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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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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
    2013-12-25T04:05:45+00:00

    Hi,

     

    Refer to the following link and check.

    Delete files using Disk Cleanup.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/delete-files-using-disk-cleanup#delete-files-using-disk-cleanup=windows-7

     

    Hope this helps.

    No offense, but i find your reply is ridiculously stupid

    Are you sure you are from the microsoft team?

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-19T02:51:33+00:00

    Suffering with this problem as well - for users like myself it's truly frustrating and a huge time suck. I have sometimes 100 files in a folder that I have to look at and determine which to delete. I've created a "to be deleted folder" where I move the file to but it's absolutely insane I should have to do it that way - and it takes me twice the time to do it this way. Such a basic function and they are pretending the problem doesn't exist.

    I'm in the same boat.  The whole point of previewing is to roughly know what is in the file instead of opening the whole thing, closing, then deleting.  If I already know which files to delete by name, I don't need preview at all.  The other thing that sucks is if I accidentally delete a file, the same problem happens with the recycling bin, where restoring that file doesn't work if in the preview pane.  Though in that case I'm usually only trying to restore one file and can just turn preview pane off.

    Luckily I have System Mechanic as my antivirus and can send the file to the incinerator from the preview pane.  But it would be so much better to have the ability to delete instead.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-12T20:48:15+00:00

    I found a third party programme that solves this called 'unlocker' it's free and does the job, trouble is you never know what else these things are packaged with, I just wish my operating system would allow me to delete files without the need for another programme because explorer has 'locked' it, bizarre, is there another forum where faults can be reported that someone form MSFT actually reads?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-12T17:37:47+00:00

    This happens with all files - I don't understand why this would be okay - they have obliterated a necessary and formerly simple function.

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