After the process ends, try performing the action you wanted to on the previously locked file. You can right-click on the process and select the End Process option to end it. It will show you a list of processes holding the target file. Now, in the search box, type the name of the file that is showing locked by a process and press Enter button. In the Resource Monitor window, go to the CPU tab and expand the Associated Handles option. Press the OK button and Resource Monitor will open up. Open Run app by pressing Windows + R hotkey and then type resmon in it. It is an inbuilt utility in Windows 10 that helps you monitor CPU usage, memory, disk network, file handles, etc.

Using Resource Monitor, you can identify the process or service locking a file. 1] Check the process that is locking a file using Resource Monitor

Use OpenedFilesView freeware to identify the process holding a file.

Find out through Command Prompt using the Handle tool.

Use SysInternals Process Explorer to identify the process that is locking a file.

Check the process that is locking a file using Resource Monitor.

Here are the different methods to identify the process that is locking a file in Windows 11/10: How to tell which process is locking or using a file in Windows 11/10 In this guide, we will be discussing different methods to check the process that is holding a file in Windows 11/10. Now, how to tell which process has a file open? If it is urgent, you need to identify the process locking a file and then end the process to modify the target file. In some cases, it will show the process or program name that is using the file. Many times, when we attempt an action (delete, rename, copy, etc.) on a file, we get a File in Use dialog box showing a prompt that “ The action can’t be completed because the file is open in another program“. Unable to delete or move or perform any action on a file because it is locked by a process? Find out which process is locking a file in Windows 11/10 using various methods discussed in this article.

How to lock a folder on windows 11