Then the file is open in another program error will be resolved and you can delete the file successfully. According to users, Adobe Reader can sometimes cause this error message to appear. Tech Enthusiast & Cinephile by Nature | Writing about technology for 3+ years on TechWiser| Currently interested in AI, PWAs, Cloud, Ecosystems & Esthetics. . Click Start and search for computer management, then click the best match. Open your Start menu, and search for command prompt. Click Run as administrator under the result. This will show any shared files that are open on your network. But there is an easy way and that is to use Microsofts own Power Toys app. A detailed list isn't necessary for all files and programs, only what is relevant to that specific file in question. Click the, The Services window will now open. Copyright Windows Report 2023. Similarly, whatever program the file is open in, simply close the program and itll free-up the file ready to be deleted. This question is here because no one else seems to answer this question on other platforms but it might be necessary to know that. Check if a file is not open nor being used by another process Turn Off the Caching of Thumbnails in Hidden thumbs.db Files. 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. @LorenzoVonMatterhorn, I just did what Johan said an it worked, so you now have another source. Pros and cons of "anything-can-happen" UB versus allowing particular deviations from sequential progran execution. Unable to delete file: being used by another person or program The Action Cannot Be Completed Because the File is Open: Fix Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. 10 Ways to Fix, 4K Wallpapers For Desktop: 6 Sites To Find The Best Ones, 5 Best Chromecast Ethernet Adapters for a Wired Connection. Theres actually an option that helps you create separate processes for each folder you open on your PC and its worth toggling it to see if it helps resolve your issue. subtract file's modification time from now (), yielding D. if T <= D < X then open the file and do what you need with it. 12 Odd, but Interesting USB Gadgets Worth Buying, 7 Best USB Bluetooth Adapters/Dongles for Windows PC, 10 Best Wireless Intercom Systems For Home Or Small Business. So I kept getting the error when trying to delete it. If nothing appears, then its not a background process issue. To do that, follow these steps: Lastly, you have to make a few changes to the registry, and youre good to go. Are there websites on which I can generate a sequence of functions? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. MagicDisk can sometimes show your ISO file as mounted when it isnt. To do that, follow these steps: Theres also another way to fix this problem using Registry Editor. Before going any further solutions, try restarting your computer. Right-click it, then click End task., Go to File at the top of the Task Manager window, and select Run new task.. 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. How to Delete a File That Is Open in Another Program - Alphr Excel Needs Key For Microsoft 365 Family Subscription. Fix: Action Can't be Completed as File is Open in Another Program So, if you want to use it, learn Command Prompt syntax beforehand. You need to download a different PDF reader and set it as a default application for PDF files to fix the problem. Group Policy Editor isnt available in the Home version. Start with the first one and work your way down. Your explorer will vanish from your screen leaving behind the applications still running. Solved: power bi unable to open document .pbix is already If you want to disable the Preview pane quickly, you can use the Alt + P shortcut. But in your case this do not apply since you already restarted the system. 1. In the new window that opens, type explorer.exe and hit. You can re-enable the thumbnails by following the above steps and changing the policy back to Not Configured.. It's inconsistent. I have rebooted the machine again but I am still unable to open the file. 5 Things To Try, Windows 7/8/10 - How to Delete Files Protected by TrustedInstaller, Fix Windows 7 Update Error Code 0x80070422, Lost Windows 7 Install Disc? Posts : 450 Windows 7. Affiliate Disclosure: Make Tech Easier may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. If you keep getting The action cannot be completed because the file is open in another program error message, you might be able to solve the problem by deleting the temp folders. It shows a preview of the file and I guess that causes Notepad++ to see it as being open. Are you facing other problems, like an unexpected error stopping you from opening this file? If the file is stored on a network share in a Windows Server, open the Computer Management, expand Shared Folders, then go into Open Files. Windows Search is a core component of Windows, and if you use it frequently, you might want to skip this solution and try a different one. Once your PC restarts, try to delete the file again. Check out the best tools to securely delete your files! This guide includes several fixes that may help address this problem. Now right-click on the file/folder in the File Explorer that you are unable to delete. Check the Always use this app to open box. Why is that so many apps today require a MacBook with an M1 chip? First off, there is a free version you can download, but it is limited to just scanning your PC for problems and not fixing them. Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to missing or corrupted system files and repositories of your Windows. Fix problems opening documents in SharePoint libraries If a program is using a file, and Windows knows that the file is in use. Disabling this feature isnt the best way to solve this problem, but it might be helpful in some cases. If youre getting this error frequently, it might be due to your security settings. Create a New One From Scratch, How To Change The Windows 7 Login Screen Background Image, Difference between Windows 7 Home, Professional and Ultimate, Change Default Media Player and Photo Viewer in Windows 8, Fix "Your PC's CPU isn't compatible with Windows 8/10" Error, 4 Ways to Delete or Remove a Service in Windows, How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge From Your Windows 11 PC, 5G Not Showing Up on Android or iPhone? Its possible that a File Explorer process is using your locked file and so you are unable to delete it. Follow these steps to remove them from your computer storage. Sometimes, this error message can be caused by a bug in Windows 10. Instead of trying to guess the program thats using the file/folder, heres how you can find and force delete a file/folder thats open in another program on Windows 10 and 11. . If the file hasn't been assigned, it will pop up a dialog to select one. Its one of the infamous PowerToys and free to use. Problems with the File Explorer or the Recycle Bin. Select the View tab on the open window. Here's How to Fix the Problem, How to Turn a Picture into Wallpaper on Android (And Make It Fit). windows - Python - How to check if a file is used by another If you dont have the Group Policy editor on your Windows 10, get it on your PC by following our guide on how to install Group Policy editor. Your PC will keep on throwing the same error on your screen letting you know the file is in use in some program. 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. Adding salt pellets direct to home water tank. 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? Then in the pop-up menu, select Whats using this file? Now check if the problem at hand got solved. Fixes For Windows, Mac, and Linux, How to Connect to Only 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi Band (Prevent Switching). These temporary files may be preventing you from moving or deleting the related files, which may lead to a This action cant be completed, as file is open message. Also, keep in mind that changing Indexing Options or disabling the Windows Search service can cause problems with specific features. Once the program is closed, your file should be free from any processes and youll be able to remove it from your machine. Rebooting clears your RAM and the hidden services running in the background, which may be using your file. It's a good idea to isolate your folder windows' processes so that one entity's issues don't affect others. 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. You should be able to delete the file if Preview pane had occupied it. To start, open the Finder app and find the location of your file. 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. Step 2: Select tab Processes , right-click on the program that can open the file and select End Task . In the Search Handles box, type the name of your file or folder. Read on to see how to delete a file when you getthe action cannot be completed because the file is open in another program error message. What Is 192.168.0.1, and Why Is It The Default IP Address for Most Routers? Even with the machine switched off and trying to open the file from another machine yeilds the same response on that machine. If so, check out our YouTube channel from our sister site Online Tech Tips. Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23493 Restart File Explorer through Task Manager, 4. WinSCP and Notepad++: File does not exist anymore? Now you need to disable the Windows Search service. After installation, just click the View&Fix button and then press Start Repair. To get started, just click on the new button on the taskbar (or WIN + C) to launch Windows Copilot. In Windows 11, click the three dots beside View, and select Options. In Windows 10, select View from the menu at the top, then Options.. Open file in Notepad++ as a tab without closing launched process, Text file with password but cross platform windows/android, Notepad++ Settings Don't Save Between Sessions, Find out all the different files from two different paths efficiently in Windows (with Python). 7. 7 Fixes to Try, Change IP Address and DNS Servers using the Command Prompt, Network Adapter Not Working? Remember that this solution doesnt require you to perform it on every partition. Step 1: Right click on any empty area on the taskbar and select Task Manager to open Task Manager . If none of the above works, try to use a third-party Unlocker tool to deal with your problematic file that cannot be deleted. After leaving the Homegroup, you have to disable its services. According to users, they sometimes cannot rename specific files because the action cannot be completed because the file is open in another program. Now open the Power Toys app, and select the File Locksmith option in the sidebar. Temporary files are stored on your computer every time you modify a file in any manner. Under SAVE, those who borrow $12,000 or less can have their debts wiped away after just 10 years of . Step 3: Try to delete the file again and see if you can delete it successfully. dset (d) June 24, 2021, 9:16am 1 Goodmorning I need to check if a file is already open in written or read mode before reopen it by another python code. For some reason, if none of the above methods work for you, you might want to use a third-party app to unlock the file and then delete it. Note: If all the above methods dont work, you should restart your computer. This is relatively simple, and performing a Clean boot is the best way to do that. While some are relatively harmless, others, like your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error will prevent you from performing specific tasks. Simply download the Ubuntu ISO file and create a bootable USB flash drive or Live disc. Some files can be opened, others can't. The main issue is running my macro from a file that is on Sharepoint that reads from a Sharepoint file in the same directory. According to users, The action cannot be completed because the file is open in another program can appear if youre using the Preview panel. option. Now this post will list several ways that are most likely to help solve the problem that a file cannot be deleted because it is open in another program. Open the directory that holds the problematic files/folders. I am trying to edit a .CFG file in Notepad++. 29 Dec 2011 #6. After making these changes, all folders will open as separate processes, and you wont have any more problems with this error message. To be sure, just open the file in your program and then close it properly. Type the file's name, and it will show you the program using it. I did some research in internet.