This article explains how to move, delete, and rename locked files. It also covers how to tell if a file is locked and how to back it up. All operating systems use locked files.

Moving, renaming, or deleting a locked file can sometimes be tricky if you're not sure what program or process has the file open. So you'll have to close the file.

Sometimes it’s easy to see which program has locked the file, because the operating system will tell you in the error message, like in the PowerPoint example in the image above. Often, that doesn’t happen, which makes the process more complicated.

For example, with some locked files, you'll get a prompt that says something very generic like "The folder or a file in it is open in another program." In this case, you won't know for sure which program it is. It could even be from a process running in the background that you can't even see is open!