back in the XP days, I used a software called “Unlocker” just for this problem. It probably still exists, I don’t know, because since Windows 7, the easiest way to find out what process locks a file is to open Resource Monitor (Start search: resmon) and the bottom list on the CPU tab you can search the file name and you will find the process.

So yeah, Resource Monitor is a useful tool on Windows.

There’s a collection of free little utilities called Microsoft PowerToys, including the file unlocker thing. Why would they not include these into base kit Windows is beyond me.

not including PowerToys inside basic package is a fucking choice. Win11 is literally unusable without it in many aspects.