LetGoFileWhy 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.
WINWORD.EXE · EXCEL.EXE · POWERPNT.EXE
Closing the document window is not enough while the program itself is still running — it keeps holding the file. Quit the program completely. If a temporary file starting with '~$' is left in the same folder, delete that too.
Acrobat.exe
Acrobat often refuses the request to close (error 351). Close the PDF window yourself; if that does not work, it has to be ended.
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.
OneDrive.exe
OneDrive is uploading or downloading this file. It is released when the sync finishes. Ending it now can lose what was being uploaded.
Code.exe
VS Code has this file or folder open. Close the folder (File → Close Folder), and check whether a terminal inside it is sitting in that folder.
vmmem.exe (WSL)
WSL (Linux) is holding it. Run 'wsl --shutdown' in Command Prompt and it is released.
vlc.exe · PotPlayer
A file being played is locked. Stop playback and remove it from the playlist to release it.
How do you deal with it?
- Close the program and delete
- Unlock and delete
- Move to Recycle Bin
- Delete after restart
Download LetGoFile, drop the file on it, and it tells you which one of these it is.