How can I identify what application is using a given file?

Question

I'm trying to delete some folder but this error is preventing from doing it:

Cannot delete [FileName]: It is being used by another person or program.

Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

How can I identify what application is using the file?

I want to end the application using a Task Manager, but I didn't know what application is using it.

The folder is not shared and my user account is an administrator.

Answer 1

Can't believe no one mentioned Unlocker! This can unlock the file, kill the process, works on folders as well as files and is super fast! I tried millions of utilities for unlocking, but Unlocker is the best.

Answer 2

Have a look at Process Explorer (procexp.exe).

From it's introduction:

Ever wondered which program has a particular file or directory open? Now you can find out.

To find out what process is using a specific file follow these steps:

1. Go to Find, Find Handle or DLL.. or simply press Ctrl+F.

   

2. Enter the name of the file and press Search.

   

3. Process Explorer will list all processes that have a handle to the file open. Click on an entry to focus the process in the main window.

   

4. Optionally, you can then even close the handle manually through the lower pane (Ctrl+L):

   

Answer 3

EMCO UnlockIT can identify the process that has locked the file as well as unlock the file so that you may delete/edit/move it. The program is completely free, though the newer version is a bit slower and more bloated than the original (which had a plain, unskinned GUI, but loaded pretty much instantaneously and without an annoying splash screen). Also, the original version used to pop up automatically whenever the error you mentioned is triggered, allowing you to instantly unlock the file and perform the operation you were attempting.

Still, UnlockIT is an incredibly useful program that provides a basic functionality that is critically missing from Windows. It's among the standard toolkit of utilities that I install on all Windows computers I work on.

Answer 4

Here was my discovery & solution.

Incidentally, none of the above answers solved my problem.

I even tried using UNLOCKER which proved worthless.

My problem was that of Memeo Autosync Backup

Apparently, this backup process leaves enough of a "ghost like file." This "ghost like file," would show up whenever I would ALT-TAB my computer (Windows Professional XP), i.e. I would see TWO MS Excel Programs running, when I only had ONE visible, on my TASK BAR.

I came across this solution when I thought it might have been the SYMANTEC Endpoint (Anti-Virus) Protection; and disabled the program. However, I kept getting the error message:

cannot delete (LARGE.xls file): It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using this file and try again.

I subsequently kept seeing the Memeo notice of "syncing" and QUIT the program.

Subsequently, NO ERROR.

For you, it could be ANY of these background saves.

Answer 5

If you do not know the program the file it is using then you can go to My Computer; right click; select Manage. Under System Tools > Shared folders > Open Files, you should be able to see the user who has locked the file. You can close file from here and then you can perform the task of rename or delete the file. Hope this helps

Answer 6

Additional possibility, just to save people the time I just spent:

In older versions of Windows, you might get "Access Denied - you might not have rights, or the file might be in use". If you find through Process Explorer that the files are, in fact, not opened by anyone, odds are that there is an issue with security. Using an administrator account, select the files in Explorer, right-click and select Properties, Security, Advanced, Owner. Odds are that the files are owned by an account that no longer exists or can no longer be verified to exist (because of changing Active Directory trust settings).

Change ownership to Administrators and you are good to go.