4 easy ways to fix “File in use” error on Windows 10

Have you ever encountered the “File in use” error when deleting or editing a file in use on Windows 10? Well, yes, there are times when our Windows does not allow us to delete a specific file, even when it is not in use. Also, it becomes very confusing to overcome this error because you cannot know the cause of this problem. This may also prevent you from removing the file from the location and show the file in use error while deleting.

This problem most commonly occurs when due to interference from problematic apps, presence of virus or malware on the device, conflict between apps, and other reasons that keep some part or the other part of the file running, the message “File in use error ”on your PC not allowing you to delete or modify the file at that time. It indicates that some of the apps running in the background are still using any instance of the particular file that you are trying to access or modify.

Well, the good thing is that this problem can be easily fixed by uninstalling some third party apps or making small changes to the settings. Here is a summary troubleshooting guide on how to fix the Windows 10 File in Use error that lists all possible workarounds.

How to fix the file in use error on Windows 10?

1. Remove third party apps

We’re pretty sure your device is full of apps and services, which you barely use. So, the first thing you need to do is to perform a thorough check on all the apps installed on your device. Watch carefully for third-party apps or anything you find suspicious on the list.

When in doubt about a particular app, uninstall it right away to undo the file in use due to another process error. To uninstall apps on Windows 10, follow these steps:

• Open Windows Settings and select “System”.
• Tap the “Apps and features” option 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 app you need to get rid of, then tap the “Uninstall” button.
• Repeat the same set of steps for remove all unwanted apps from your device. When finished, restart your device to check if you are still experiencing the Windows 10 “File in use error” error.

2. Close all running applications

Another solution you can try is close all running apps via Windows Task Manager. Follow these quick steps to proceed:

• Press the key combination Control + Shift + Esc to start the Task Manager di Windows.
• In the Task Manager window, switch to the “Processes” tab.
• Select any app in execution that you think is suspicious, right click on it, then tap the “End Task” option.
• Close the Task Manager window to check if it solved the problem.

3. Switch to Safe Mode

File in use error while deleting a file can be frustrating, if you want to delete the file, switch to safe mode it’s a great way to get the job done.

• Tap the Windows icon in the taskbar, press the Power button while holding the Shift key. Select the “Restart” option.
• When you press the Shift key, your PC will reboot into the safe mode environment.
• Tap “Troubleshoot”.
• Navigate to Advanced Options> Startup Settings and then tap the “Restart” button.
• Choose the desired Safe Mode option to restart your device. Once your device has booted into safe mode, select the file you were trying to delete. You will easily be able to get rid of the file in safe mode without any problems.

4. Change the file extension

Changing the file extension can also work as a useful trick to fix the “File in use error” on Windows 10 devices.

• Open File Explorer and navigate to the location of the folder where the file is stored.
• Tap the “View” option on the title bar and select the “Filename Extensions” option.
• Now whatever file you were trying to edit or delete, right click on it and then select the “Rename” option.
• Change the file extension; try anything. Type in the suffix “.txt” and save the changes.
• The system will display a confirmation message if you want to change the file extension. Tap “Yes” to confirm.

Frequent questions

1. How do I close a file in use?

While trying to close a file that is in use, you can attempt to use the Task Manager to end the task in case it cannot be closed by clicking the Close button.

2. Why does it say folder in use?

If a folder shows that it is in use, this may be due to multiple reasons, you should try to terminate all tasks running on the system to make sure it is not open for any process.

3. How do I know which program is using a file?

Check all the programs running on your computer and see if any of the applications are requesting the file. If you can’t find it, close all running programs and then uninstall unwanted third party applications.

4. Can I delete a folder by saying it is in use?

A user cannot delete a file or folder that is still in use, as they must first attempt to close it. If you are facing these issues then you need to try the above mentioned methods to find a solution to this problem.

5. How can I delete a file that is in use by another process?

If you want to delete a file but it is being used by another process, you will need to check why. If the error shows that the requested resource is in use, you need to verify that process and terminate it. Try rebooting your system to fix the issues, then delete the file.

6. How to find out which Windows process is using a file?

It is important to find out which Windows process is using a file in case of a change. If you can’t find it, troubleshoot the Windows 10 “File in Use” error using the methods in the blog post.