Coming SoonFree editionFiles & transfer

Lock Finder

Shows which process holds a file or folder and offers the right way to release it, built into every copy, delete and rename flow.

The problem

'The action can't be completed because the file is open in another program', and no program is named. Unlocker is dead, LockHunter kills processes, Process Explorer finds the handle if you know the trick. For VM files the holder is the VM worker process and the fix is a VM action, not a kill.

Features

  • Restart Manager names the holders officially, including services and other sessions
  • Maps vmwp.exe and vmmem back to the VM and offers Save or Shut down instead of Kill
  • Appears automatically when a copy, delete or rename hits a sharing violation
  • Close-and-retry for apps that support graceful restart; handle close only as a last resort with a warning
  • Watch mode: who touches this file over the next minute

Who it is for

Admin

Cannot delete a VHDX

Lock Finder says the holder is the VM BUILD-01 and offers to shut it down; the delete then proceeds.

Consultant

Copy job stuck on one file

An antivirus scanner holds a 20 GB archive; watch mode shows it releases in 30 seconds and the job retries by itself.

Office

Spreadsheet 'open by another user'

The holder is a stale session on the file server; that session is closed instead of rebooting the server.

Benefits

  1. Know who has the file within a second, with a name and a reason
  2. Fix it the safe way: save the VM, close the app, not kill the process
  3. Copy and delete jobs stop failing on mysterious locks

Built to be trusted

  • Default remedy is graceful: close the app or save the VM; forced handle closing requires typed confirmation
  • Never terminates system or security processes

Good to know

Forced handle closing can crash the holding application; we keep it behind a warning and prefer the official Restart Manager path.

Under the hood

For technical readers
  • Restart Manager (RmStartSession, RmGetList)
  • NtQuerySystemInformation handle enumeration
  • Hyper-V worker to VM mapping via WMI
  • ETW Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-File for watch mode
Related products

Works well with

ReadyFree edition

Copy Engine

Files & transfer

Unbuffered, journaled, verified copying that survives disconnects and tells the truth about progress.

Coming SoonFree edition

Folder Autopilot

Files & transfer

The 'Hazel for Windows' people keep asking for.

ReadyPro edition

Clone & Deep Rename

Virtualization

Cold clone with verified copy or instant ReFS block clone, and a reversible rename of VM, folder and disks.

Coming Soon

Notify me when Lock Finder is ready

Lock Finder is planned for a later release. Leave your e-mail address and we will write once when it becomes available. We ask you to confirm your address first, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Questions now? Contact our team.

Please enter a valid e-mail address.
Please tick the box so we may e-mail you.