facing error while deleting file using Delete file activity in power automation desktop

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Posted on by neerajpokh

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facing error while deleting file using Delete file activity.

it throws error that

Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.SDK.ActionException: Can't delete file C:\Recon\Data\Input\09_2022\a.xlsx --->
System.IO.IOException: The process cannot access the file 'C:\Recon\Data\Input\09_2022\a.xlsx'
because it is being used by another process.

also file is already available to delete

can you please help on this

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Power Automate Desktop

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Kaif_Siddique 2,108 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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This issue comes when a file instance is running in Processes. So first terminate the instance then try to delete it.

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If this helps, please Accept as solution.

Regards
Kaif

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ryule 929 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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If you are okay with closing ALL excel instances, yes, Kaif's should work. Otherwise, just make sure you close the Excel Instance that is running that a.xlsx file.

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Kaif_Siddique 2,108 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Yes @ryule .. this will close all the excel files.. thanks for highlighting.

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neerajpokh 159 on at

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after terminating

still not working and getting same issue

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Kaif_Siddique 2,108 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Selected terminate process name is EXCEL.EXE. Please select terminate process name Excel only

If you like my response, please give it a Thumbs Up.
If this helps, please Accept as solution.

Regards
Kaif

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Pavel_NaNoi 1,074 on at

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Argh, this horrible issue again, this is because the previous action that was working on the file is "stuck" to it, more here: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Automate-Desktop/Rename-file-in-loop-after-OCR/m-p/1660516#M15876

In your case maybe (as I don't know the full extent of your automation I can only see a snippet of what's going on) just put a "get files from folder" action before the delete file action that just re-acquires it, might work.

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