Excel File in Use - wrong user

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ITGeek82-8422 asked Jan 11, '21 aaronatkinson-9338 published Apr 27, '22

Excel File in Use - wrong user

Hi guys,

There is an Excel file created by a user (say User_A).
(This is the only file from many other Excel files that behaves this way.)
Normally when an Excel file is already opened the next user can see who opened that file from a popup warning.
However, with this file no matter who opens this file the next user for some reason gets a notification that the file in use by user User_A.

The problem is that when someone needs to open that file they contact User_A whereas indeed it is opened by someone else.
If someone could shed some light why it could be so and how to fix it that would be great.

office-excel-itpro

excel-nb.jpg (29.3 KiB)

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aaronatkinson-9338 · Apr 27 at 04:04 PM

Hi,

This is a bug that's been around in microsoft for many years & there does not appear be a fix, users just need to log a ticket with your IT who can then look at open file session within your file server find the user who is inside & either ask them to close it or if they aren't actually in it end the file session.

regards

0 ·

aaronatkinson-9338 · Apr 27 at 04:04 PM

Hi,

This is a bug that's been around in microsoft for many years & there does not appear be a fix, users just need to log a ticket with your IT who can then look at open file session within your file server find the user who is inside & either ask them to close it or if they aren't actually in it end the file session.

regards

0 ·

Answer 1 · 2021-01-12T09:55:20.51Z

emizhang-msft answered Jan 12, '21

Hi @ITGeek82-8422,
I suggest you go to the same directory of the problem file and check if there is an hidden file with "~$" symbol with the same file name. If you can find this kind of file, please remove it and confirm if other users can open it. Then please make sure the User A have permission with Delete, try to provide the full permission to the User A.

If this issue still existed, I suggest you confirm if this support article is helpful:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/excel-file-is-locked-for-editing-6fa93887-2c2c-45f0-abcc-31b04aed68b3

If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
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Answer 2 · 2021-01-14T01:13:20.767Z

ITGeek82-8422 answered Jan 14, '21

Hi @emizhang-msft,

Deleting ~ file with the same name seems resolved the issue.

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Answer 3 · 2022-04-06T10:21:05.383Z

GHAVAMIANCharles-3430 answered Apr 6, '22

Hi

Same problem. But erasing the ~ file does not do it.
At the end we have to save the file somewhere else. Erase the original file and ~ file if it exists and put the file back in its place.

This problem comes and goes and I don't understand how to make disappear for good and it's really bother us.

Thanks for any ideas.

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