How to unlock 'locked' files

Occasionally, you may encounter error messages when using PlayoutONE if you try to make changes to a "locked" file.

This error isn't unique to PlayoutONE; it is a feature of Windows designed to prevent files from becoming corrupted if conflicting changes are made to them by different users or applications.

🔑 Why do files become locked?

Locked files are usually a sign that the file is currently being used or edited by another process. If you encounter this while using PlayoutONE, it may be that you still have the file open in a Media Editor or Segue Editor window.

Files are also locked as they are being played or lined up to play, so you may get a "locked file" error if you try to update a file using Auto Importer too close to the time it is due to be played.

🔓 How do I unlock a file?

The first step to unlocking a file is to check all your open windows and processes. Is the file being used by a minimised application or background task?

If the file is playing or lined up to play in PlayoutONE, you must remove it from your log or playlist - by letting it play or swapping it to a later time - before you can make any changes.

If you are unsure which application or process has the file open, it may have been left open by another PC on your network. You can find out using Windows' built-in Computer Management console:

1. Right-click the Start Menu and select 'Computer Management' from the menu.

   You can also search for 'Computer Management', or run the following command:

   
   

   compmgmt.msc

2. Expand 'Shared Folders' from the tree on the left-hand side, then click 'Open Files':

   
   

   

3. Right-click the open file you want to unlock and choose 'Close', or click 'Disconnect All Open Files' from the 'More Actions' menu on the right of the window.

If you have exhausted all other options, there may be one last thing you should try before restarting your machine.

There is a free tool from Sysinternals called Process Explorer, which allows you to see every file or directory being used by each process:

Use Ctrl+H to bring up the list of "Handles" - the Windows resources used by the selected process - then follow these steps to identify which process has locked a file:

1. Use the search box in the top-right corner to try and filter the list of likely processes.
2. Choose the process from the list.
3. Review the list of open files until you find a match.

If you are unable to find the process using the locked file, you will likely need to restart your machine to stop all running processes.