How to fix file in use error on Windows. Although both Windows and its users have entered the 21st century, there are still some annoying errors. Read on as we tackle the “File In Use” deletion error issue.
How to fix file in use error on Windows?
Solution #1: Remove third-party apps
Pretty sure your device must be loaded with lots of apps and services and some apps and services that you hardly even use. So, the first thing you need to do is to thoroughly check all the installed apps on your device. Look closely to check for third-party apps or anything you find suspicious on the list.
The moment you have doubts about a particular app, uninstall it immediately to destroy the file being used by another process error. To uninstall apps on Windows 10, follow these steps:
- Open Windows Settings and then select System .
- Click Apps and Features from the left menu pane.
- You will see a list of all installed apps on the right side of the screen. Scroll through this list, select the application you need to remove, then tap Uninstall .
- Repeat the same steps to remove all unwanted apps from your device. Once done, reboot your device to check if you still get File in use error Windows 10 error.
Solution #2: Terminate All Running Apps
Another solution you can try is to close all running applications via Windows Task Manager . Follow these quick steps to continue:
Press the Control + Shift + Escape key combination to launch the Windows Task Manager .
In the Task Manager window, switch to Processes .
Select any running application that you find suspicious , right-click it, then click End Task .
Close the Task Manager window to check if it solves the problem.
Solution #3: Go to Safe Mode
The file in use error when deleting a file can be annoying, if you want to delete a file, then going into safe mode is a good way to get the job done.
- Click the Windows icon on the taskbar, press the Power button while holding the Shift key. Select Restart.
- When you press the Shift key, your PC will restart in a Safe Mode environment.
- Tap Troubleshoot.
- Navigate to Advanced Options > Startup Settings and then tap Restart.
Startup Settings - Select the desired Safe Mode option to restart your device. After your device boots in Safe mode, select the file you’re trying to delete. You should be able to remove the file easily in Safe Mode without any hassle.
Solution #4: Change the file extension
Changing the file extension can also work as a useful trick to fix File in use error on Windows 10 devices.
- Open File Explorer and go to the folder location where your files are stored.
File name extensions - Tap View on the title bar and check File name extensions.
- Now whatever file you are trying to modify or delete, right click on it and then select Rename.
- Change the file extension; try anything. Type the .txt suffix and save your changes.
- Your system will pop up a message confirming whether you want to change the file extension or not. Type in Yes.
Download Advanced PC Cleanup
And yes, before you leave, don’t forget to download the Advanced PC Cleanup tool on your Windows device. Advanced PC Cleanup is an intuitive PC cleaning and optimization tool that allows you to remove redundant applications that you do not use often remove junk files and protect your device from viruses, malware or any potentially dangerous threats.
Frequently asked Questions
Q1. How do you close a file in use?
While trying to close the file in use, you can try to use the Task Manager to end the task in case you cannot close the file by clicking the Close button.
Q2. Why does it say the directory is in use?
If a folder shows that it is in use, which can be caused by many reasons, you must try to end all running tasks on the system to make sure it is not open to any process. The folders in use can also be due to errors –The requested resource is in use , fix it with methods.
Q3. How do I know which program is using the file?
Check all the programs running on your computer and see if there are any that require the file. If you can’t find it, close all running programs and then uninstall unwanted third-party apps.
Q4. Is it possible to delete a directory that says it is in use?
The user cannot delete a file or folder that is still in use, because you need to try to close the file or folder first. If you are facing these problems, you must try the above mentioned methods to find the solution to this problem.
Q5. How to delete a file being used by another process?
If you want to delete a file but it is being used by another process, you will need to check its reason. If the error shows you the requested resource is being used then you need to check that process and end it. Try restarting your system to fix the problem and then delete the file.
Q6. How To Find Out Which Windows Process Is Using Files?
It is important to find out which Windows process is using the file in case of modifying it. If you can’t find it, solve the File in use error Windows 10 problem using the methods in the blog post.
Theartcult hopes that this article would be helpful for you. If you have any questions or suggestions on this topic, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below. Thanks for reading!
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