Photoshop intermittently throws a "file is already in use" error when running a Batch or Droplet set to "Save and Close" on Windows 11.

Issue summary:
Photoshop intermittently throws a "file is already in use" error when running a Batch or Droplet set to "Save and Close" on Windows.

Product and version:
Adobe Photoshop desktop Version: 28.0.0 20261027.r.20 3951c45  x64 (final, Release)

Operating system:
Windows 11 64-bit
Version: 11 or greater 10.0.26300.9974

Steps to reproduce:
1. Create a standard Action in Photoshop that resizes a JPEG, places an embedded watermark graphic, and flattens the image.
2. Run the Action on a folder of JPEGs via File > Automate > Batch (or via a Photoshop Droplet) with the Destination set to "Save and Close" to overwrite the original files.
3. Let the batch process the folder.

Expected result:
Photoshop should overwrite each original JPEG, close the file, and proceed through the entire batch without interruption, as this exact workflow has done reliably for the past 9 years.

Actual result:
The batch intermittently halts on random files with the error:
Could not save “filename.jpg” because the file is already in use or was left open by another application.[cite: 3]

Additional diagnostic notes:
- This issue began suddenly about two weeks ago on a workflow that previously ran without errors for 9 years.
- Extensive troubleshooting has already been performed without resolving the overwrite error: tested across both internal and external drives, tested with brand-new/clean JPEGs, rebuilt the Action from scratch, added JavaScript delays ($.sleep), disabled Windows Search indexing, disabled File Explorer thumbnails/previews, paused cloud syncing, disabled Bridge 100% preview caching, and toggled "Enable legacy Save As" and "Multithreaded Compositing."
- Using a Droplet allows the remaining files in the queue to continue processing after dismissing the error, whereas running Batch directly stops the entire run.