How to Delete a File in Use on Windows

This wikiHow teaches you how to use the Windows Resource Monitor to delete a file that's still in use.

Steps

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    Press ⊞ Win+R. This opens the Run box at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  2. Image titled Delete a File in Use on Windows Step 2
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    Type resmon.exe.
  3. Image titled Delete a File in Use on Windows Step 3
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    Press ↵ Enter. This opens an application called Resource Monitor.
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    Click the CPU tab.
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    Type the filename into the box next to “Associated Handles.” It’s the box with the magnifying glass. This searches running processes for the process that’s using the file.
    • As you type, multiple processes will appear in the search results—type the exact file name so the only search result is for the file you typed (it’s name will be in the “handle type” column).
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    Right-click the process for your file.
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    Click End process. A confirmation message will appear.
  8. Image titled Delete a File in Use on Windows Step 8
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    Click End process to confirm.
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    Delete the file from its location. Now that you’ve stopped the process that was using the file, you should be able to delete it easily. Return to the folder where the file is located, select the file, then press Del.

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About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
Tech Specialist
This article was written by Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 2,240 times.
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Co-authors: 2
Updated: May 25, 2021
Views: 2,240
Categories: Windows