Unlock and delete locked files and folders with ThisIsMyFile

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 8, 2017
Updated • Feb 21, 2019
Software
|
12

ThisIsMyFile is a free portable program for devices running Microsoft's Windows operating system that allows you to delete or unlock locked files or folders.

Locked files or folders is a issue that you may encounter from time to time when you are working on a Windows device.

This may happen when you try to delete files, move them, rename them, or perform other operations that change the file's state or content in a way.

The explanation why a file or folder is locked may be obvious, for instance when it is visibly in use by a program on the system, or not obvious at all, if it is not locked by another process.

ThisIsMyFile

ThisIsMyFile has been designed to deal with locked files or folders. The program may be used to find out why a file or folder is locked, and also to unlock it, or run delete operations.

The main interface is simple but effective. You can drag and drop files or folders on the application window, or use the browse button instead to select the data using a file browser.

What happens next depends on your intention. A click on the "only info" button checks why the selected file or folder is locked.

ThisIsMyfile displays its findings in a prompt after a quick check. It may list a process for instance that keeps the file or folder locked. Also, it may display options to deal with the issue right away, for instance by killing the application that keeps the file or folder locked.

locked file

The unlock button does exactly the same thing, but directly and without the information why the file or folder was locked in first place.

The three remaining options are all about deletion of files or folders. Delete tries to remove the selected file or folder right away, while reboot & delete, and reboot & delete without query, do so by rebooting the system.

The latter two options may be necessary at times if ThisIsMyFile cannot unlock or delete the data right away.

The program has a couple of additional options of which two are selected by default. Reboot immediately means that selection of one of the two reboot actions will reboot the system right away. Create copy on the other hand creates a copy of the file before delete actions.

Lastly, you may set the program window to be always on top. This can be useful if you need to use the program regularly, or for an extended period of time during a session.

Closing Words

ThisIsMyFile works similarly to other programs of its kind, be it IOBit's Unlocker, the grandaddy Unlocker, or Free File Unlocker.

The program is portable however, so that you won't run into any adware or installation issues. It is furthermore offered as a 32-bit and 64-bit version.

Now You: How do you deal with locked files or folders?

Summary
software image
Author Rating
1star1star1star1stargray
4 based on 6 votes
Software Name
ThisIsMyFile
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Administration
Landing Page
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. beergas said on March 9, 2017 at 11:55 pm
    Reply

    Also use both mentioned -TakeO & Unlocker. A few times Windows Update blew away Takeownership from the right menu selection & the file too. Learned to keep backup on D: internal HD. Lately tho it has remained. If this new one works all the better. Unlocker sometimes can’t get rid of a virus/malware kind of one but will offer to do a reboot deletion. Very very rarely fails, using older version v 1.92 so no ads.
    Thanks for mentioning this one.

  2. ZippyDSMlee said on March 9, 2017 at 2:12 pm
    Reply

    Takeownership dose not work sometimes, Unlocker is still my go to for most things lock related.

    I really give permission more than take ownership half the time…

  3. charles kinbote said on March 9, 2017 at 2:05 pm
    Reply

    landing page is flagged as malware site by virustotal

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on March 9, 2017 at 2:06 pm
      Reply

      It is not malware.

  4. Patrick said on March 9, 2017 at 9:19 am
    Reply

    I use take ownership. How to geek has this. For Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10.

    https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/

  5. XenoSilvano said on March 9, 2017 at 12:37 am
    Reply

    The only programa that I am currently using to unlock locked files is ‘File Unlocker’, given that the installer comes with the ‘Delta Toolbar’ browser hijack and due to the software not working at times, I am certainly interested in a better substitute

  6. Tool said on March 8, 2017 at 11:25 pm
    Reply

    I been using Unlocker 1.9.2 for years now. It works with the right click context menu. http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/

  7. Mark Hazard said on March 8, 2017 at 11:15 pm
    Reply

    I use Unlocker. I don’t have any problems with it. It solves my problems.

  8. Don said on March 8, 2017 at 10:44 pm
    Reply

    This is great. I stopped installing Unlocker when it started including the adware. I will give this a try. Thanks!

  9. Jeff-FL said on March 8, 2017 at 9:57 pm
    Reply

    The real question is will it unlock and allow deletion of ‘SYSTEM’ level files, for example those that reside in

    C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

    In there, Nvidia sees fit to store installers dating back many versions, so that each time you update drivers, it leaves ALL the old copies regardless. You can’t remove them because the installer is in the above system folder.

    screenshot: http://imgur.com/a/lVZcr

    1. Jeff-FL said on March 9, 2017 at 2:10 pm
      Reply

      To answer my own question, I’m happy to say, yes it can delete those files/folders.

      This app worked great in getting rid of Nvidia bloat that until now I’ve been unable to remove. Thanks Martin!

  10. marcus said on March 8, 2017 at 9:48 pm
    Reply

    Always used IOBit’s Unlocker till i found InstallTakeOwnership,not the biggest fan of IOBit products and found tInstallTakeOwnership does a much better job when IOBit failed,will check this out.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.