can't delete file because file is in use

Anonymous
2013-02-22T12:34:36+00:00

So whenever I'm in a file explorer window and I want to delete a file(eg PDF) I get a "File in use" message.

I've figured out that this is caused by the preview pane. No preview pane no message and the file deletes.

I want to know how I can delete a file with the preview pane active because I want to check the contents to make sure it's the correct file I want to delete?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2017-06-18T21:52:58+00:00

Hi Gianluca,

This thread has been created on 2015 and was previously resolved. There has been a lot of changes since then and the resolution provided here may not be applicable anymore. Hence, we recommend you to create your own thread regarding your concern for assistance from our community.

If there's anything else, feel free to reach out to us.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-29T12:37:39+00:00

    Being able to rename and delete files while in preview are very important to the medical offices on EMR. This is one area that the upgrade has caused a working area to not function.  We need to rename, upload and then delete approximately 300 files a day and we are a small practice.  I am sure the larger practices have thousands of files to view and delete.  The clicking preview pane on and off is non-productive for the employees especially when things were working fine on Windows 7.  That means that I cannot upgrade all the computers in the office until a solution is found.

    I even tried to simply email Microsoft to plead my case, but get the click run around did not yield an email address.  They will chat for a fee, but no email for suggestions to improve their product.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-04T01:29:07+00:00

    {09/03/15 @ 21:28}

    Windows 10

    Windows 10 up to date (09/03/15@15:07)

    Tried your suggestion, but check box or not the file cannot be deleted.

    Problem: Unable to delete PDF files. Error seems to be that PDF Viewer, in Preview Pane, locks the file so that it cannot be deleted. This was not a problem in Windows 7 so why is it in Windows 10?

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-16T15:01:04+00:00

    I too have had this issue and I've spent hours trying to solve it to no avail....until today. Opening the Folder Options box and unticking the boxes next to "Show preview handlers in preview pane" and " Launch folder windows in a separate process" DID NOT solve the issue for me. Here however, is what did solve the issue for me:

    1. In File Explorer click on the "View" tab and enable "Item Check Boxes", by placing a check mark in the item box next to it (yeah....uh, over there on the right side towards the top....you got it.). From now on, whenever you highlight a file, you will see an empty check box next to it.
    2. To delete the file (or folder...whatever) simply click on the file to be deleted and put a check mark in the empty box next to it.
    3. Now either select "Delete" from the right click menu (right mouse button) or from the "Home" tab in File Explorer.

    Hope this helps.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-11T21:06:38+00:00

    You can delete any PDF file by pressing SHIFT+DEL. 

    Be careful - the file will be deleted permanently, it will not appear in your Recycle Bin.

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