Discover what processes lock a specific file or folder. It is a simpler and faster clone of the PowerToys File Locksmith utility.
Publisher’s description
What is ShowWhatProcessLocksFile?
ShowWhatProcessLocksFile is an open-source system utilitie program for Windows from PolarGoose. It is written in C#.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as MSI. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 11.0, released on April 26, 2026. 6 versions are listed since December 12, 2021, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 1.4 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (PolarGoose/ShowWhatProcessLocksFile) has 164 stars. Similar programs include AutoHotkey, Bazel and Textify.
Project description on GitHub: “Discover what processes lock a specific file or folder. It is a simpler and faster clone of the PowerToys File Locksmith utility.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: ShowWhatProcessLocksFile is an open-source system utilitie tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is ShowWhatProcessLocksFile safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
8E90D66230B82FA9090B61B36F77DE47248B3B3EE5CBFF89BA42A5C842AE79A2· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 6 versions ›6 versions over 4 years · about 1.4 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11.0Latest | April 26, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 10.0 | November 13, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 8.0 | February 23, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 7.0 | February 22, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 6.0 | May 13, 2024 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 3.0 | December 12, 2021 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id PolarGoose.ShowWhatProcessLocksFile -emsiexec /i ShowWhatProcessLocksFile.msi.zip /qn /norestartmsiexec /x {5EBDD575-C889-438A-B21A-F1AFFF0DE661} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- PolarGoose
- Category
- System utilities
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/PolarGoose/ShowWhatProcessLocksFile
- Written in
- C#
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- MSI
- Version
- 11.0
- Released
- April 26, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- February 2, 2023
- Versions listed
- 6
- Updates / year
- 1.4
- GitHub stars
- 164
- GitHub forks
- 16
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- PolarGoose.ShowWhatProcessLocksFile
- MSI product code
- {5EBDD575-C889-438A-B21A-F1AFFF0DE661}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is ShowWhatProcessLocksFile free?
Yes. ShowWhatProcessLocksFile is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is ShowWhatProcessLocksFile safe to download?
The download comes from github.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 ShowWhatProcessLocksFile 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.
Can ShowWhatProcessLocksFile be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does ShowWhatProcessLocksFile run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of ShowWhatProcessLocksFile?
The versions page lists all 6 versions with links to their official installer files, back to December 12, 2021.
Can I use ShowWhatProcessLocksFile without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to ShowWhatProcessLocksFile?
AutoHotkey, Bazel, Textify, Simplenote and osquery. The alternatives page compares them.
