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Willforth
New Participant
September 12, 2015
Question

Cannot move or delete a pdf file in Windows 10

  • September 12, 2015
  • 18 replies
  • 203952 views

I have scanned a file to pdf on my Windows 10 PC. Now I cannot rename it or delete it. Whenever I try it says the file is in use. I have gone into Task Manager and closed any running application that has Adobe. This makes no difference and I still cannot move, delete or rename the file. The only way to delete is for me to reboot the PC. However, if I open the file in Acrobat DC the problem returns.

I have been looking around on the forum and found this problem dates back to 2012!!!! REALLY?????

I have now found a workaround to fix the problem but surely Adobe should have sorted a permanent fix for this by now. Not impressed

    18 replies

    T
    Tate T.
    New Participant
    August 24, 2022

    Using Google Chrome, I saved a pdf file of employee hours to Windows 10 desktop. It gave it the name:

     

    v8AQQBjAHQAaQB2AGUAUgBlAHAAbwByAHQAcwAgADgpDQovQ3JlYXRpb25EYXRlIChEOjIwMjIwODI0MDgyMjQxLTA0JzAwJykNCj4+DQplbmRvYmoNCjE5IDAgb2JqDQo8PA0KL1R5cGUgL0NhdGFsb2cNCi9QYWdlcyAzIDAgUg0KL091dGxpbmVzIDEgMCBSDQovUGFnZU1vZGUgL1VzZU5vbmUNCi9WaWV3ZXJQcmVmZXJlbmNlcyA8.pdf

    I cannot open, delete, rename, or move this file in any way. I tried all the tricks including Shift + delete, disabling preview pane, turning off any adobe reader in task manager, and rebooting (many times). Adobe reader says document has errors and access denied when I click on it. I also cannot compress it with 7 zip or any other program. I tried everything and cannot get rid of this freaking file!

    Any help would absolutely be appreciated..

      D
      DJT Development
      New Participant
      August 24, 2022

      ciQ9KTk2YWpSY2w1aA0KeHJlZgowIDU4DTAwMDAwMDAwMDAgNjU1MzUgZg0KMDAwMDAwMDAxNSAwMDAwMCBuDQowMDAwMDY5Nzk1IDAwMDAwIG4NCjAwMDAwNzY3NDQgMDAwMDAgbg0KMDAwMDA3NzM4NCAwMDAwMCBuDQowMDAwMDgzNzk5IDAwMDAwIG4NCjAwMDAwODQzODggMDAwMDAgbg0KMDAwMDI5NjI0NiAwMDAwMCBuDQowMDA

      Tried all of the above plus some.... not working, its like a plague. Nearly a year and I still cannot rename or delete it.

      T
      Tate T.
      New Participant
      August 24, 2022

      I just tried a file erasing app called Eraser 6.2.0.2992 from sourceforge.net and it says the PDF doesn't exist, so I right clicked on it and made it a hidden file for now. I'm done with it. Frustrating..

      M
      Mahendra Karwasra
      New Participant
      July 17, 2022

      its simple go to ilovepdf.com then go to Repair pdf then select file you won`t to delect and Repair its then download with same name and then press delect your work is done ..... that is

      T
      Tom25477625j843
      New Participant
      August 1, 2022

      Here is what finally worked for me...

      Right click on the PDF and select "Send To" Compressed zip file

      Right click on new zip folder that is created and select "Delete"

      Then right click on the offending PDF again and select "Delete"...

      and it finally deleted.

      ...hope this helps someone.

      Tom

       

      Roobee
      Roobee
      Participating Frequently
      October 17, 2022

      Thanks - raised my hopes, deleted Zip Ok but original file is still clinging on in there. 

      Adobe, this is ridiculous! 

       

      J
      Jay23352572gdrg
      New Participant
      February 27, 2022

      Used this "Unlocker" program - and it worked - thank you to my friend Andy on Facebook for the tip

      https://unlocker.en.uptodown.com/windows/download 

       

      R
      RAKESHNANDI_KOLKATA
      New Participant
      February 16, 2022

      use 7zip file manager --> goto that place where file placed already --> not delete the file

      if that not work at first change the name then delete

      D
      defaultm29nnr7j7vc9
      New Participant
      October 29, 2021

      A method I use that works for me in WIN10 is to open task manager - look for any adobe programs working in the background - select the Adobe program- press end task.  This works most of the time

      A
      Apoorv5ECF
      New Participant
      July 2, 2021

      Same problem. Almost lost my sanity, but luckily figured out an easy fix. You don't need any fancy software like fileassassin etc. Our age old friend WinRar can help. 

      Simply open Winrar software, browse that stubborn file, press F2 (or double click the file) and rename it to anything short say ABC or whatever you want, press enter. Now you can delete the file normally, or move it. Hope it helps!
      And Adobe, please fix this decade long bug. Pleeeasse.

        H
        hrmmaaa
        New Participant
        December 22, 2021

        Thank you, this trick with WinRAR really helped while all the others did not work for me!

          U
          ughhhhhhhhh
          New Participant
          January 5, 2021

          The problem seems to be with adobe products, not the preview pane. I want to rename a folder which contains a PDF. If I open the PDF in an Adobe product such as Acrobat, I cannot rename the folder even after I close the file and wait several minutes. Preview pane is not active and wouldn't be anyway since I've moved up a folder level. If I open the PDF in a non-Adobe product and then close it, I am able to rename the folder which contains the PDF immediately. Have been paying Adobe all these years for this feature, apparently.

          Denali Env
          Denali Env
          New Participant
          March 24, 2020

          Same here, reading these, I thought I was the only one. I turned off preview, and STILL cannot move the file. I dont want to delete it, I just want to put it where it goes in my file structure. This issue drives me bat (you know what) CRAZY. I can rename and delete all day long, no problem. its MOVING them that hangs me up. I found my own work around which is irritating at best. I give up and continue working and try again later after I have opened and closed some unrelated PDF's. Then it usually works, but not always. 

           

          C
          Columbus_IN
          New Participant
          April 13, 2020

          Same problem.  Renamed as a .TXT file to delete, but unbelievably frustrating when using a paid Adobe platform for a problem that apparently goes back to 2012 (8 years ago!).

            D
            dlt202
            New Participant
            February 23, 2019

            Found the problem!

            On my PC at least, it was definitely Adobe Reader (when it is the default reader for PDF).When I made Foxit Reader my default application for PDF's, the problem went away.

            When I made Acrobat Reader my default reader, the problem came back. Could not delete PDF's (unless I used various workarounds).

            ====

            Solution:

            Open Reader

            Go to View >> Preferences >> Security (Enhanced).

            Unclick "Enabled Enhanced Security"

            Click OK

            =====

            You can now delete PDF's in File Explorer when the Preview pane is open.

            brentk66707713
            brentk66707713
            New Participant
            January 18, 2021

            Thanks dlt202

             

            THIS IS THE SOLUTION !!!!!!!

             

            I could not move, delete or rename a pdf file or its folder after just using it.

            I had to open another pdf from another folder and close it. Then I could do what I wanted to the first one. I have been doing this for years !!!!!

             

            I simply disabled the Enable Enhanced Security option, exactly in this solution and I now have normal expected control of pdfs and their folders unsing Windows File Manager - with the preview pane, and pdf thumbnails visible.

             

            Hey dlt202....  you rock !!!!!!!

             

            thanks from all of us at ThePlayingCardFactory.com

             

             

             

             

             

            amy_at_univ__of_ill
            amy_at_univ__of_ill
            New Participant
            May 26, 2017

            Right click on the item, and then select delete. This works for my pdf files that won't delete otherwise.

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