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Error 145 (ERROR_DIR_NOT_EMPTY)

Windows error 145 — what causes it and how to fix it

The folder is not empty.

Why does this error happen?

If you have seen this message, the cause is usually one of these.

explorer.exe

File Explorer is holding it. Turn off the Preview pane (Alt+P) and move to another folder — that alone usually releases it. If you end it, the taskbar disappears for a moment and comes back.

SearchIndexer.exe

Windows Search is building its index. It releases the file by itself in a moment, so there is no need to end it.

Clears read-only, hidden and system attributes, then deletes (inside folders too)

A folder past 260 characters cannot be opened or deleted in Explorer. It cannot even be renamed.

How do you deal with it?

  1. Move to Recycle Bin
  2. Delete
  3. Close the program and delete
  4. Unlock and delete
  5. Delete after restart
Download LetGoFile.exe LetGoFile.zip See how it works

Download LetGoFile, drop the file on it, and it tells you which one of these it is.