# FAQ.1 — Write permission error when installing the 3ds Max connector

### 1. What happened?

When installing the **3ds Max connector** from SkinLayer Studio, you may see a write-permission error, or the app may look frozen (“Not Responding”).

The connector is installed into Max’s **user scripts** folder (not Program Files). If Windows blocks writing to that folder, Install may fail.

App message example:

> This folder has no write permission. Please grant write access.  
> For details, see this guide.

---

### 2. Target folder

```
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Autodesk\3dsMax\<VERSION> - 64bit\<LANG>\scripts\startup
```

Examples:

```
C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2025 - 64bit\CHS\scripts\startup
C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2024 - 64bit\ENU\scripts\startup
```

- `<VERSION>` — e.g. `2024`, `2025`
- `<LANG>` — language pack folder, e.g. `CHS` (Chinese), `ENU` (English), `KOR`, `JPN`…

**Tip:** Press `Win + R`, paste the line below, press Enter — File Explorer opens Local AppData. Then go to `Autodesk\3dsMax\...`.

```
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Autodesk\3dsMax
```

---

### 3. How to grant write permission (Windows)

> Exact clicks can vary slightly by Windows version. Corporate PCs may need IT help.

1. Close **3ds Max** completely (check Task Manager if needed).
2. Open File Explorer and go to the `scripts\startup` folder above.  
   If `startup` does not exist, open `scripts` instead.
3. Right-click the **`startup`** folder (or `scripts` if `startup` is missing) → **Properties**.

As in the screenshot, right-click `scripts` in Explorer and choose **Properties**.

![scripts folder - Properties](step1_open_scripts_properties.png)

4. Open the **Security** tab.
5. In the list, select **your Windows user account** (username).  
   (Not `SYSTEM` — select **your own name**.)
6. If **Write** is not allowed, click **Edit…**.

In the screenshot below, the red boxes are what to check; the orange box is **Edit** when you need to change permissions.

![Security tab - select your account - Edit](step2_security_tab_edit.png)

7. Check **Modify** and **Write** under **Allow** (or “Full control” if your IT allows it) → Apply → **OK**.  
   If Windows asks to apply to subfolders, accept.

Confirm the Allow column is checked, then click **OK**.

![Allow Write Modify - OK](step3_allow_write_ok.png)

8. If the folder is marked **Read-only** on the General tab, clear the Read-only check → Apply.
9. Return to **SkinLayer Studio** → **Options → Connectors** → Install **3ds Max** again.
10. Restart 3ds Max, then Connect.

---

### 4. Important

| Do | Don’t |
| --- | --- |
| Fix write permission on the folder above | Expect **Run as administrator** on SkinLayer Studio to fix this — it usually **does not** |
| Close Max before installing | Install while Max is locking files in that folder |

---

### 5. Still failing?

- Try the same steps for **every** language folder you use (`CHS`, `ENU`, …).
- Ask IT whether **Controlled Folder Access** / antivirus is blocking AppData writes.
- Copy the full folder path from the SkinLayer Studio error dialog and send it to support.