Deleting a file protected by window’s “the action cant be completed because the file is open in windows explorer”

Effective Strategies for Deleting Locked Files in Windows 11: Overcoming “The action can’t be completed because the file is open in Windows Explorer” Error

Encountering difficulty in deleting files in Windows 11 can be a common and frustrating experience, especially when dealing with system or application files that are seemingly locked by the operating system. One typical error message users encounter is: “The action can’t be completed because the file is open in Windows Explorer.” This article explores effective methods to resolve this issue, including practical tools and techniques to delete stubborn files safely and efficiently.

Understanding the Issue

When Windows indicates that a file is open or in use, it means some process or application is accessing that file, preventing deletion or modification. This often occurs with DLL files or other system-related files, which can be protected or locked by the system for stability reasons.

In the scenario described, the user faced persistent difficulty deleting a DLL file within a folder associated with National Instruments software. Traditional approaches, such as stopping processes in Task Manager and disabling application processes, proved ineffective, leading to the need for more advanced solutions.

Common Solutions Attempted

Using Task Manager: The user attempted to identify and terminate processes related to the file but failed to find any overtly associated processes.
Disabling Windows Explorer: Stopping and disabling explorer.exe, which governs the desktop interface, can sometimes release file locks.
Running as Administrator: Elevated permissions were used, yet the file remained locked.
Using Command Line Utilities: Commands like del or rd in Command Prompt yielded permission errors.
Third-Party Tools: Tools like Process Explorer or Process Hacker can help identify processes locking files. In this case, Process Explorer did not reveal any processes associated with the problematic DLL.

Recommended Approaches

Given the limitations faced, here are structured methods to delete locked files:

1. Utilize a Dedicated File Unlocker Tool

Tools like Microsoft’s Sysinternals Suite — File Unlocker or Unlocker can force the release of file locks.

Steps:

Download Sysinternals Process Explorer.
Launch Process Explorer as administrator.
Use the Find → Find Handle or DLL... feature to search for your specific file or related handles.
If no handle is found, consider other unlocker utilities designed to force delete files.