Can't delete files because they are open in COM Surrogate
Oct 30, 2024 · So I've just started having a problem where sometimes deleting files and folders will result in this dialog appearing, or "the folder cannot be deleted because it is open in another program."
The action cannot be completed because the file is open in COM ...
Jul 7, 2022 · Like, when you are trying to remove a file from File Explorer, you may see an error message – “ File In Use The action can’t be completed because the file is open in COM Surrogate “. …
Fix the Action Cannot Be Completed Because the File Is Open in COM ...
May 27, 2025 · Resolving the COM Surrogate file lock error in Windows 11 often requires ending the related process in Task Manager or adjusting Explorer’s preview settings. If these steps don’t work, …
What Is COM Surrogate Doing on My Windows PC? - Lifewire
Apr 11, 2025 · COM Surrogate is a catch-all term for many processes that perform several tasks and effectively isolate DLLs from File Explorer. COM Surrogate can be used for tasks like grabbing …
Breakthrough Methods for the File Is Open in COM Surrogate
Nov 27, 2024 · If you encountered the “The action cannot be completed because the file is open in COM Surrogate” issue, this post shows you several ways to solve this issue.
File is Open in COM Surrogate? Don't Panic. Here's How to Fix It!
Oct 17, 2025 · When COM Surrogate latches onto a file for thumbnail creation, it can prevent you from deleting or modifying it, triggering that error. It's not malware (despite what some pop-up scanners...
COM Surrogate(dllhost.exe): Disable and Delete Open Files in it
Dec 9, 2025 · Quickly fix the “file in use by COM Surrogate” error to delete files by ending the process safely in Task Manager and other fixes here that don’t harm your system.
What is “COM Surrogate” & Should You Remove It? - Appuals
Dec 9, 2024 · COM Surrogate is a genuine system process on Windows that is responsible for running and hosting COM objects. You may also see it as “ dllhost.exe ” in your Task Manager, since this is …
Action cannot be completed because file is open in COM Surrogate
May 24, 2025 · If you go on to rename it, you may see an error: File In Use, The action cannot be completed because the file is open in COM Surrogate. The message will suggest you close the file …
What is COM Surrogate? - Microsoft Q&A
Dec 3, 2024 · COM Surrogate is a Windows process that helps open certain files, like images or documents, behind the scenes. Sometimes, it keeps a file open, which is why you can’t move it right …