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2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
If Windows or macOS refuses to delete any file, take these steps.
How to delete a file on Windows
If the computer reports that the file is open in another program
Most often, the inability to delete a file in Windows is due to the fact that it is busy with some system process. At the same time, the inscription "The action cannot be performed, since this file is open in the" Program name "appears.
In this case, you need to close the program that is using the file and try to delete it again. If you see her window, then just close it. If the program is running in the background and you do not know how to close it, start the "Task Manager" (Ctrl + Alt + Del), find this program by its name in the list, right-click on it and select "End task".
If you cannot find the program you are looking for in the Task Manager, try a third-party utility that will unlock files. The free LockHunter app will do. After installing it, right-click on the file and select What is locking this file ?. When the LockHunter window appears, click on the Unlock It! Button in it.
Then try deleting the file again. If unsuccessful, restart your computer and try again. Remember to empty the Trash to completely remove it from your computer.
If the computer tells you that you are denied access
Sometimes it is impossible to delete a file because your account does not have permission to do so. In such cases, Windows reports that access is denied. To fix this problem, you need to change the owner of the file. In the process, you may need a username and password from the PC administrator account.
To change access rights, right-click on the file and go to "Properties" → "Security" → "Advanced". Next to "Owner" click "Change", then "Advanced" and "Search". Select the current account in the list and click OK.
After doing this, you will most likely be able to delete the file in the usual way. If that doesn't work, try restarting your computer and trying again.
How to delete a file on macOS
If the Mac says the file is in use
To get started, manually close the applications in which you used this file and try erasing it again. They can interfere with uninstallation, as they do in Windows. If unsuccessful, restart your computer and retry the uninstallation.
If that doesn't work, enter Safe Mode. To do this, restart your Mac while holding down the Shift key. Try moving the file to the trash can and emptying it, then restart your computer normally.
If the file cannot be deleted for other reasons
The file may not be deleted due to disk errors. Therefore, run "Disk Utility" in the section Finder → "Programs" → "Utilities" and check the disk on which the file is located with the "First Aid" service.
After checking, restart your Mac and try deleting the file.
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