What does "locked for Shared Use" mean, exactly?

Anonymous
2018-01-25T16:34:28+00:00

I've got a file in a SharePoint library that I'm trying to move to a new folder in the same library. But no matter how I try to move it, I get a message that "this file is locked for shared use," by me. But I didn't do anything to lock the file.

How did it get locked, and more importantly, how do I unlock it? Properties, Details, and similar have been unhelpful, and the old turn it off and turn it on again didn't work either.

Microsoft 365 and Office | SharePoint | For business | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-20T18:28:55+00:00

    Hi Michael,

    Tisky's solution worked for me also. Mine was already set to No and it wasn't working. So I changed it to Yes, saved it. Then changed it back to No and saved it.

    Now it works!

    There is no excuse for this issue having gone on for so long.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-03-26T21:44:08+00:00

    I've noticed that if the file is open somewhere, it will give you this error. Try closing all instances of the file, then move it.

    It also happens when the file is closed everywhere as several people have reported and as Msft themselves have confirmed by saying it's "by design". Clearly it's a bad design but not untypical of a co that's not known for its care for customers.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-03-26T21:17:59+00:00

    I've noticed that if the file is open somewhere, it will give you this error. Try closing all instances of the file, then move it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-03-09T04:50:43+00:00

    Mine was already set to No and it wasn't working. So I changed it to Yes, saved it. Then changed it back to No and saved it.

    Now it works! Awesome!

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-01-27T21:47:04+00:00

    Hi Jeff,

    We haven't heard from you for a while, have you tried the steps above?

    Regards,

    Tisky

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