Files cannot be deleted - what to do?

If you cannot delete some files under Windows, it can be quite annoying. We'll show you how to solve the problem.

Files cannot be deleted - this is how it works

If Windows cannot delete a file, it is currently still being used by the system or a program.

• To do this, simply close the responsible program or, in case of doubt, simply open all programs.
• If the program is already closed, it may have hung up. Open the task manager and end the process of the program.
• If that doesn't help either, the file can be deleted after a restart or after logging out of Windows at the latest.
• If Windows generally blocks the file for deletion, there is usually a good reason for this. You can still delete the file using the free FileASSASSIN tool or the Unlocker.

We will show you how to delete locked files with the unlocker in the next practical tip.