Cannot move or delete a pdf file in Windows 10

Report · Sep 12, 2015

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

Report · Jul 27, 2016

Thanks we will give it a shot

am havjng the same issue

Report · Sep 15, 2016

Sorry, but the "don't use the preview pane," "use another file manager," or "don't ever plan on recovering your deleted file" aren't viable work-arounds for as much as we pay for this product.

This is an issue that has been present for YEARS, and it's still not fixed. I don't understand how other software developers have figured out a way to allow renaming or deleting a PDF file while previewing it, and Adobe and Microsoft can't put their tiny brains together and figure it out, but still manage to charge an arm and a leg for their products.

Our law office is trying to go paperless, so when we get correspondence in the mail, it is scanned into a common folder where it gets renamed and then moved to the appropriate client folder. Sometimes things get scanned twice. At any given time, I might have 100+ documents in this folder that need to be renamed. If I have to open each document to see what it is, then close it, rename it, then open the next tome, and then repeat this over a hundred times, it becomes a HUGE waste of time. I SHOULD be able to preview the document, rename it, hit tab and move on to the next.

Adobe, fix this. This is so frustrating.

Report · Dec 05, 2016

Please help. I closed my preview pane and still cannot rename or delete my pdf

Report · May 26, 2017

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

Report · Feb 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.

Report · Jan 17, 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

Report · Mar 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.

Report · Apr 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!).

Report · Jan 05, 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.

Report · Jul 02, 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.

Report · Dec 22, 2021

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

Report · Jan 28, 2023

Thank you so much mate browsing for 3-4 hours all the other tricks were not doing anything while this WORKED.
THANKS AGAIN

Report · Oct 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

Report · Feb 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

Report · Feb 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

Report · Jul 16, 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

Report · Aug 01, 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

Report · Oct 17, 2022

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

Adobe, this is ridiculous!

Report · Aug 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..

Report · Aug 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.

Report · Aug 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..