Microsoft is adding a new feature to its PowerToys, called File Locksmith, that will allow Windows users to see the processes using selected files and unlock them without having to use a third-party tool.
PowerToys 0.64.0 also introduces a Windows hosts file editor, as well as many bug fixes. It also brings changes that provide stability and improve other built-in tools.
File Locksmith can help you manage locked files that can't be deleted or opened because Windows says another process is using them.
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“File Locksmith tells you which processes are currently using the selected files or directories and provides the ability to close those processes,” as stated in the tool’s description.
In the past, most users had to install a third-party program to remove the “locked” status from their files . However, now you can simply right-click the file in File Explorer and select “What is using this file?” from the context menu. This will show you which processes are currently using the file.
You can then terminate any processes detected by File Locksmith or run a scan again with administrator privileges to look for processes started by all users.
Also, the new Hosts File Editor utility that accompanies the new release allows users to manage the contents of Windows Hosts files, linking or mapping hostnames to IP addresses .
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This tool will help you quickly sort through large files and easily find what you are looking for. Not only that, but it can also help you add new entries and update existing ones in your Hosts files.
Microsoft explains in a support document that: “The Hosts File Editor creates a backup of the Hosts file before the editing session.”
The PowerToys toolset started as small, free utilities created by Windows developers during the Windows 95 era.
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In September 2019, Microsoft decided to relaunch PowerToys as an open-source utility package that provides Windows with a set of tools to customize their Windows experience according to their needs.
There are dozens of useful tools available , and Microsoft is constantly adding new ones.
The latest version of Microsoft PowerToys can be installed by downloading and launching the PowerToys 0.64 installer from the GitHub project's
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
