Choose the file that youre unable to delete and click on. To fix this, youll need to close Chrome and restart your PC. Disable inheritance for the problematic file/directory, 29. Mine was Zone Alarm locking the hosts file, one of it's advanced settings. If you want at any point to restore thumbnails in Windows 10, check out this guide to learn how you can do it. Problems with the File Explorer or the Recycle Bin. Somet.imes it locks, and sometimes not, but closing the preview gets rid of the problem. If none of the above methods work, the problem may be more serious. And have some results: try: myfile = open (filename, "r+") # or "a+", whatever you need except IOError: print "Could not open file! Click it and it will be unselected and disabled. Check for Hard Disk Problems 9. All thumbnails will be disabled in File Explorer with the steps above, but the problem should be resolved entirely. Several users claim that you dont even have to end Windows Explorer to delete the problematic file. Then in the right pane, double click on the Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files option. A new law . I had the same issue trying to delete a .html file. This will show you whether your file or a copy of it is open in another tab. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. For example, many users reported this error while trying to remove Word documents. Step 1: Download and install Unlocker on your Windows 10. If restarting does not work, go to another solution. Then when I go point to it and try to open it, it also says that it can't open the file. file or folder is open in another program" This has been a problem for years, maybe decades. Once again, open Task Manager, and go to the Processes tab. It gives a short glimpse of the files what is contained in them. user config/admin templates/windows components/windows explorer >. It's a good idea to isolate your folder windows' processes so that one entity's issues don't affect others. Sometimes this error message will tell you which program is holding your file. First, you need to download the PowerToys app from GitHub. Best Time to Buy a Computer for Amazing Deals. Your Taskbar may go invisible for a while, but after some time, it will reappear and. Once again, select all the temporary files in the folder that opens, and delete them all. If the files open in a specific program, you may be able to use Task Manager to solve the File is open in another program error. You can re-enable the thumbnails by following the above steps and changing the policy back to Not Configured.. When the file is fully closed, right-click on it and select. Right-click any process you want to stop, and select End Process.. Locate the parent row for your file and write down its ID. Bring Task Manager back in the foreground, select. I guess it gives whatever program time to sync that's open in the background. Locate. If youre interested in how to take ownership of a file or a folder in Windows 10, check out this fantastic guide. Press the Ctrl + F keys to open the search box. This can be useful for many users in many cases, but, it has proved to be a problem causing the error message under discussion. Instead of ending the task, this solution tries to restart the process. Terminating the programs will free the file so that you can delete it without any problem. In the new window on the left, click System Tools -> Shared Folders -> Open Files.. Stop All Background Processes 1. Disabling Preview Panel may solve this error. Are you facing other problems, like an unexpected error stopping you from opening this file? Keep in mind that changing the owner of system files can cause specific issues, so use this solution only for non-system files. Sometimes when you delete a file or folder on your Windows PC, it displays an error saying The action cant be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program. The application might be in use by a hidden service, or there may be a bug which wont let you perform the operations. If your computer is connected to a local network either at home or in the office then its possible that the file youre looking to close is open elsewhere on the network (possibly even by accident!). Follow the steps below to disable the preview pane. Restart File Explorer through Task Manager 4. Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox, 8 Ways to Clean Up Data in Microsoft Excel, 5 Tools to View Deleted Reddit Posts and Comments, TV Not Connecting to Wi-Fi? Search for the problematic file on the list and write the HEX number next to it. Launch & Close The Locked File. Alternatively, you can use one of the best Windows 10 optimizer software to clean up and optimize your PC. WinSCP and Notepad++: File does not exist anymore? Step 1: Try this first, if the file is locked by you Step 2: Talk to the other user Step 3: Make sure everyone uses a version that supports co-authoring Step 4: Put the file in OneDrive or SharePoint in Microsoft 365 Step 5: Make sure to use one of these file formats Step 6: Check your OneDrive sync app If not, just type cd. Do note that you might require administrator privileges to perform this action. After disabling the preview panel, you should be able to modify your file without any problems. Try deleting the file when your computer reboots. . Step 2: Select tab Processes , right-click on the program that can open the file and select End Task . 4. After ending the COM Surrogate process, the problem should be resolved. Right-click on the faulty file and choose, Type del followed by the files name in the. Alternatively, click an empty space, and select Disconnect All Open Files from the menu that appears. 7. . Step 2: Navigate to the location: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. If you see the compact Task Manager version, click More details in the bottom left and make sure you're in the Processes tab. After leaving the Homegroup, you have to disable its services. If so, check out our YouTube channel from our sister site Online Tech Tips. In fact, there may be more reasons for this problem. Are there websites on which I can generate a sequence of functions? Tip: if your screen saver functionality is not functioning properly, we have a list of fixes for you to try on your Windows PC. 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Minimize Command Prompt and open output.txt file. Similarly, whatever program the file is open in, simply close the program and itll free-up the file ready to be deleted. You just need to activate it. To do that, follow these steps: According to a few users, this problem can also be caused by Windows Search, and to fix it. Remove the metadata using the EXIFtool, 35. If your system is already up to date, youll have to use a different solution to fix this problem. Open the command prompt (if it is in the background, use Alt + Tab to navigate through the applications). Some programs may have your file open in the background Again, press. If you are on Windows 11, then click on Show more options. Sometimes this error message can appear if youre trying to modify a file or directory to read-only mode. 1 I am not interested in "which" process is accessing information. If it doesnt work for you, try Microsofts File Locksmith Utility. How to overcome the file-in-use error? Not associated with Microsoft. Solution 1. Right-click the file in the desktop folder, and then click Open With. Find the file in question and right-click it, select close open file and that should release any lock on that file. 9 Fixes for Night Light Not Working on How to Download Old Versions of Steam Games, 21 Ways to Optimize Windows 10/11 for Gaming, How to Use File Explorer Tabs on Windows 11, 8 Best File Managers for Windows 10 to Replace File Explorer, 3 Ways to Export Android Contacts to Microsoft Excel, 12 Best File Explorer Tips and Tricks for Windows 11, How to Disable/Enable the New Context Menu in Windows 11. The system will insist that the file is in use when it isn't. Thus, Microsoft won't let you delete a file. A quick way to fix the issue is to end and restart the activities of the File Explorer from the Task Manager. Help Desk Geek is part of the AK Internet Consulting publishing family. Right-click it and select . There are some reasons for the the action cant be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program error: One of them is the accumulation of file thumbnails. By default, it should be C: and click on. You might get a warning while trying to do so, but you should be able to circumvent it. A few users reported they solved the problem using this tool, so try it out. Depending on which version of Windows youre running, the tabs may be on the left sidebar instead of on top. Click Ctrl + Shift + ESC to open the Task Manager. July 5, 2023, 6:00 AM PDT. Like Power Toys? After doing that, you should be able to find the problematic file with ease and delete it. Its one of the infamous PowerToys and free to use. Be sure that your Windows is up to date. To fix the issue, you need to find the problematic application. See if you can copy the file elsewhere, edit, then overwrite the original. A few users also claim that you can fix this problem simply by uninstalling Adobe Reader from your PC, so you might want to try that as well. In fact, this error is probably caused by some Windows settings or by the file itself, but its often difficult to figure out the exact cause. Of course, use the correct path to the problematic file before running the command. Users reported that they fixed the problem by using EXIFtool. It is not installed by default, but here's how you can install it, find the program that's using the file/folder, end the process of using the file/folder, and finally delete the file/folder on Windows 10 and 11 easily. After unmounting it, all your mounted ISO files will be released, and youll be able to delete them without any problems. Close the program, and restart your PC. However, you might have to delete thumbs.db from all partitions on your PC to stop this error from appearing. Tech Enthusiast & Cinephile by Nature | Writing about technology for 3+ years on TechWiser| Currently interested in AI, PWAs, Cloud, Ecosystems & Esthetics. Now check if you can successfully perform the operation. Usefull, for example, to find which process is accessing a drive you try to unmount: just search for x: and it will show you every process accessing drive x: (or it's subpath)), Avira (Free) Antivirus also blocks the modification of some files, e.g. Click Start and search for computer management, then click the best match. This guide includes several fixes that may help address this problem. Adding salt pellets direct to home water tank. Youll see a list of every process associated with the term. Tip Try waiting a few moments and then deleting the file again. Since this is a workaround, youll have to repeat these steps for every directory giving you this error. Rebooting your machine closes all the processes and this includes the one thats using your file. rev2023.7.14.43533. What's the significance of a C function declaration in parentheses apparently forever calling itself? Confirmed reproon unselecting the file in Windows Explorer, the file could be opened again. The tool is simple to use and free, so if you have any issues with this error, try Unlocker. It could be the locked file wasnt closed properly the last time you accessed it in your programs. After making the changes above, you should be able to delete files and folders without any issues. Actually , Kaspersky is supposed to report/popup message whenever it blocks program but in this case it doesn't. However, you might be able to fix the problem simply by using Command Prompt to rename the problematic file or directory. We will never spam you, unsubscribe at any time. When Local Group Policy Editor opens, navigate to the path below: When the Registry Editoropens, navigate to the path below in the left pane: If the DWORD isnt available, youll need to create it by right-clicking the space in the right pane and choosing, Go to the newly created Explorer key, right-click the space in the right pane, and choose, If everything is in order, youll see a confirmation message. What is Catholic Church position regarding alcohol? There are several cases where other applications spawn a file for their own operational purposes or where the file is opened but hidden from view. You can also download it from theMicrosoft Store, but it is usually a few versions behind. According to users, they sometimes cannot rename specific files because the action cannot be completed because the file is open in another program. without you knowing. Download, install, and launch the app on your PC. Now just right-click on End task option here. Change dllhost.exe security permissions, 25. New York City businesses that use artificial intelligence to help find hires now have to show the process was free from sexism and racism. Run a scan with one or more of these tools to see if theres a problem. To do that, follow these steps: Homegroup is a valuable feature, but sometimes it can cause this problem due to specific bugs. Simply start Safe Mode and find the problematic file, and you should be able to modify it without any problems. If this does turn out to be the case, isolate the file using your antivirus software, and delete it before it can infect other files. Dealing with such locked file errors is actually pretty easy, although it may not seem so initially. Restart Your Windows Computer. This workbook is shared and was working fine up until a week ago. This isnt a permanent solution; youll have to repeat it with every file whenever this problem appears. Although it isn't typical, sometimes a program may encounter an issue, which makes it slower to close. To be sure, just open the file in your program and then close it properly. This helps if the file is just hung up in the program. If the above suggestions have not solved your problem, your computer may experience more severe Windows troubles. The error occurs on a wide range of applications and processes, including Excel, OneDrive, Microsoft SharePoint, or Network Share. This mostly happens if your file is open in your browser. Learn how to reverse the situation. End as many programs as possible associated with the file. This question is here because no one else seems to answer this question on other platforms but it might be necessary to know that. If you cant end a task in Windows 10, look at this step-by-step guide that will help you do it in just a few steps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems. Techwiser Media Private Limited (2012-2023), File/Folder Open in Another Program on Windows: How to Find and Force Delete, rename multiple files at once on Windows 10 and 11. Typically, this is the C drive. This is a simple tool that will allow you to unlock any files that are locked by your system and allow you to remove them. You need to remove all metadata from the problematic file to fix the issue. Now you need to disable the Windows Search service. Click the View tab, and check Always show icons, never thumbnails. Press Apply to save your changes. Close associated programs and processes Some programs may have your file open in the background without you knowing. Press Windows + E to launch the file explorer. If you've received the error message, "The action. After making these changes, you should be able to modify the file or folder without any issues. Restarting the computer will refresh all the files and their accesses which might solve the problem. You need to remove those files from your partitions to fix the issue. Another application that can help you fix this problem is Handle. Locked files take a little extra work to delete. Browse for the problematic file and select it. Preview Panel in File Explorer may also cause a the action cant be completed because the file is open in another program error when deleting files. Fix: Disk Defragmenter was Scheduled using Another Program, Fix: 'conda' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable, How to Fix 'This file doesn't have a program associated with it' Error, [Fix] 'This File came from Another Computer and might Blocked', Once in the task manager, search for the file which is giving the error. Fix 1: Open and Close the File The most direct workaround to this error is making sure the file is closed successfully. The action can't be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program, close the folder or file and try again, Facebook Page : https://. Thus, this software helps you find and delete junk files taking up valuable space in your system. if you have Avira Antivirus try to disable "Real Time Protection" and try again. Process Explorer is similar to Task Manager, allowing you to see currently active processes along with the list of files theyre using. #2 - stop windows from caching the thumbnails. Guiding you with how-to advice, news and tips to upgrade your tech life. Check out the best tools to securely delete your files! You don't have permissions to access the file. Either right click Notepad++ shortcut and choose run as admin or ctrl+shift and click notepad++ shortcut. In this way, you can ensure it's not open in any program. Open the directory that holds the problematic files/folders. If youre having a similar problem, you need to start Task Manager and check if the problematic application is running in the background. If nothing appears, then its not a background process issue. So, if you want to use it, learn Command Prompt syntax beforehand. Download it from the official site if you don't have it. But in your case this do not apply since you already restarted the system. Stop sharing for the problematic folder, 22. Do note that you may require administrative privileges to perform this operation. What would a potion that increases resistance to damage actually do to the body? So I kept getting the error when trying to delete it. If I do "os.path.isfile ("namefile")" the output is yes but I cannot read file until other python process has not finished to write it because I could lose many data. Computer errors occur sooner or later on any PC. Few users claim that you can fix the file that is open in another program problem simply by mounting the ISO file and unmounting it from the application. 1. Why does this journey to the moon take so long? Click the button below to subscribe! To do that, follow these steps: If youre frequently getting the file open in another program error, you might be able to fix it by making a few changes to the registry. After that, locate the folder or file you couldnt delete previously and try to delete it again. Can't delete because the file is open? While using Windows, you may have tried to delete a file or move it to another location and encountered an error that states, Action cannot be completed because the file is open in another program, even though you have not opened the file in any program. Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. Remember that this solution requires you to be familiar with basic Command Prompt syntax, so you might want to learn a few basic commands before you try it. Can something be logically necessary now but not in the future? You can use any other version of Linux if you want, but we recommend using an Ubuntu distribution due to its simplicity. What Is 192.168.0.1, and Why Is It The Default IP Address for Most Routers? Locate the folder or file that is giving you this error message. Be sure to use a non-system folder. Remember that Command Prompt is an advanced tool, and if youre unfamiliar with it, youll have to learn basic syntax before using this solution. By default, Windows 10 automatically downloads the updates, but sometimes you might miss an important update.

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