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How to Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows

Deleting, moving, or renaming files is a simple task in Windows. However, the system will not allow you to modify open files in programs. When you try to delete it, a message stating that the document is open in another program will be displayed, forcing the user to unlock the file or close the program. In addition, it may not be clear which software blocked the document. A background program or process may have '' terminated with a file '', but it has not closed properly.

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Here's how to delete, move, or rename locked files in Windows

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To unlock, you can simply restart the PC. But if that does not solve, try using the Process Explorer application by following the procedure below.

Step 1. Run the Process Explorer;

Step 2. If the bottom panel of the application is not active, click the "View" menu and then the "Show Lower Pane" option (or press the CTRL + L keys);

Activating the bottom panel of Process Explorer

Step 3. Next, access the program search by clicking the "Find" menu and the "Find Handle or DLL ..." option;

Accessing the program search

Step 4. In the search window, enter the name of the file that is blocked and click the "Search" button;

Searching the file that is locked

Step 5. When the result appears, click on the item located for the information to appear in the lower pane. Then, right-click the file name. In the menu that will be displayed, click the "Close Handle" option;

Initiating file unlocking

Step 6. When an alert window is displayed, click the "Yes" button to confirm the unlock.

Confirming unlocking the file

You can also do this unlock using IObit Unlocker. The program itself applies a command to unlock files directly from the Windows context menu. After you do the installation, you can right-click on a file or folder and select "IObit Unlocker" to open the application with that selected file.