Can not delete PDF files in Windows File Explorer

Anonymous

I am reviewing files in Windows File Explorer with the Preview Pane active so I can see what the file is. When I want to delete a file I do right click/Delete or use the Delete button on the Ribbon. However, when I come to a PDF file that I no longer need I can't delete it. I get a message that says "File in Use". "This action can't be completed because the file is open in another program. Close the File and try again."

If I click "try again" sometimes after 4 or 5 tries the file finally is deleted. It seems that with the Preview Pane active File Explorer thinks the PDF is open in another program. How do I fix this problem so I can delete PDFs in Windows File Explorer with the Preview Pane active?

Thanks for all the suggestions. The one that fits my work flow well is Amr's .

"Simply choose the file with your mouse, hold down the shift button then click on "Delete".

It will permanently delete the file, which is fine."

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

Hi Jerry,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft community.

This issue might occur if any third party program is accessing the file.In regards to the issue, I require additional information to make sure that helps us to resolve the issue easily:

How are you trying to delete these files?

As a first step, I suggest you to restart the computer multiple times and check if that works. Because, restarting computer will close the applications that are running in the background and fixes many issues.

I also suggest you to refer the suggestion provided by Tomfly13 on April 29, 2013 and check if it helps.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-files/unable-to-delete-pdf-in-windows-8/39f9ddad-a8df-42d0-a404-eaedf381993f

Please reply us on the status of the issue to assist you further

Thanks.

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86 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-05-30T12:44:01+00:00

mike1234i

this sounds great to me but as a novice I am trying to understand how to go about

and install these changes I assume you meanyou renamed acrobat reader exe to acrobat reader old but I can,t even find this in my pc win8.1 pro maybe you or some one with a brain could help me with this ( because I am sick and tired of having to try and clear a pdf 7-8 times to clear it.

cheers & thanks david
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Anonymous

2016-05-31T02:32:21+00:00

Since AcroRd32.exe is the executable file for Acrobat Reader DC (Windows 10). You are recommending deactivation of Acrobat Reader DC. This does solve the deleting problem. I found that Windows then offers the edge browser to open pdf file for reading. I was still able to copy text from the pdf file. Printing the pdf from edge was slower than with Acrobat Reader DC.

The fact is this pdf file deleting problem is fairly new, originating with either Win 10 or Acrobat Reader DC and MS or Adobe should stop acting like it is our problem and fix the bug.
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Anonymous

2016-05-31T06:59:11+00:00

I thank you all for the reply bbut I am running win 8.1 pro not win 10

so being such a novice I still can,t figure out how to overcome the problem of having to delete pdf,s multiple times

cheers David
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Anonymous

2016-05-31T09:54:16+00:00

For me this problem existed in Win7 as well on some computers but with Win10, it is all our office computers. The problem extends to files that I edit in Acrobat and then try to save. I get an error that the file is in use and I must choose a different name. This is not limited to reader but full Acrobat as well.
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