Locked out of your own files? That frustrating “Action cannot be completed…” error, even when it seems that nothing is using that file, is a digital wall many confront. Don’t let it drive you to chucking the computer out of any window! There are some solutions to free oneself and gain back control.
Quick Fixes
Before diving into too much troubleshooting, try these quick fixes to end the error:
- Restart your PC. This may close other apps or services using your file.
- Check if your anti-virus is currently scanning. It may be scanning the file, folder, or app. “So maybe your file is just another victim of cloud services? Is it another crazy incident of OneDrive and Google Drive syncing? Go offline and take charge again! Maybe disconnecting from the internet is what would actually free your files.”
1. Check Whether the File Is Open on Another Computer
Is that stubborn file refusing to close? It might be a network nomad! If you’re on a home or office network, chances are, someone else (or even yourselves, unbeknownst) has that file open. A rogue instance somewhere is holding your progress hostage!
The less embarrassing approach to doing the rounds and asking all offices around for that file, or poking around on other people’s computers as to see if it has been opened somewhere else, is to do one thing: check it.
Open the Start menu and search forcomputer management. Click the result.
In the Computer Management window, clickSystem Tools ->Shared Folders ->Open Filesin the left pane.
2. Locate the File in Task Manager
Locked out? Task Manager might be your escape key if a program’s hogging your file hostage.
Opening a Task Manager in a flash is simply click by pressing simultaneously onWinkey +X. The Task Manager opens, and now it is up to your inner workings of your PC! Make sure theProcessestab is in view; it’s your mission center where every program and background task are all demanding attention from your computer.
That one runaway hog is just taking away the precious resources. It’s time to put an end to it. Follow this quick-and-messy trick: hunt for the program above, select it, and then gently press “End Task.” Or get right-down ugly by right-clicking directly and selecting “End Task.” Consider the problem sorted out.
Try deleting the file again. If it still doesn’t work, move on to the next step.
Tip : can’t access Task Manager because it was disabled by your system’s administrator? Learn how to reverse the situation.
3. Restart File Explorer through Task Manager
It uses the opposite method than slamming the door by only a slight endeavor to put things back into gear. However, a note of caution should be made: ensure that all the important works are saved before moving forward!
If nothing happens, try rebooting your PC to restart Windows Explorer that way.
4. Turn Off the Caching of Thumbnails in Hidden thumbs.db Files
Do you ever get the frustrating “File is open in another program” prompt by the system? Microsoft may say that your thumbnail cache is the culprit, and so clearing it might free up your files from the error message forever.
Unleash hidden power! Press downWin+Rkeys to bring forth the Run window, your entrance to Windows mastery. Then typegpedit.mscand hitEnterfor that little tweak. No Group Policy Editor? Don’t worry! We’ll guide you to enable it. Still can’t enter? No worries! Quickly jump to the section on deleting thumbnails and stopping cache mania on Windows Home. Let’s Go!
In the left pane, expandUser Configuration ->Administrative Templates ->Windows Components ->File Explorer.
Go to the right pane, and double-click on theTurn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db filesoption.
Turn onEnabled. ClickApplyandOKto save your settings.
Thumbnail issue seems sorted. The consultation button has been placed. You may start pressing the Undo button to recreate missing thumbnails. presto.
If you ever need to reset Group Policy settings after making numerous changes, use these steps.
Delete Thumbnails and Stop Caching in Windows Home
Open your Start menu, typecmd, and selectRun as administrator.
Looking for the right drive?Windowsgenerally considers “C” to be the correct drive. If your system is installed elsewhere, it doesn’t matter. Just typecd drive letter(in place ofdrive letter, actually put the letter used for the drive) and pressEnter. You’re in there!
Enter the following command, and pressEnteragain:
“`
del
/
ash
/
s thumbs.db “`
Wait until the files are deleted before proceeding. Typeexitto leave Command Prompt.
Open File Explorer, and selectThis PC. The following steps will stop your PC from creating thumbnails.
Click the three dots beside View and selectOptions.
Click theViewtab, and checkAlways show icons, never thumbnails. PressApplyto save your changes.
5. Delete Temporary Files
Your computer might just be having a fit and throwing tantrums over such things as moving or deleting files. That satanic “This action can’t be completed” message could be a distress call by unwelcome temporary files. Such digital hitchhikers are created every time you edit a document, image, or anything else. Like a trail of crumbs, these invisible trails sometimes are placed right behind your own steps. Regularly clearing the crumbs is worthwhile because it declutters one’s digital life and keeps things smooth.
PressWin+Rto bring up the Run window. Type%temp%into the input bar, and pressEnter.
When the Temp folder opens, pressCtrl+Ato select all the files, and delete them together.
6. Check the Folder for Viruses
Still locked out? Don’t panic, but a possible digital gremlin might be active. It could be that there is a virus with him sitting in there, locking your file away. Time to call the digital exterminator-the antivirus software. Run it over the file and let it find any lurking malware.
Should this nightmare unfold, unleash your antivirus – quarantine the culprit and obliterate it before it breeds chaos.
7. Empty Your Recycle Bin
Is your system tantruming and throwing random messages at you, like “File is open in another program” or “This action can’t be completed”? Before blaming the whole world, try looking at your Recycle Bin. If you’re anything like me, that icon on the desktop is a digital black hole filled with innumerable files and might just be the culprit. An ever-expanding Recycle Bin certainly turns the File Explorer sour. Empty that trash and let the digital janitor have a go at it! What an easy fix to such an irritating issue!
Right-click on your Recycle Bin and clickEmpty Recycle Bin.
In a contrary way, dust motes dance around in a digital void. Viewing the virtual bin. When the last snip is gone, that’s the completion of deletion. Tempted to have a pop? Go ahead try to resurrect that file. We dare you.
8. Check for Hard Disk Problems
If your computer is throwing an error about “files being open elsewhere when they’re clearly not” while in fact such cannot be, your hard drive could be playing the very last act of its melodrama. Don’t panic, but act quickly. Windows has a number of inbuilt ‘detectives’ and free utilities that can interrogate your hard drive. Run diagnostic scans as soon as you can. A failing hard drive is a ticking time bomb for your precious data, so consider this a five-alarm fire: BACK. EVERYTHING. UP. Right now!
9. Stop All Background Processes With Resource Monitor
Picture ghostly threads invisibly linking your files to the phantoms of processes, much after you’ve closed them so-called. These programs always start with Windows or almost hitch a ride with other legitimate applications, operating behind the rubes’ Understanding. They are squatters on your system, and one might even clandestine hold on to your files.
Instead of trying to figure out the culprit, let the Resource Monitor do it for you.
Open the Run window, typeresmon.exe, and clickOK.
Open theCPUtab in the Resource Monitor, and expandAssociated Handlesat the bottom.
“Hunting for a runaway file or folder? Type its name into theSearch Handlesbox. A roll call of associated processes will appear. An empty list means your missing file isn’t lingering in the background, so the culprit lies elsewhere.”
Right-click any process you want to stop, and selectEnd Process.
9. Use File Locksmith in PowerToys
PowerToys is not offered by Windows in its base form, which is a pity given the myriad free utilities offered by Microsoft. Trying to wrest control of a file which doesn’t want to cooperate? How about using File Locksmith?
Now that you’ve installed it, let’s traverse its settings: Kinda looking for an icon that sits in your notification tray? Right-click on the icon and invoke “Settings.” If that sounds too tame, haunt your Start menu until you conjure PowerToys from its abyss in the program list.
LocateFile Locksmithand ensure it’s turned on. If not, toggle it on.
“File inclined to be difficult? Rightclick on the file icon and chooseUnlock with File Locksmithto free that file from its digital shackles. No “Unlock” spell to grace the sight? Then a reboot of your PC might be this recipe’s crucial missing ingredient. PowerToys needs to be restarted so that the file unlock magic can fully work.”
“Could there be a digital offender hogging your file? This list tells you which apps and services are guilty. One rightclick on the interloper, and it’s all over withEnd Task. Still get the feeling? Hit theReloadicon the detective’s magnifying glass to refresh the list and confirm that the file is indeed freed from unwanted attention.”
11. This Action Cannot Be Completed Because the File Is Open In …
If your error message includes a specific program name, there are several options to try:
- Close the program, and restart your PC. This helps if the file is just hung up in the program. “Still battling with that stubborn file? Safe Mode may be your secret weapon. When you enter Safe Mode, you clear the runway for deletion of background processes and other perpetrators. Try to delete it while in Safe Mode, and then reboot to normal. A win may be just a reboot away.”
Digital clutter, what an ugly word! Bust out your magnifying glass and start hunting copies that lurk in dark corners of your system! These nefarious duplicates form when files are left open in a browser window and are easy to identify because of the appended names like (1), (2), (3)…. Let’s get decluttering!
12. Copy and Delete
Locked out? An uncooperative file? Before you hurl that computer out the window, try this ninja move: the good old copy-paste-delete. Think of it as CPR for a digital stroke. Instead of actually cutting the file, take a gentler route andcopythe stubborn file into a safe directory. While now the fun part awaits: destroying the original. It might resist. Consider this: your digital wrecking ball-force delete-may be required. Consider mercy killing for any file that looks quite tired.
Thanks for reading How to Solve “File Is Open in Another Program” Error in Windows
