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File share import: "File is locked or access denied"

Files open in another program, or the Windows account can't read them. How to copy them.

What it means

During a file share import the app reads files with your Windows account. File is locked or access denied means the file was open in another program (Excel, Outlook PST files, databases) or your account has no read permission on it.

How to fix it

  1. Ask users to close the files, or run the import outside working hours (Schedule).
  2. Give your account read permission on the share and its subfolders (NTFS and share permissions).
  3. For files that are always open (PST, database files), copy them after the service that uses them is stopped.
  4. Run again with Copy if newer – only the missing files are copied.
Files opened only for reading by others usually copy fine. Files skipped as system files (desktop.ini, Thumbs.db) are skipped on purpose.
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Updated 2026-10-26