How to view and manage open files on a network share in Windows
Jul 30, 2025 am 02:02 AMTo view which files in Windows network share are opened, you need to use the shared folder function in computer management. The specific steps are: 1. Press Win R to enter compmgmt.msc to open computer management; 2. Expand the shared folder under the system tools; 3. Click "Opened File" to view the list of files currently accessed through the network, including file path, user, number of locks and opening mode; 4. You can right-click to close a specific file to unlock, but be careful that it may cause the user to lose data without saving; 5. You can view and disconnect the user in the "Session" tab; 6. Use the command line tools net file and net session to implement scripting or remote management, such as net file listing the open file ID, net file
If you're managing a file server or shared folder in a Windows environment, you may need to see which files are currently open by users on a network share — especially when troubleshooting locked files, high resource usage, or preparing for maintenance. Windows provides built-in tools to view and manage these open files without needing third-party software.

View Open Files Using Computer Management
The most straightforward way to see open files on a network share is through the Shared Folders section in Computer Management .
- Press
Win R
, typecompmgmt.msc
, and press Enter. - In the left pane, expand System Tools > Shared Folders .
- Click on Open Files .
Here, you'll see a list of all files currently opened by users on the system. Each entry shows:

- The name and path of the open file
- The user who has it open
- The number of locks (if any)
- The open mode (read, write, etc.)
Note: This view only shows files opened through network shares, not local access.
Manage Open Files: Close or Disconnect
From the Open Files list, you can take action:

- Close an open file : Right-click the file and select Close Open File . This forces the file to close, which can be useful if a user forget to close it or is causing a lock.
- Warning : Users may lose unsaved data if you close a file forcedly.
You can also go to the Sessions tab in the same Shared Folders section to see which users are connected to the system, what computer they're using, and how long they've been connected. From here, you can:
- Disconnect a session
- See how many open files a user has
This is helpful when you want to take a server offline or suspected unauthorized access.
Use Command Line (Optional for Automation)
For scripting or remote management, use the net file
and net session
commands.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
-
Run:
net file
This lists all open shared files with their IDs.
To close a file by ID:
net file <ID> /close
To view active sessions:
net session
To disconnect a session (eg, from \192.168.1.100):
net session \\192.18.1.100 /delete
These commands are useful in batch scripts or when managing servers remotely via PowerShell.
Permissions and Requirements
To view and manage open files:
- You must have administrative privileges on the machine hosting the share.
- The Server service must be running (it is by default).
- You can connect remotely to Computer Management by right-clicking "This PC" > "Manage" > connect to another computer (if allowed by firewall and permissions).
Tip: If you're on a domain controller or enterprise server, consider using Performance Monitor or Resource Monitor for deeper insights, though they don't directly list user-opened shared files.
Basically, use Computer Management → Shared Folders → Open Files for quick visibility and control. Combine it with net file
commands for automation. It's simple, built-in, and effective for day-to-day file share management.
The above is the detailed content of How to view and manage open files on a network share in Windows. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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