Release Locked Files

excellent
key review info
application features
  • Shows processes locking a file or folder
  • (8 more, see all...)

It often happens that some of the files you try to delete simply won’t comply to the command, and instead of having them off the computer a message pops up informing that the item is in use and the operation can’t be completed.

The solution is to terminate the programs that still have said files under their grip, but sometimes it is difficult to determine the process using that item; so a quicker and more efficient way to solve the problem is to leave it to special software that can find the hindrance and eliminate it.

LockHunter is a program designed specifically for this type of mission. It is free of charge and its benefits go past unlocking the file or folder for manual removal.

Even if the UAC has been disabled and runs under a non-administrative Windows account it will still work, as the current version comes with a fix for the bug that prevented it from doing so.

Getting it on the system is an easy job that requires going through the regular screens, with nothing out of the ordinary. The same installer can get the 32-bit or the 64-bit version, depending on the architecture you’re running on.

Looks are simple and to the point, providing the user with an easy to understand interface that has all the options within easy reach. Checking for the elements that prevent a targeted item from being removed or moved can be done by browsing for it from LockHunter’s application window.

However, for increased usability, the developer included a context menu option in Windows shell, allowing for calling LockHunter already set on the targeted file; this method is definitely the fast way to getting the task completed.

Although there is a menu in the interface that may seem to hide various options, LockHunter’s functionality is present straight in the application window, at the bottom. The main functions are to unlock the file and to delete it.

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If the lock is persistent and cannot be broken on the spot, then the operation can be scheduled for the next system restart. Additional functionality can release the file and rename it or copy it to a different location. Moreover, LockHunter is perfectly capable of just terminating the locking processes.

Even if it isn’t very rich, the screen of the product is informative, showing the processes that hold the target file hostage, complete with ID number and path to its location.

LockHunter proved to be highly efficient during our tests and managed to delete locked data as if it had no strings attached. The files are not eliminated entirely from the system, as they are sent to the Recycle Bin in order to give the user a chance to retrieve them in case the action had been completed by error.

However, not all locked files or folders can be processed easily, and in some cases the application cannot complete its task. For this particular reason, the developer included a failsafe option that can automatically send the item away at the next computer restart, thus making sure that the job is carried out in the end.

For more experienced users, the developer included the possibility to run the program from Command Prompt. The commands are pretty simple but they are limited to unlocking (“/unlock” or “–u”), deleting (“/delete” or “-d”), and terminating (“/kill” or “-k”) the files defined in the folder path.

Another command is “/silent” or “-sm,” which launches LockHunter in silent mode (no interface is displayed), executes the other command(s), and then terminates its activity automatically.

The syntax for using the program from Command Prompt is: LockHunter.exe [/unlock] [/delete] [/kill] [/silent] [/exit] [file or folder path].

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The Good

The installation process is as smooth as the learning curve. The intuitive interface gets you to learning the ropes in no time.

It offers the possibility to simply unlock the target item or to combine this action with delete, copy, and move commands. The process that keeps the file locked is shown in the application window.

The Bad

It won’t be able to unlock all the files and sometimes a system restart is required in order to finish the task, but this is to be expected and unavoidable in all such programs.

The Truth

Simple and straightforward, LockHunter is among the best companions when it comes to releasing files and folders of running processes. Deletion sends the item to Recycle Bin in case it has to be recovered, and the context menu option makes working with it a cinch.

user interface 5
features 5
ease of use 5
pricing / value 5


final rating 5
Editor's review
excellent
 
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