# Does Windows 10 have a version of Unlocker built in? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 10, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-10-have-a-version-of-unlocker-built-in/748558 "2016-03-10T17:12:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-10-have-a-version-of-unlocker-built-in/748558/1 "2016-03-10T17:12:49Z")
Having to use Unlocker to be able to move, delete or rename a folder is a bothersome extra step when the folder’s contents are no longer being used by their program but previous versions of Windows has no way of recognizing this. Does Windows 10 have a function built in or do we still need the third party Unlocker app to do these things? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-10-have-a-version-of-unlocker-built-in/748558/2 "2016-03-10T18:19:48Z")
As far as I am aware Windows does not have anything like this built-in. However, I use Process Explorer, which is a free download from Microsoft, for this and other things. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-10-have-a-version-of-unlocker-built-in/748558/3 "2016-03-18T23:01:05Z")
Thanks for the reply. I installed Process Explorer but unfortunately when I launch it it doesn’t display any folders or files in the list, just processes. Is there a secret way to delete and change the name of files and folders with Process Explorer? ---
**Author:** ![core](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@core](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/core)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-10-have-a-version-of-unlocker-built-in/748558/4 "2016-03-18T23:13:42Z")
In Process Explorer you can use Find | Find Handle and type in the name of your file or directory which will give you a PID. Then you can close the handle or kill the offending process. If I’m understanding the problem correctly? I’m not sure I understand the original question. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-10-have-a-version-of-unlocker-built-in/748558/5 "2016-03-20T01:04:01Z")
> [@core](#): > > In Process Explorer you can use Find | Find Handle and type in the name of your file or directory which will give you a PID. Then you can close the handle or kill the offending process. If I’m understanding the problem correctly? I’m not sure I understand the original question. Thanks. That’s just a bothersome as having to use Unlocker. I wish there was some way that Windows could know when a folder or file is no longer being used by an application, but I guess that starts getting into the realm of magic. Maybe Windows 11 will figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-10-have-a-version-of-unlocker-built-in/748558/6 "2016-03-20T01:11:21Z")
Windows _does_ know when an app is no longer using a file. The trouble is when a persistent app still has the file open. As far as the OS is concerned, the file is still in use because the app can read/write it at any time. Sometimes you can get away with merely renaming the file or directory. This doesn’t help with deletion, but means you can copy a new version of the file to the same location. Any new readers of the file will see the updated file.