Download the latest from Windows, Windows Apps, Office, Xbox, Skype, Windows 10, Lumia phone, Edge Internet Explorer, Dev Tools more. How can I find out who is using a file in useHow can I find out who is using a file in use The scenario typically looks like this you want to delete, move, or rename a file, or maybe even just use it in another application and you get a message that says you cant. Cakewalk Express 3.02 Download. The message indicates that another application is using the file. Great. What application you ask. It wouldnt be that hard for Windows to tell you, but as it doesnt, youll need to do a little investigatory work yourself. Msn Messenger Ware' title='Msn Messenger Ware' />Fortunately, theres a free tool. When Im faced with this situation, I grab my copy of Sys. Internals procexp. In a nutshell, Procexp is Task Manager on steroids. Ive referenced it in several answers as a great tool to use to see whats running on your system. However its also a great tool to see whos got that file open. Lets assume that Im trying to find out who has my mail folder open. In my case, thats the file personal. Ill run procexp and select Find, Find Handle. Every object such as an open file is identified by a unique number called a handle procexp searches across all those objects, not just the files. Ill enter in personal. OUTLOOK. EXE 2. C xfer. MAILpersonal. OUTLOOK. EXE 2. C xfer. MAILpersonal. OUTLOOK. EXE 2. C xfer. MAILpersonal. Sure enough, as we might expect in this case, Outlook has the file open. If youre networked, theres another situation that might need an additional step. For example, I keep my email archives on a server so well look on that server to see who has a past years archives, 2. On the server, Ill use procexp as before to see who has 2. System 4 C adminmail. OK, now that didnt help much. System is just that the operating system. In this case, its probably the networking component of the system that manages file access from remote users. GQ74AMw/TY9g9JuOwhI/AAAAAAAACV4/F2i23Vf48Yc/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/encontredicas.msncleaner2.JPG' alt='Msn Messenger Ware' title='Msn Messenger Ware' />So whos the remote user opening the file This ones easy, and the tools are already on your machine. On the server, right click on My Computer, then select Manage, expand Shared Folders, and click on Open Files. There youll see a list of files on the server that are currently opened by other computers on your network. Thatll tell you the User who has the file open. Youll need to then click on Sessions to see what computers that user is connecting from. In my case, 2. 00. So Ill head over to my laptop, once again run procexp, and this time search for 2. The results OUTLOOK. EXE 2. 95. 6 Device. Lanman. Redirectorleomail. OUTLOOK. EXE 2. Device. Lanman. Redirectorleomail. OUTLOOK. EXE 2. Device. Lanman. Redirectorleomail. Sure enough, Outlook running on my laptop has 2. Youre currently subscribed to some eWEEK features and just need to create a username and password. SubInACL is a commandline tool that enables administrators to obtain security information about files, registry keys, and services, and transfer this. Outlook artifact. In this case, you can see its via something called the Lanman. Redirector which is the part of Windows networking software on my laptop that handles requests for files that are located across the network. So, for simple Whos using this file inquiries, procexp is a one stop answer. If the network is involved, it might take an additional step or two. But the answers are definitely out there. Pin Serial Port Dell Laptop there.