Windows Error: The action can’t be completed because the file is open in Windows Explorer



"The action can’t be completed because the file is open in Windows Explorer"

This error prevents the user from moving, deleting, or renaming files from Windows Explorer. Typically this is because the file is already open.


Figure out what program has the file open and close it. ProcessExplorer a free tool that shows information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded so you can close the file. Alternately, you could reboot Windows into safe-mode, which frees up the file so it can be deleted.