Windows ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION: Handling File Locking Issues

The ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION error on Windows occurs when a file is locked by another process, preventing concurrent access.

This issue frequently arises in shared environments, during file synchronization, or when debugging applications.

To resolve this, identify the process locking the file using tools like Sysinternals’ Handle or built-in utilities like Resource Monitor.

Open resmon, navigate to the CPU tab, and search for the file name in Associated Handles. Once identified, close the application holding the file, or use taskkill to terminate the process forcefully (taskkill /F /PID <PID>).

Developers should review file access modes and use file-sharing flags like FILE_SHARE_READ in their applications to prevent exclusive locks.

If this error occurs during file transfers, ensure antivirus or backup software isn’t interfering by excluding specific folders.

For network drives, verify server and client configurations to allow appropriate file sharing permissions.

Proper file handling and monitoring tools are essential to prevent ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION errors.