There are several applications, such as service packs and hotfixes, that must replace a file that's in use and is unable to. Windows therefore provides the MoveFileEx API to rename or delete a file and allows the caller to specify that they want the operation to take place the next time the system boots,before the files are referenced. Session Manager performs this task by reading the registered rename and delete commands from the HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\PendingFileRenameOperations value.
MoveFile usage:
The included MoveFile utility allows you to schedule move and delete commands for the next reboot:
usage: movefile [source] [dest]
Publisher’s description
What is MoveFile?
MoveFile by Sysinternals is proprietary Windows software.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 138 KB. It runs without installation (portable).
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 4,878 times.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Small download (138 KB)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No update for more than a year
In short: MoveFile is a Windows tool for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down.
Is MoveFile safe to download?
- The file is served by download.sysinternals.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
527143FC701FF297E57419D5200DF82EDB95B1DD564ADAA50D40C5C93F6B36F6· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.01Latest | February 3, 2016 | 138 KB | 32-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.MoveFile -echoco install movefile -yProgram files (.exe): movefile.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Sysinternals
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1.01
- Released
- February 3, 2016
- Added to the catalogue
- July 21, 2026
- Versions listed
- 1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 4,878
- Website
- learn.microsoft.com
- winget ID
- Microsoft.Sysinternals.MoveFile
- Chocolatey package
- movefile
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Frequently asked questions
Is MoveFile free?
MoveFile is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is MoveFile safe to download?
The download comes from download.sysinternals.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install MoveFile with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does MoveFile run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Can I use MoveFile without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
