Our verdict: Process Explorer is the tool to reach for when Task Manager is not enough. Its best trick is finding which process has a file or folder open, so you can close it and delete or move the file. It is aimed at technical users and needs Windows 11 in its current version.
About Process Explorer
Process Explorer is a Sysinternals tool by Mark Russinovich, published by Microsoft. The top pane lists active processes with the accounts that own them. The bottom pane shows either the handles a selected process has open or the DLLs and memory-mapped files it has loaded.
Find → Find Handle or DLL searches every process for a file name, folder or DLL, which solves the common "file is in use" error. Developers also use it to track down DLL version problems and handle leaks. Symbol support lets it show function names in thread stacks when configured with the Microsoft symbol server.
What it does well
- Find handle or DLL. Shows which process has a given file, folder or DLL open.
- Handle view. Lists every file, registry key and other object a process has open.
- DLL view. Lists the DLLs and memory-mapped files loaded by a process.
- Process owners. Shows the user account that runs each process.
- Portable. Single EXE per architecture, nothing to install.
Who it is for
Good fit
IT staff, developers and power users diagnosing locked files, leaks or suspicious processes.
Look elsewhere
Casual users who only need to end a frozen app; Task Manager already does that.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Finds which process locks a file
- Detailed handle and DLL views
- Official Microsoft tool, no ads
- Portable
Cons
- Current version requires Windows 11; Windows 10 is not listed as supported
- Dense interface made for technical users
- Closed source
How to install Process Explorer
Download the ZIP from Microsoft Learn, extract it and run procexp64.exe (procexp64a.exe on ARM PCs). Nothing is installed. Accept the Sysinternals license on first launch and run it as administrator to see details of all processes.
Questions about Process Explorer
Is Process Explorer free?
Yes. Process Explorer is a free Sysinternals tool from Microsoft.
How do I find which program is using a file?
Open Find → Find Handle or DLL, type part of the file name and Process Explorer lists every process that has it open.
Does Process Explorer run on Windows 10?
Microsoft lists Windows 11 and Windows Server 2019 or later as supported for the current version.
