Delete Locked Files and fix File Is Locked error in Windows 11/10

You know how much it irritates you when you wish to move a file, and you get a message saying the file is locked and you cannot move or delete it. This might happen due to the file being in use with some application or due to its attributes’ settings. The reason might also be that Windows locked the file as it originated from an unsafe source, such as the Internet.

Fix Locked Files errors in Windows 11/10

This article aims to help you if you are experiencing a problem with locked files and shows you how to delete undeletable & locked files. Sometimes restarting your PC can make this error message go away – so that is something you want to try first and see if it works.

Is The File Really Open?

You need to see if the locked file is open in any application. What happens is that when you open a file, Windows locks it for editing. This locking prevents editing the files concurrently from more than one place and more than one application. This also prevents two people from seeing two different versions of the same file.

If you do not see any application using the file in question, open the Windows Task Manager (Press CTRL+ALT+DEL or right-click on the taskbar to select Task Manager). Check the processes tab to ascertain if any process running might be related to the file type of the locked file. If yes, close the process by right-clicking and selecting “End Process”

Note that you need to be sure about the processes you are ending as closing a Windows essential process may cause your system to hang or act unstable.

Read: How to tell which Process is locking a File?

Manually Change Attributes

Every file under Windows has three active attributes: read-only, hidden, and archive. A file marked for archive tells Windows that it is ready for backup. A file marked read-only will not accept any changes to its contents. A hidden file will not appear in Windows Explorer unless you have set up the option to show hidden files.

We have to deal with the read-only attribute in this case. It is not that you permanently cannot delete or move read-only files, but if you are getting problems saying, “This file is locked…”, remove the read-only attribute and try again. Removing the read-only attribute sometimes helps fix the problem of locked files. To remove the read-only attribute, right-click the file icon and select Properties. Under the General tab, uncheck the box saying Read-Only.

Is the File From the Internet?

While at the File Properties dialog box, check to see if the file originated from an unsafe source like the Internet. If yes, you will see a message under the General tab that says the file has been blocked as a security measure. If yes, click on Unblock to fix the problem. Before clicking Unblock, you should ensure you do not wish to open the file without checking it for viruses and other malware. You can run an anti-virus scan on the file to ascertain the same.

Use Third-Party Software

There are several third-party free file deleter software that can help you in unlocking files. Applications such as Free File Unlocker, Tizer UnLocker, Unlocker, or UnlockIT help determine the file handles open in some applications. When prompted, you can unlock them with one click.

Related: How to delete undeletable & locked files, folders in Windows

Sometimes, you may have to click the Unlock button more than once to unlock the file ultimately. This behavior depends on the type of third-party applications you are using. Using third-party applications for locked files should be the last option, as forcing unlock may make your computer unstable.

I hope this explains dealing with the problem of locked files. If you still face problems, please leave a note with the operating system version so we can assist you better.

How do I force delete a locked file in Windows?

To force delete a locked file in Windows, use the Command Prompt or Safe Mode to bypass the file lock and delete it forcefully. Take caution, as the file cannot be recovered after it is deleted.

How do I unlock a locked folder?

To unlock a locked folder in Windows, identify the program holding the lock using tools like Process Explorer or Resource Monitor, or PowerToys. They can terminate the process or close the program to release the lock.