How to unlock locked files and folders Sometimes, folders and folders are locked because processes are currently accessing them fifty-fifty if the program is already closed. Other files may be protected by the system. Hither's how y'all unlock locked files and folders easily.

LockHunter: Observe and delete locked files

Tip: If LockHunter can't find the reason why a file is locked, you lot should read the instructions below to find out if you need to have buying or unblock the file.

The tool LockHunter is a bully tool that will find the process that is accessing the file/folder and you can then manually terminate the process.

Discover the locked file:
Find locked file or folder

Often, viruses and malware blocks certain files, and so that y'all can't remove them the normal way. That's when LockHunter comes in:

Delete locked file:
Delete Locked File

Download LockHunter:
LockHunter is available for Windows 7 64-fleck and 32-bit. Y'all can download LockHunter here.

Why do some folders have a lock icon and LockHunter can't notice them?

Windows displays a lock icon on some folders. No worries, this doesn't mean the binder is locked in the way you lot call back it is. It only ways that some users accept permission to access it while others don't. Some folders you certainly don't want to share over a network, e.g. Documents and Settings (which oftentimes contain personal data), so it'due south pretty useful to know they are "locked" and can't be accessed by anyone else.

Want to find out more nigh the lock icon?
How to remove lock from folder

In that location are some files that are "locked", but LockHunter won't recognize them!

Y'all can't seem to edit, movement or modify a file and you seem information technology is locked by a procedure? Usually, it is a protected system file that you should better non mess around with (unless you know what you're doing).

For example, the hosts file or the explorer.exe are protected files that you can't rename or modify. In such cases, you demand accept ownership of the file or modify them with an elevated notepad.

The near comprehensive guide that explains how to take ownership of files like the exporer.exe tin can be found here: Take ownership of explorer.exe

Windows 7 File Protection

There'south another reason why a file could be locked. It'due south the Windows file protection. If you download files from a website, e.g. icon files you might have to unlock them first before you lot tin apply them on your PC. This is a security measure to protect you from harmful files.

Unlock files that are locked by file protection
Disable file protection