How to Resolve Outlook Error 0x80070005 on Folder Permission Save

When you try to save or modify folder permissions in Outlook, error 0x80070005 stops the action and displays an access denied message. This error occurs because Outlook does not have the required write permissions to the mailbox folder or the underlying data file. The cause is often a registry permission issue, a corrupted profile, or a conflict with antivirus software. This article explains the root cause and provides step-by-step fixes to restore folder permission changes in Outlook.

Why Outlook Error 0x80070005 Appears When Saving Folder Permissions

Error 0x80070005 translates to E_ACCESSDENIED in Windows. In Outlook, this error indicates that the application cannot write the permission changes to the folder’s security descriptor. The folder’s access control list is stored either in the Exchange mailbox or in the local Outlook data file (OST or PST). When Outlook lacks the correct ownership or write rights to that location, the save operation fails.

Several conditions produce this denial:

Corrupted Outlook Profile

The Outlook profile stores your account settings, cached credentials, and folder permissions. If the profile becomes damaged, Outlook may lose its ability to authenticate properly when writing permission changes. A corrupted profile is the most frequent cause of error 0x80070005.

Registry Permission Restrictions

Outlook reads and writes registry keys under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office. If your Windows user account does not have full control over these keys, Outlook cannot store permission metadata. This often happens after a domain policy update or a security software modification.

Third-Party Add-In or Antivirus Interference

Add-ins that integrate with Outlook’s folder properties can intercept permission save calls and block them. Similarly, real-time antivirus scanning may lock the Outlook data file, preventing write operations.

Steps to Resolve Error 0x80070005 When Saving Folder Permissions

Try these methods in the order listed. Test the folder permission save after each method before moving to the next.

Method 1: Recreate the Outlook Profile

1. Open Mail in Control Panel
   Press Windows key + R, type control, and press Enter. Change the view to Large icons. Click Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
2. Show Profiles
   In the Mail Setup dialog, click Show Profiles.
3. Remove the Current Profile
   Select the profile you are using (usually named Outlook or Default). Click Remove. Confirm the deletion.
4. Create a New Profile
   Click Add. Type a name for the new profile. Enter your email address and password. Outlook will configure the account automatically.
5. Set the New Profile as Default
   Under When starting Microsoft Outlook, use this profile, select the new profile from the dropdown. Click OK.
6. Restart Outlook and Test
   Open Outlook. Right-click a folder and select Properties > Permissions. Add or change a permission and click Apply. The error should no longer appear.

Method 2: Grant Full Control to the Office Registry Key

1. Open Registry Editor
   Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
2. Navigate to the Office Key
   Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office. For Outlook 2019 or Microsoft 365, the version number is 16.0. The path is HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0.
3. Right-Click the Version Key
   Right-click 16.0 (or your Outlook version) and select Permissions.
4. Grant Full Control to Your User
   In the Permissions dialog, select your user name in the Group or user names list. Under Permissions for [your user], check Full Control in the Allow column. Click Apply and then OK.
5. Close Registry Editor and Restart Outlook
   Exit regedit. Open Outlook and attempt to save folder permissions again.

Method 3: Start Outlook in Safe Mode

1. Close Outlook Completely
   Make sure no Outlook process is running. Check Task Manager if needed.
2. Run Outlook in Safe Mode
   Press Windows key + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and press Enter.
3. Test Folder Permissions
   In Safe Mode, right-click a folder and go to Properties > Permissions. Try to save a permission change. If it works, an add-in is causing the error.
4. Disable Add-Ins
   Exit Safe Mode. Go to File > Options > Add-Ins. At the bottom, next to Manage, select COM Add-ins and click Go. Uncheck all add-ins. Restart Outlook normally. If the error is gone, re-enable add-ins one at a time to find the culprit.

Method 4: Repair Outlook Data File

1. Locate the SCANPST.EXE Tool
   In File Explorer, go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 or C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16. Look for SCANPST.EXE.
2. Find Your Outlook Data File
   In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings. Click the Data Files tab. Note the path of your PST or OST file.
3. Run SCANPST
   Open SCANPST.EXE. Click Browse and select your data file. Click Start. If errors are found, click Repair.
4. Restart Outlook and Test
   Open Outlook and try saving folder permissions again.

If Outlook Still Shows Error 0x80070005 After These Fixes

Antivirus Blocks Write Access to OST or PST

Some antivirus programs lock Outlook data files during real-time scanning. Temporarily disable the antivirus real-time protection. Then try saving folder permissions. If the error disappears, add an exclusion for your OST and PST file extensions in the antivirus settings. Common file extensions are .ost, .pst, and .oab.

Exchange Server Permission Restrictions

If you use an Exchange account, your administrator may have restricted folder permission modifications. Contact your IT department and ask them to verify your mailbox permissions. The administrator can run the Exchange Management Shell command Get-MailboxFolderPermission to check current rights.

Windows User Account Control Interference

UAC set to the highest level can block Outlook from writing to protected registry keys. Temporarily lower UAC to the second notch (Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer). Restart Outlook and test. After the test, return UAC to its original setting.

Outlook Profile Recreation vs Registry Permission Fix: Key Differences

Item	Recreate Outlook Profile	Grant Registry Full Control
When to use	Error appears after account changes or profile corruption	Error appears after Windows update or policy change
Complexity	Low, no technical tools required	Medium, requires Registry Editor
Risk	None, profile can be recreated	Low if only modifying HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Persistence	Resets all custom settings and signatures	Keeps all settings intact
Best for	Single user with corrupted profile	Users with permission restrictions from IT policies

Error 0x80070005 on folder permission save in Outlook is a permission issue at the profile, registry, or data file level. You can resolve it by recreating the Outlook profile, granting full control to the Office registry key, or running Outlook in Safe Mode to disable add-ins. If the error persists, check antivirus exclusions and contact your Exchange administrator for server-side permission restrictions. After applying the correct fix, you can save folder permissions without interruption.