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Error 351 (ERROR_FAIL_SHUTDOWN)

Windows error 351 — what causes it and how to fix it

The program did not close. It has unsaved work or is not responding.

Why does this error happen?

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

It has unsaved work, or it is not responding. Close the file from that program itself, or use 'Unlock and delete'.

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.

WINWORD.EXE · EXCEL.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.

Restart Manager asks the program politely to close. If it has unsaved work it stays open and says so.

How do you deal with it?

  1. Close the program and delete
  2. Unlock and delete
  3. Move to Recycle Bin
  4. 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.