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
    2015-10-05T12:16:34+00:00

    Great so simple and now I can clean my files I could not delete before,  thanks

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-25T22:37:08+00:00

    I turned the preview pane off and my PDF's deleted.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-18T17:57:37+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?

    In the Name of Allah.

    Salam.

    If you have issues with PDF files only , I have tested the following steps as the best long-term solution:

    1. Install a third-party PDF reader or creator, like Nitro or Foxit.
    2. Right-click one of the PDF files in any drive or folder.
    3. Choose: "Properties".
    4. In front of "Opens with", click the "Change" button.
    5. From the menu that appears, choose the name of the third-party program that you have just installed for reading PDF files.
    6. Press Apply, then OK!

    As long as you don't need Adobe Acrobat Reader for a particular feature absent in the new replacing PDF reader, your files open with the replacing app.

    Now you can delete, move or rename any PDF files in the Preview mode.

    And whenever you need to use AA Reader, simply right-click the file > open with > Adobe Acrobat Reader or simply change the default program to AA Reader for the current session and revert to the 3rd Party App using steps 2-6 above when the session is finished.

    This works as long as you haven't reinstalled the current version of the Operating system.

    So you are done with it for a long-term period.

    Yours, Mohammad from Islamic Republic of Iran.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-04T01:15:48+00:00

    {09/03/15 @ 21:16}

    Windows 10

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

    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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