Access to the Path App_Data is Denied: 4 Ways to Fix it

Grant read and write permissions to the wwwroot folder

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Published onJuly 16, 2024

published onJuly 16, 2024

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While trying to execute an app in Visual Studio or publish a website, you often come across theAccess to the path App_Data is deniederror. It lists the entire path of the file the web app needs to access and edit but can’t do so due to missing permissions!

The access denied error usually appears when Visual Studio doesn’t have the necessary privileges,IIS_IUSRSdoesn’t have read and write access to thewwwrootfolder, another process is accessing the file, or a third-party antivirus has blocked access to it.

How do I fix the Access to the path App_Data is denied error?

1. Run Visual Studio as an administrator

2. Grant IIS_IUSRS permissions to access the wwwroot folder

If this doesn’t work, give read and write permissions toNetwork ServiceandASPNET. Also, you can givefull folder controlwith the same steps for theApp_Datafolder to all three,IIS_IUSRS,Network Service, andASPNET!

3. Terminate any processes accessing the file

4. Whitelist the wwwroot folder in your antivirus

If the previous solutions didn’t fix theAccess to the path App_Data is deniederror it could just as well be an antivirus blocking access to the folder/file. In this case, you could temporarily disable the antivirus and check for improvements.

If the error message disappears, add an exclusion for thewwwrootfolder in the installedthird-party antivirus solution, and finally re-enable it!

While you are here, discover ourtop picks for Visual Studio extensionsto boost efficiency and productivity.

Which fix worked for you? Share with our readers in the comments section.

Access to the Path App_Data is Denied: 4 Ways to Fix it#

How do I fix the Access to the path App_Data is denied error?#

1. Run Visual Studio as an administrator#

2. Grant IIS_IUSRS permissions to access the wwwroot folder#

3. Terminate any processes accessing the file#

4. Whitelist the wwwroot folder in your antivirus#