File in Use error deleting PDF in Windows 8.1 SkyDrive

Does this happen for all types of files or for PDFs only? Is Acrobat or Reader running while deleting the file?

It appears that the SkyDrive application is locking the files while syncing. And since Acrobat or Reader are not running, this problem is probably not because of Adobe.

You can check this by using Process Explorer by Microsoft.

Search (Ctrl+F) for the file in Process Explorer and check the name of the process locking it.

Hard to say before knowing which application is locking down the file.

Is it Acrobat, Reader, SkyDrive, Explorer or some other application (like some backup utility software or an antivirus software)?

Have after you have shut down acrobat and SkyDrive, opened the Sky Drive Directory/Folder and removed the file that way?

Try turing off the Preview Pane, wait a few seconds and then delete. I have been having these types of issues on Windows 7 and now Windows 8.1. Please let me know if this solves your problem. I'd really like to know if we've finally gotten to the bottom of this!

Thanks,

Rob

It is a preview pane issue. It's not just a SkyDrive thing. It's any drive viewed through the File Explorer. Only for Acrobat files and no other file types. Switching from preview to details mode in file explorer solves it.

Re the "can't delete the pdf file because it is in use by another program".

I also have this problem with Win8.1 and Reader XI.  I ensured Reader was closed down and scanned the file for the pdf which gave rise to the error message: there was only one version of it on my computer - being the one I was trying to delete and definitely no other program of mine was accessing it. I tried the multiple delete "try again" and on the sixth occasion it did delete.  I had several other such files in the same folder and all eventually deleted on the 6th "try again"

hope this helps

I am having the same problem with Google Drive

Hi

I'm having the same problem: can't delete from DropBox and download on my laptop.

Thanks in advance

Irene

I had a similar problem with deleting Adobe PDF files in Win8.1 File Explorer. Simple solution -- turn off File Explorer preview pane which seems to be holding the file hostage, and files can then be successfully deleted.  Hope this works for you. 

Indeed, its the preview pane. What a maddeningly simple way to waste a lot of time, arg. Thanks for the tip Andy. Assuming you're in Windows (8, 8.1) go into View in the folder, click on Details Pane instead of Preview Pane and you can delete the file in question.

It works fine. Just close the preview pane of file explorer and it's done. Thank you very much for your help.

Regards

I had same issue while deleting a PDF file from a usb drive and other pdf files.   When Windows Reader opens a PDF file, it keeps a history of what was opened previously.  you have to remove this history from windows reader.  Open a file in Windows Reader, right click on the file and a task bar at the bottom of the screen should open up with a trash can labelled "Remove". ONce removed from windows reader you will be able to delete the file in windows explorer.   ( who the Fck programmed this and didnt tell anyone)

Actually its a bit more complicated.   your have to right click the file in Windows Reader which brings down a thumbnail of the file at the top of the Windows Reader screen, you then click on the x in the corner of this thumbnail which brings you to the "Browse Folder" which displays the history of your previous documents.  You can then right click on these thumbnails and a trash can will appear at the bottom of the windows reader from the screen to "remove" the file previews.   You can now delete your files. WTF!