FileLockPeek: Find what's holding a file open.
What process is using this file?
The problem
“The operation can’t be completed because the item is in use.” Or a drive that will not eject. Something has the file or folder open, but macOS does not tell you what.
The solution
FileLockPeek lets you choose a file or folder (or drop it in, or paste a path) and lists the processes holding it, with the process, PID and how it holds the path: open for reading or writing, locked, working directory, executable or memory-mapped. Ending a holder is optional and uses the same safe-termination checks as PortPeek; MacPeek never terminates anything by default.
Features
- Choose, drop or paste a file or folder; folder scans include everything inside
- Each holder shown with process name, PID and user
- How it holds the path: open (read/write), locked, working directory, executable or memory-mapped
- Copy PID or path, and reveal the item in Finder
- Optional Kill Process through the shared safe-termination service: re-checked, SIGTERM first, explicit force kill
- Scans only when you ask: no polling, nothing running in the background
How it works
- Open FileLockPeek and choose, drop or paste a path.
- See which processes hold it and how.
- Optionally end a holder you own: MacPeek re-checks it, asks it to quit, and confirms the file was released.
Installation
FileLockPeek is part of MacPeek. Install MacPeek, open Manage utilities and make sure FileLockPeek is switched on (it is on by default). There is nothing separate to download.
Privacy
What FileLockPeek reads:
- Open files of processes owned by your user (via lsof), only for the path you choose, only when you scan
Access it needs: None to scan. Other users’ processes are not listed, and you can terminate only processes your user owns.
Everything stays on your Mac: no account, no telemetry, no network access. Read the full privacy statement.
Open source
MacPeek and every utility in it are MIT-licensed. Read the code on GitHub, or see how a utility is built.
Related guides
Get FileLockPeek with MacPeek. Free and open source.