Bypass the cacls confirmation prompt automatically?

Question

I'm working on a custom settings script for Windows that will automate specific settings I want on a new Windows machine or installation. I grant access to some folders using cacls in my script, but I am prompted with the Y/N prompt for each listed item. I would like to bypass this by automatically saying "yes" for each folder or file I specify. I am aware of the risks with this and have had no issues thus far. Here is an example of one such directory in my script:

cacls "%PROGRAMFILES%\WindowsApps" /grant Administrators:f

score 11 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 14 '22 at 13:17

I am prompted with the Y/N on each item

I would like to bypass this by automatically saying "yes" for each of these

You can pipe Y into cacls using echo:

echo Y| cacls "%PROGRAMFILES%\WindowsApps" /grant Administrators:f

The CACLS command does not provide a /Y switch to automatically answer 'Y' to the Y/N prompt. However, you can pipe the 'Y' character into the CACLS command using ECHO, use the following syntax:
ECHO Y| CACLS filename /g username:permission

Source Cacls - Modify Access Control List - Windows CMD - SS64.com

Removed space before pipe to fix command

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 23 '19 at 19:48

8

Use this syntax:

echo y| cacls.exe [options]...

Note that the command-line needs to be written exactly as above, including the blanks (see link).

answered Jun 23 '19 at 19:48

harrymc

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score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 19 '20 at 03:56

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Switch to icacls.exe (built into Windows), which doesn't have this prompt.

edited Dec 19 '20 at 03:56

Stephen Rauch

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answered Dec 19 '20 at 03:19

M. Niehaus

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 14 '22 at 13:05

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One quick note about the best answer, need to remove the space just before the pipe

Y| works

Y | doesn't work

answered Jul 14 '22 at 13:05

bledd

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Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please [edit] to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers [in the help center](/help/how-to-answer). – Community Jul 14 '22 at 13:16

Bypass the cacls confirmation prompt automatically?

4 Answers4

I am prompted with the Y/N on each item