Windows 10: What Has My File Folder Open -- Not Me! Trying To Rename Folders

I am really new to 10 and am slowly trying to get it figured out!

Today I'm attempting to rename some file folders and every time I try a message opens saying that file (folder) is open in another program. What program has it open, how do I find out or can I and why is this happening?

Lastly, how do I rename the folders I want to rename? *Huh

Thanx for any help! *Smile

:)

 

Unable to create a new folder or rename a folder

When I open my Quick Access File Explorer and open a current file folder it will not allow me to rename the folder nor will it allow me to create a new folder. If I click on "New Folder" it just goes to hour glass forever and I have to kill it and similarly
does it when I try to rename an existing folder. What I have to do is open the folder up, save as a different name, and leave it in the general file area as I cannot make a new file to put it in.

 

Renaming local files and folders issue

When I try to rename a folder or file in my local drive on my laptop (in Windows explorer), Windows allows me to rename the folder or file. The issue is that it gives me an inconsistent amount of time to rename the folder or file. Sometimes it will give
me 5 seconds to rename it or 2 seconds, but it never works properly (no time limit). Does anyone know of a fix?

*I am on the Windows 10 anniversary update

 

Hi rkclark and welcome to Tenforums.
You can right-click any file or folder and select RENAME in the dialogue box that pops up. If you have something open, it can't perform the name change. Even if everything is closed, but you have a backup running, and the backup program may be accessing a file, and you will not be able to rename it. You can see what programs are running by right-clicking on an empty area in the taskbar, and selecting Task Manager.

 

Right, I understand how to rename a file folder and files and I understand if that particular file or folder is open the renaming cannot be done. In the instances I talked about to my knowledge and after searching that or those particular files or folders were not open. I didn't open them so I didn't know where to look to see what had them open. I'd never encountered that, not being able to rename a file or folder because it was open elsewhere, in Windows 7.

I did learn though that right-clicking on an empty space on the task bar it will bring up Task Manager. That's great to know!

Thanks so much for your help!

 

Next time it happens, try signing out of your user account, and then signing back in - see if that doesn't release whatever it is that's got a hold of your file/folder.

You can right-click the start button, and select Shutdown or Signout>Signout, then log back in and see if you can make the name change.

 

Thank you again! *Smile

 

Get Lock Hunter. It's free. It will tell you what program is locking a file. (The result is often surprising.)

 

I agree with Margrave about LockHunter. And FWIW, File Assassin (from MalwareBytes) is also good as well. If you can figure out what's locking files or folders, you're one big step toward fixing the problem.
HTH,
--Ed--

 

Thanx! I'll give it try!

 

Thanx, so many choices!!

Here's one I came across, Unlocker. It lets you rename files that are locked. I tried it and it unlocked all the files but one and said it would be unlocked or unblocked at next reboot and it was.

I want to try the Lock Hunter one to see what's locking my files!

Thanx again! *Smile

 

>>Edited: It turns out this didn't work. It did at first but the problem remains...
I can't figure out how to delete this post, only edit.<<

I have fixed this problem (finally!) ...I hope.Turn off Sharing.
Go to Settings>Network and Internet. From here, under Settings, select "Sharing Options". Here you can "Turn Off Network Discovery."
I think some little "piece" was being held on to in order to be ready to share.(My kindergarten level understanding and explanation)

Btw, I used Lock Hunter and found that the folder(s) was(were) being locked by 'explorer.exe': That's fine and dandy...and it IS probably the program locking it, but the permission or whatever that instructs explorer to do this is the real problem, I think. Explorer.exe is not something for the novice (like me) to mess with.