Why don't files inherit the destination folder's permissions when moved between folders on the NAS?
Last modified date:
2026-03-05
Applicable Products
- QTS, QuTS hero
- Samba
Scenario
When you move a file between folders on your NAS, the file retains its original permissions and does not inherit the permissions of the destination folder.
Solution
Samba handles file moves in this way by design. To avoid permission inheritance issues, we recommend using copy/paste instead of cut/paste when moving files.
Details
File operations (copy, cut, paste) in Samba have different permission inheritance rules depending on the operation and whether the files are moved within the same or across different volumes. The table below summarizes the variations.
| Operation | Scenario | System Behavior | Permission Inheritance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy/Paste |
| The system treats the copied file as a newly created file. | The copied file inherits the destination folder's permissions. |
| Cut/Paste |
| The file is simply moved; no new copy is created. | The moved file retains its original permissions and does not inherit the destination folder's permissions. |
| The system treats the file as a newly created file, but retains all explicit permisisons. | The moved file maintains its original explicit permissions and does not inherit destination folder's permissions. |
Further Reading
How can I configure NAS shared folder permissions in Windows?
