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"The requested resource is in use" is an error that may occur when you are trying to copy files or open a program. It may happen to your computer or Android devices connected to your computer. If you are troubled by "the requested resource is in use", you can get to know why this error occurs and how to fix it from the details below. If there is data loss on your computer, you can retrieve your files using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
About "The requested resource is in use" in Windows
There are three kinds of error prompts that contains the error message "The requested resource is in use", including:
- Error Copying File or Folder: The requested resource is in use.
- [Drive] is not accessible. The requested resource is in use.
- [Path] The requested resource is in use.
This error always occurs when you are trying to copy/move files or opening a program installed on your computer. Why do you encounter this issue? Generally, this error happens due to two main reasons:
- As the message indicates, the file or folder you are attempting to move is occupied by another program
- Your computer is infected by a Trojan horse named SmartService
Now start quickly to learn all the five effective ways to fix "The requested resource is in use" and other additional solutions for data recovery and protection:
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Part 1. All five troubleshooting |
Method 1. Disable Preview Pane...Full steps |
Part 2. How to restore data | Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and perform the 3-step data recovery...Full steps |
Part 3. Prevent Virus Infection | Install professional antivirus software on your computer and keep it updated...Full steps |
Part 1. 5 Fixes for "The requested resource is in use"
Based on the underlying causes, the possible fixes for the error "the requested resource is in use" are:
Method 1. Disable Preview Pane
If you get the prompt saying "Error Copying File or Folder: The requested resource is in use", it's highly likely you have enabled "Preview pane" in File Explorer (Windows 10). If this option is turned on, you may get the error when you are trying to copying a file or folder because the preview pane is using the file. Thus, check whether you have enabled "Preview pane". If you do, uncheck the option.
Step 1. Go to "File Explorer".
Step 2. From the menu, switch to the "View" tab.
Step 3. In the "Panes" section, uncheck "Preview pane".
Method 2. Check the File/Folder
Besides, check whether you are opening the current file/folder with another program on your computer. As you know, you will fail to copy a file or folder if it is used by another application. Therefore, if the file/folder is occupied by a program, close it immediately. Afterward, you can copy or move it successfully.
If the error "the requested resource is in use" persists, or you constantly receive the error message when you try to open a program, your computer may have been infected by the Trojan horse malware - SmartService. In such a case, try the more advanced solutions below.
Method 3. Restart PC in Safe Mode
One of the features of the malware SmartService is that it blocks the antivirus software, thus makes your computer vulnerable to other viruses and malware infections. Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode and it only starts your computer with essential system programs and services. Thus, booting your computer into Safe Mode enables you to run your virus removal software without being interfered by SmartService.
To boot your computer into Safe Mode in Windows 10 from Settings:
Step 1. Click "Start" and choose "Settings" (the gear icon).
Step 2. Go to "Update & Security" > "Recovery".
Step 3. Under "Advanced startup", click "Restart now".
Step 4. Then your PC will restart to the "Choose an option" screen. Select "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings" > "Restart".
Step 5. Then your PC will start with a list of options for you. Choose "Enable Safe Mode" to boot your computer into Safe Mode.
Step 6. Remove the malware using the antivirus software available on your computer.
Method 4. Run Windows Defender to Remove Malware or Trojan
If you think booting into Safe Mode is a little bit complex, you can try the built-in Windows defender to fully remove the virus or malware that cause "the requested resource is in use" issue on your PC.
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Security".
Step 2. Click "Virus & threat protection".
Step 3. In the "Threat history" section, click "Scan now" to scan for virus on your computer.
Method 5. Remove Malicious Software/Program
In addition to the two ways above, there are other ways available to remove the malware on your computer that cause you to receive the error message "the requested resource is in use".
Disable Malicious software/program from startup:
Step 1. Click the "Start" button and type system.
Step 2. In the result, click "System Configuration".
Step 3. Switch to the "Startup" tab and click "Open Task Manager".
Step 4. Select the option whose publisher is "Unknown" and click "Disable". (It's highly likely these options are malware.)
Remove Registry Entries of malicious software/program:
Modifying the registry may remove some of your saved files or programs with improper operation, thus, be careful when you make these operations.
Step 1. Press "Windows + R" to bring up the "Run" box.
Step 2. Enter "regedit" and click "Yes" in the prompt.
Step 3. Go to "Edit" > "Find" and type smartservice.
Step 4. Locate and remove the Trojan.
Step 5. Repeat the process to remove all malware or program that cause "the requested resource is in use" error.
If you don't know that malware or Trojan name, try the tips below:
Step 1. Press Windows + R, and type: Regedit and hit Enter.
Step 2. Navigate to: HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion.
Step 3. Under the CurrentVersion folder, find any folder that has "Run" in the title.
Step 4. Open the folder to check what it is. If you find any malware, delete it directly. If you are not sure about it, back it up before the deletion.
Part 2. Restore Data After Fixing the Error "The requested resource is in use"
According to the explanation, it seems that "the requested resource is in use" error is mainly caused by an occupied program or a Trajan or unknown virus.
For the first situation, you can just close the running program and get the problem resolved. However, if it's the second cause, clean up the virus first. Then. turn to reliable hard drive recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to retrieve your data immediately.
EaseUS data recovery software is able to perform deleted data recovery, formatted data recovery, lost file recovery, and more on computer or external storage devices. Follow to recover your lost data:
Step 1. Choose the file location to scan.
Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your computer. Choose the drive where you lost files and click "Scan". If you lost files were on an external storage device, connect it to your computer firstly.

Step 2. Scan the lost files.
The software will start immediately a quick scan for deleted files, and later a deep scan will launch to scan more lost files all over the selected drive. After the scan, you can use the Filter to quickly filter a specific file type.

Step 3. Preview and restore files.
Double-click on a file allows for a full preview. Finally, select the desired files, click "Recover" and browse a location to save all the files at once.

How to Prevent Virus Infection on Your Computer
Virus attacks put a threat on your precious files and the stability of your computer. It's needless to repeat the effects of viruses. But it's worth stressing the importance of preventing virus infection on your computer or mobile devices. Generally, you can minimize the chance of virus attacks by doing the things below:
- Install professional antivirus software on your computer and keep it updated
- Be cautious with the origins of the programs you want to install
- Avoid suspicious websites and think before you make a click
- Make sure the network connection is safe
The Bottom Line
If the error "the requested resource is in use" on your computer is caused by the preview pane, you are the lucky one who can fix the issue easily via File Explorer. However, if the error results from a virus infection, it will take you more time to cope with it. Hope one of the solutions provided can help you remove "the requested resource is in use" successfully on your computer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. Why choose EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard?
-
"EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is the best we've seen. It's far from perfect, partly because today's advanced disk technology makes data-recovery more difficult than it was with the simpler technology of the past, but it's fast and efficient..." —PCMag
"The first thing you'll notice about EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro is that its interface is very clear and uncluttered, with only a small collection of self-explanatory controls. You won't find lots of extra options hidden in a system of hidden menus, either; what you see really is what you get." —techradar
"Recover lost files, even after deleting a partition or formatting your drive." —Macworld
- 2. Why cannot I recover 2GB data for free?
-
It is recommended to check the version installed is Free or Trial because they are different versions.
Trial has data preview function but cannot save any files, while the Free version enables to recover 2 GB files. The default free space is 500 MB and you may share the product on social media to get another 1.5 GB.
- 3. Why cannot the recovered files be opened?
-
A file is saved as 2 parts on the storage device: directory info (which is comprised by file name, time stamp and size info, etc.) and data content.
If the files with original file names and folder structures cannot be opened, one possible reason is the corrupted directory info. There is still a chance to recover the data content with the RAW Recovery method in our software.
- 4. Why isn't it suggested to recover the files back to the original drive?
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The storage structure of the lost files would be altered or damaged by any changes on the drive. If you save the recovered files back to the same drive, the original data structures and data content would be corrupted or overwritten, which causes permanent data loss. So you should prepare another disk to save the files.
- 5. How can I check whether my data is recoverable or not before purchase?
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The Free version helps you save 2GB files, so verify the recovery quality of our product before purchase.
- 6. How long does it take to scan the drive?
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It strongly depends on the capacity of your hard drive and the performance of your computer. As reference,most drive recoveries can be completed in around 10 to 12 hours for a 1-TB healthy hard drive in general conditions.
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