Symptoms

When trying to open some of the pdf files in FineReader PDF, the following message occurs:

"You have no access rights to open this file."

or

"Access to C:...pdf denied."

This does not happen for all the PDF files, but for some of them.

Cause

The issue may be caused by the following reasons:

1. The antivirus software blocks access to the file (for example, we have information that Avast sensitive data shield does not allow access to the digitally signed PDFs);
2. The user does not have sufficient rights to the folder, where the file is located;
3. The file was protected by its creator/owner.

Resolution

1. Make the corresponding configurations to the antivirus. 

Add FineReader PDF folders along with the folder with the file to open to the exceptions of the antivirus software.

For FineReader PDF 16: 

• C:\temp\FR16
• C:\ProgramData\ABBYY\FineReader\16
• C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\ABBYY\FineReader\16 
• C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\ABBYY\FineReader\16
• C:\Program Files\Common Files\ABBYY\FineReader\16
• C:\Program Files\ABBYY FineReader 16

For FineReader PDF 15 and earlier versions: 

• C:\temp\FR15
• C:\Program Files (x86)\ABBYY FineReader <product version>
• C:\%username%\AppData\Local\ABBYY\FineReader\<product version>
• C:\%username%\AppData\Roaming\ABBYY\FineReader\<product version>
• C:\ProgramData\ABBYY\FineReader\<product version>
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ABBYY\FineReader\<product version>

Note: The AppData and the ProgramData folders may be hidden.

Add all of the FineReader PDF processes to your antivirus' list of trusted processes. The processes are situated in C:\Program Files\ABBYY FineReader 16 or C:\Program Files (x86)\ABBYY FineReader <product version>:

• FineReader.exe
• FineReaderOCR.exe
• NetworkLicenseServer.exe
• Comparator.exe
• FineUpdate.exe
• Registrator.exe
• ScreenshotReader.exe
• HotFolder.exe

2. Check and provide the Windows user with all the necessary permissions to access files and folders in the system.

3. If the file is protected by the owner, only the owner can change the permissions for accessing the file.