Part 2: Run CMD Force Delete Folder Access Denied You have to close it first- and any application files residing within the target folders. On a short note, you cannot delete an open file /folder. Saving and closing the folders/files are given higher priority - for data protection reasons. Undeletable folders/files may arise if the contents in them are running via respective applications. It happens that the error may show up when files are located in the Windows.old folder from a previous install of the OS. Have you upgraded or made updates to Windows versions. On rare occasions, the error may arise when folder ownership rights change over time. In some cases, encryptions of file or folder contents may also cause the error to show up. As such, Windows explorer attempts to shift the locations of the file into the Recycle Bin without success.įile permissions are a common cause of the error. The error mainly arises due to the failure of the Recycle Bin to comprehend mounted volume drives. Part 1: Causes of 'Access Denied' When You Delete Folders Bonus Tip: How To Recover Deleted Files Or Folders By Accident?.Part 6: Remove file on Windows boot via PendingFileRenameOperations.Part 5: Use ProcessExplorer to identify which program locks the file.Part 4: Deleting Undeletable Files/Folders by Running a Third-Party Program.Part 3: Closing all programs with task manager.Part 2: Run CMD Force Delete Folder Access Denied.Part 1: Causes of 'Access Denied' When You Delete Folders.

Windows task manager access denied