Who is this article for?

Users attaching or opening files.

No special access or permissions are required.

When working with file attachments, you may encounter an error stating the file is currently in use and cannot be accessed.

This article explains how to resolve this issue.

1. Issue

When attempting to open, copy, or drag and drop a file attachment, you might see the following error message: "The file is currently in use, please close any programs that may be using the file and try again".

This error occurs when another process has locked the file, preventing you from accessing it.

The file lock typically results from one of the following situations:

• File is open in another application
• Antivirus software is scanning the file
• A replication tool, such as OneDrive, is currently copying the file

2. Resolution

To resolve this error:

1. Close any applications that may have the file open.
2. Wait for antivirus scans or file synchronisation to complete.
3. Retry your action with the file.