Now you can delete, rename, or otherwise edit the file as you please. To do this, click on the program to select it. To unlock it, you will have to kill the process highlighted in purple. Once the process is highlighted (in blue), you will see exactly which application is locking it from being changed or deleted (in purple). This will highlight the Process Explorer in the processes display list. Once Process explorer opens up, you should see a ‘crosshairs’ icon in the toolbar at the top.ĭrag this icon and drop it on the “File/Folder In Use” error message.
#How to lock a folder windows 11 how to#
Then run the executable file for Process Explorer.ġ.1 How to find which program is using the file/folder Select the location for the extraction, then click on Extract.
Once downloaded, right-click on the zip file and click Extract all. Go to the above link and click on Download Process Explorer. Microsoft has a ‘Process Explorer’ app that is much more powerful than Task Manager at identifying the application that’s locking the file or folder and keeping you from making changes to it. Related: A final guide to Windows 11 Shortcuts Method #01: Using Microsoft Process Explorer Here are the two top ways to find which file or folder is being used by an app or service on Windows 11. Boot into Safe Mode and delete the fileĢ ways to find which file or folder is currently in use
Force delete the file from the Command Prompt Check File Properties (uncheck Read-only)