective fixes.

Quick Fixes

• Check your PC for disk space and drive health
• Run the intended program as an administrator
• Temporarily disable User Account Control (UAC)
• Reinstall or repair the affected software

1. Adjust folder permissions

Adjusting folder permissions changes the permissions users and groups have on a folder. This can be done to grant or deny users and groups access to the folder or to control the actions they can perform on the folder. To adjust folder permissions in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer on your computer with the Windows + E hotkeys.
2. Then, locate the folder you want to adjust, right-click it, and select Properties.
   
3. When the Properties window opens, open the Security tab, select the correct account in the Group or user names section, and click Edit.
   
4. Re-click the user account and tick the Allow checkbox for all the entries.
   
5. Finally, click Apply and OK to confirm changes.
   

2. Disable controlled folder access

Controlled folder access is a security feature in Windows 11 that protects your files from unauthorized changes. Disabling controlled folder access can be a good fix when an error occurs while attempting to create the directory on Windows 11 if the cause is controlled folder access blocking the directory creation.

How to disable controlled folder access:

1. Press the Windows key, enter Windows Security in the search field, and click Open.
   
2. Then, open Virus & threat protection.
   
3. Find and select Manage ransomware protection under Ransomware protection.
   
4. Finally, find the Controlled folder access option and toggle the switch off.
   

3. Create a new user account

Creating a new user account can fix the issue of the Windows taskbar thumbnail preview disappearing too fast because it builds a new set of user settings, including settings for taskbar thumbnail previews. This profile includes the user’s settings for the taskbar, such as the thumbnail preview delay time.

To create a new user account in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Hold the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings, click on Account, and choose to open Other users account.
   
   
2. When the Other users account page opens, click Add account.
   
3. Enter the Email or phone number you want to use for the new account and click Next.
   
4. Then, follow the accompanying instructions.
5. After creating the account, use solution 2 to set the user account as an admin.

4. Perform an SFC scan

If you run an SFC scan, your computer will scan all protected system files and compare them to the original versions stored in a compressed file. In case of any corruption in the protected system files, the SFC scan will replace them with the original versions. Use the following steps to perform an SFC scan:

1. Hit the Windows and S keys simultaneously, search for cmd, and select the Run as administrator option to start the Command Prompt as an administrator.
   
2. Once the User Account Control prompts you, select Yes to continue.
   
3. When the Command Prompt displays, enter the following command into the prompt and tap the Enter key to start an SFC scan:
   sfc /scannow
   
4. Once the scan is complete, copy and paste the command below and press the Enter key to run the command:
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
   
5. Finally, it would be best to restart your computer to implement repairs.

5. Perform system restore

Performing system restore can be helpful if you installed a new program or driver causing problems or made changes to your computer settings that you want to undo. You will need to create a restore point to perform a system restore. Here are the steps:

1. Press the Windows + R key simultaneously to begin the Run dialog on your PC and enter rstrui. Press Enter after to open it.
   
2. Select the Choose a different restore point option when the System Restore wizard comes up.
   
3. Then, tap the Next button to proceed. 
   
4. Once the next window opens, select your restore point and click Next. 
   
5. Allow the process to run and complete.
6. Finally, click Finish when the restore is complete.

In conclusion, we comprehensively tackled the error that may have occurred while attempting to create the directory on Windows 11. We discussed the potential root causes of this issue and provided five effective solutions to help you overcome it.

Should all the solutions fail, the option to reinstall or repair the affected software remains a valuable fallback. With these troubleshooting steps at your disposal, you can successfully navigate this common issue and ensure a smoother experience when working with directories on Windows 11.