• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Smart phone, gadget and computer tutorials

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About
Release a File Lock in Windows

Release a File Lock in Windows

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Mitch Bartlett 4 Comments

If you work in IT, you’re probably familiar with Microsoft Windows users constantly locking files where others are not able to edit them. The problem of locked files seems to be most common with Microsoft Excel users.

It’s very common for users to leave an Excel spreadsheet open, causing an “Excel is locked for editing by another user” error to display for other users attempting to make changes to the spreadsheet.

If you have admin rights, you can force a disconnect and release the file lock using these steps.

Note: If you do not have permissions to release file locks, you may want to ask a person who does to grant you access or ask them to perform these steps.

  1. Hold the Windows Key and press “R” to bring up the Windows Run dialog screen.
  2. Type “mmc“, then press “Enter“.
  3. Go to “File” > “Add/Remove Snap-in…“.
  4. Scroll down and select “Shared Folders“, then choose “Add“.
  5. Select “Local computer” if you are logged into the computer or server where the file resides. Otherwise, select “Another computer“, then type the Computer Name of the other computer. You may also select “Browse…” to find the computer name.
  6. Select “Finish“.
  7. Select “OK“.
  8. Expand “Shared Folders“, then select “Open Files“.
  9. Find the file that is locked, then right-click it and choose “Close Open File“.

Now if you have the other user close the application, then re-open the file, they should be able to edit it without a locking issue.

This post applies to Windows 10, 7, 8, Server 2008, and Server 2012.

You Might Also Like

  • How to Automatically Lock Your Windows PC Using Dynamic LockHow to Automatically Lock Your Windows PC Using Dynamic Lock
  • Windows 10 S Mode Release Date, News, and FeaturesWindows 10 S Mode Release Date, News, and Features
  • How to Lock Windows 10 and Keep it SecureHow to Lock Windows 10 and Keep it Secure
  • 4 Ways to Lock the Screen in Windows 104 Ways to Lock the Screen in Windows 10
  • Get Rid Of Microsoft's Annoying Ads On The Windows 10 Lock ScreenGet Rid Of Microsoft's Annoying Ads On The Windows…
  • How to Turn Off Cortana Lock Screen in Windows 10How to Turn Off Cortana Lock Screen in Windows 10
  • How to Disable Windows File CompressionHow to Disable Windows File Compression
  • How to Turn Off Windows File Encryption (EFS)How to Turn Off Windows File Encryption (EFS)

Filed Under: Windows Tagged With: win7, Windows 10, Windows 2012, Windows 8

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ivo says

    August 12, 2019 at 2:22 am

    Thank you, very useful! Windows 10 told me that the file is locked by user X (but his computer was shut down) and through MMC i found out it was wrong and it was opened by user Y.

  2. Gabe says

    May 14, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    Firstly, thanks for posting this. I’ve been in IT for 20 years and had no idea how to do this.

    Secondly, Mike on Nov 17, 2018 said “caused me to delete the file”. What he meant was the entry in the “Open File” list is removed, thus removing the lock. The original file is NOT deleted, for those who might be concerned.

  3. Mike says

    November 17, 2018 at 11:05 am

    Thank you, these instructions caused me to delete the file.

  4. jimmy666 says

    June 18, 2018 at 7:16 pm

    The file lock in Windows is an insanely annoying but when it is used, the security of your system and your data is really all dependable.

Did this help? Let us know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Use Vivaldi Browser on Android
  • Google Sheets: Change Graph Colors
  • Visual Studio: Open Solution Explorer
  • Visual Studio: Reset All Settings
  • Android: How to Recover Deleted Photos
  • Windows 10: Keep a Window Always On Top
  • What Are Wi-Fi Dead Zones and How to Avoid Them
  • How to Transfer Contacts From One Gmail Account to Another

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

Follow me on Twitter, or visit my personal blog.

You May Also Like

  • File Compression Utility
  • Encapsulated Postscript (EPS) File
  • Windows 95/98
  • Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Top 8 Itunes Alternatives for Windows
  • Windows Media Player (WMP)

© Copyright 2019 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy