How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

If you are trying to edit / delete a particular file on your computer but you get an error message saying "The action could not be completed because the folder is open in another programIt is not possible to delete / modify the file without stopping the other program that is using it. Some Windows 10 users follow the processes described in this article to find out which process is “locking” the file on your computer, stop the process and you can edit / delete the file again on your computer.




How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

Example-

Eventually, we tried to remove "adobe" from the Folder Temperature file and it returned an error message saying "The action could not be completed because the file is open in Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service".

In the two methods described below, we will use this case.

How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

Method 1 Use Resource Monitor to detect and terminate the process.

In the Resource Monitor window, it can detect which application or service identifier contains the particular file, so that you can easily end the process from there.

1. Press Tasto Windows + R have lunch run window on your computer. To run window, type "resmon“And hit Log in.

Resource Overseer The window will open on your computer.

How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

2. In the Resource Overseer window, go to the "processorEyelash ".

3. Now expand "Associated handles"And then in the search box type the name of the file you are having problems with (for us it will be"adobegc“) Then click the blue arrow in the same box to view the associated handles file from that file.




4. You will see the associated identifiers for the file in the Language Associated Handles file. The right mouse button during the file locking process, then click "Process finished“To complete the process on your computer.

How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

After finishing the specific service, try to edit / delete the file again. This time you can. If you have further problems, choose the second method.

Method 2 Use Process Explorer

Process Explorer is a tool from Microsoft which is very useful for detecting any associated process that contains a particular service on your computer.


1. Download Process Explorer on your computer.

2. After downloading the zip file, go to the downloaded path. Extract the downloaded "Processexplorer“Zip file in a location of your choice.

How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10


3. Now go to the extraction site on your computer. Double click in "procexp64"To run on your computer (in case you are using 32 bit Windows 10, you need to run"procexp"On your computer).

How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

4. In the Process Explorer window, click "Find"In the menu bar, then click"Find identifier or DLL ...“On your computer.


How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

Wait a bit Process Explorer will find the processes associated with the string you entered.

5. In the Search in Process Explorer window, enter the search string next to "Manage or substring of DLL:", then click "ResearchRight next to the search box.

6. Wait a moment Process Explorer will list the processes that are using the file. When the search is complete, click the process on the Process tab.

The following process will be highlighted in the Process Explorer window.

How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

7. In Process Explorer finestra, the right mouse button in the highlighted process and then click "Close the handle“To close the process on your computer.

How to find out which process is locking a file or folder in Windows 10

After closing the process, close the Process Explorer window on your computer.

That is! Now you can easily edit / delete the file on your computer. Your problem should be solved.

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