How to delete, move or rename a locked file in Windows?

Have you encountered the following messages from windows when you try to delete, move or rename a locked file?

  • Can’t delete files
  • Access is denied
  • It is being used by another program
  • Cannot read from the source file or disk
  • Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected

Windows won’t allow you to delete, move or rename files that open programs have locked. if you try to modify the file and see a error message, you’ll have to unlock the file (or close the program).

Here are the steps to unlock a file:

  1. Install & Run Process Checker
  2. Run the program by right clicking on the file and then choose Process Checker
  3. Terminate the related processes that are using the selected file

  4. Unlock completed. Now you can delete, move or rename this unlocked file in your File Explorer