Windows 10 explorer preview prevents PDF delete. Is this being fixed?

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  1. Posts : 83
    Win10
       #1

    Windows 10 explorer preview prevents PDF delete. Is this being fixed?


    I ran into the problem where I'm unable to delete a PDF in Explorer if it previews. This does not affect any other files. Is MS working on this? I understand this problem has been around since Win 8. (I went from Win 7 to Win10) This is really an absurd bug.
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  2. Posts : 134
    windows 10
       #2

    Could you please tell error massage you get while deleting PDF..
    In windows 10 .. MsEDGE would be set as default PDF Viewer.. (Annoying Huh)
    Installed Adobe reader (free).
    Change it from Control Panel >> Default Programms and Set Adobe reader as default.
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  3. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #3

    I'm unclear on what you mean by "if it previews".

    Do you mean that you cannot delete it while you have a tab open with that PDF open in it? If so, that's unlikely to change.

    Or do you mean that once you have opened a tab and viewed the PDF, you can't delete it even after you have closed the tab? If so, that's not something I have encountered, so it sounds like something that is a problem with your system.

    Or do you have some other meaning of "preview"?

    Also, you say Explorer. Are you talking about Internet Explorer, Edge, File Explorer? IE doesn't have built-in PDF viewing, so is it a plug-in you're using?
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  4. Posts : 42,739
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    If I have File explorer (to give it its 'proper' current name) = explorer.exe open, and its preview pane displaying a pdf, I can delete the pdf.

    If you're saying you can't delete it but I can, this tends to suggest it may not be a Windows bug, or if it is, it only affects some people.

    Perhaps you could zip the pdf (if it's compressible) and post it as an attachment?

    Note: my default pdf viewer is Sumatra. Perhaps which default viewer one uses makes a difference??

    I think this is the bug referred to - see #4
    Cannot move or delete a pdf file in Windows 10 |Adobe Community

    Note- that's about Adobe. Maybe the problem relates to using Adobe. Suggest as an experiment you try Sumatra (free) as your default reader.
    Adobe again:
    Windows 8 Tip: How To Delete PDFs Without Throwing Your Computer Out The Window | Bruceb News

    Try searching for
    unable to delete a PDF in Explorer preview pane
    my guess is every occurrence is related to Adobe Reader

    Is MS working on this?
    - sorry, don't know- this is a volunteer-run forum where we try to help each other.
    You could try posting on technet (MS site).
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  5. Posts : 83
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    dalchina said:
    If I have File explorer (to give it its 'proper' current name) = explorer.exe open, and its preview pane displaying a pdf, I can delete the pdf.

    If you're saying you can't delete it but I can, this tends to suggest it may not be a Windows bug, or if it is, it only affects some people.

    Perhaps you could zip the pdf (if it's compressible) and post it as an attachment?

    Note: my default pdf viewer is Sumatra. Perhaps which default viewer one uses makes a difference??

    I think this is the bug referred to - see #4
    Cannot move or delete a pdf file in Windows 10 |Adobe Community

    Note- that's about Adobe. Maybe the problem relates to using Adobe. Suggest as an experiment you try Sumatra (free) as your default reader.
    Adobe again:
    Windows 8 Tip: How To Delete PDFs Without Throwing Your Computer Out The Window | Bruceb News

    Try searching for
    unable to delete a PDF in Explorer preview pane
    my guess is every occurrence is related to Adobe Reader


    - sorry, don't know- this is a volunteer-run forum where we try to help each other.
    You could try posting on technet (MS site).
    Yes, that is the problem. Doing a search brings up multiple discussions about it beginning in Win8 and continuing to Win 10. I have this on 3 Windows 10 machines. It is not the individual PDF file that is the problem. It occurs with ALL PDFs. Disabling the file preview pane in explorer (Alt+P) rectifies the problem. Many discussions on the subject recommend not using Explorer as the problem does not manifest in other file browsers. Therefore it is a bug. It does not happen in Windows 7 with the same software and the same files. I was just inquiring as to whether MS was addressing it.

    Thanks for pointing me to the MS site, I'll see if they have an update.
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  6. Posts : 42,739
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    Actually my point was that all the reports I've found were about people using Adobe Reader.

    That is, my suggestion is if you don't use Adobe Reader, but try a different reader, you may make progress.So (e.g.) download and install Sumatra pdf reader (free); set that as your default, and see if your problem vanishes.
    You are making an assumption it's an MS problem. You can't conclude that without proving it's not Adobe Reader.

    I don't have that problem, and I don't use Adobe Reader.
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  7. Posts : 83
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    dalchina said:
    Actually my point was that all the reports I've found were about people using Adobe Reader.

    That is, my suggestion is if you don't use Adobe Reader, but try a different reader, you may make progress.So (e.g.) download and install Sumatra pdf reader (free); set that as your default, and see if your problem vanishes.
    You are making an assumption it's an MS problem. You can't conclude that without proving it's not Adobe Reader.

    I don't have that problem, and I don't use Adobe Reader.
    I need and use Adobe Acrobat Professional for my work to make large PDF docs. (Not just a reader) I should not need to abandon my purchased license of one of the most ubiquitous business software packages because there is an incompatibility with a new OS. An incompatibility that was not there in the previous OS version. It is another of the Win 10 frustrations.
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  8. Posts : 1,524
    Windows 10 Pro (32-bit) 16299.15
       #8

    One way to report it to Microsoft is with the Feedback app.

    You can take a screenshot showing the error, and also 'upvote' if someone else has already reported it.
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  9. Posts : 83
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    DavidY said:
    One way to report it to Microsoft is with the Feedback app.

    You can take a screenshot showing the error, and also 'upvote' if someone else has already reported it.
    Thanks. Will look for it there.
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  10. Posts : 1,773
    Windows 10 Home
       #10

    I use Acrobat Professional XI but hardly ever use Preview but I can see where that may be useful in a folder with a large number of pdf's. For those who don't understand the problem, the attached error message appears when you try to delete in Preview pane View. If anyone knows what's locking it, maybe they can chime in.

    Windows 10 explorer preview prevents PDF delete. Is this being fixed?-screenshot_1.jpg

    My solution in your case is that to delete a pdf, just close the Preview pane by clicking it in the ribbon and just drag the item to a Recycle Bin shortcut on your desktop, Done ! Or; if you want to bypass the Recycle Bin, click 'shift + del' (NO option to restore, if you change your mind though !) Renaming can be done with Preview pane open, the pdf will momentarily disappear and reappear after rename.
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