Fix Error 0x800713ab in Windows: 4 Working Methods

To fix error 0x800713ab in Windows, you need to resolve a file or folder permission conflict, most commonly by taking ownership of the affected item or disabling third-party antivirus interference. This error typically appears when you try to delete, rename, or move a file and Windows reports that the action cannot be completed because the item is open or in use, even when it isn’t.

What Does Error 0x800713ab Actually Mean?

Error 0x800713ab is a Windows error code that translates to ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND in the system’s internal error mapping, but in practice it almost always surfaces as a permission or file-locking problem. The code is a hexadecimal representation of the decimal value 2147944363, which Windows uses to signal that a requested file operation failed because the system could not access the file’s security descriptor or because another process holds a lock on it.

You are most likely to see this error in these situations:

• Deleting a file or folder that appears empty but refuses to be removed
• Renaming or moving a file that is currently open in another program
• Accessing files on a network drive or an external hard drive
• Running a program that tries to write to a protected system folder like Program Files or Windows
• Syncing files with OneDrive or another cloud service that has a stale lock

The error is not a sign of a corrupted hard drive or a failing SSD. It is almost always a software-level conflict between the file’s permission settings and the account or process trying to access it.

Why Does This Error Happen?

Windows uses a security model called Access Control Lists (ACLs) to determine who can read, write, or delete a file. Every file and folder has an owner (usually the account that created it) and a set of permissions that specify what other users and processes can do. Error 0x800713ab occurs when the ACL on the file is missing or corrupted, or when the current user account does not have the right to modify the file even though they appear to be an administrator.

Another common cause is a lingering file handle. When a program opens a file, Windows keeps a handle to it until the program closes it. If the program crashes or hangs, the handle may remain, making the file appear locked. This is why the error often occurs after a program has been forcefully closed or after a system update that left a background process running.

Third-party antivirus software is also a frequent culprit. Many antivirus programs scan files in real time and temporarily lock them during the scan. If the scan gets stuck or the antivirus service crashes, the lock can persist, causing the exact error you are seeing.

Method 1: Take Ownership of the File or Folder

The most reliable fix for error 0x800713ab is to take ownership of the problematic file or folder. This gives your account full control over the item, overriding any corrupted or restrictive permissions. Here is how to do it:

1. Right-click the file or folder that triggers the error and select Properties.
2. Go to the Security tab and click the Advanced button.
3. At the top of the Advanced Security Settings window, you will see the current owner. Click Change next to it.
4. In the “Enter the object name to select” box, type your Windows username (or Administrators to give all admin accounts ownership) and click Check Names, then OK.
5. Check the box that says Replace owner on subcontainers and objects if you are taking ownership of a folder with many files inside.
6. Click OK to close the window. Windows will apply the new ownership, which may take a few seconds for large folders.
7. Go back to the Security tab, click Edit, select your account, and check the Full control box. Click Apply and OK.

After this, try the operation that was failing. If the error was caused by a permission issue, it should now work.

Method 2: Close Programs That Might Be Locking the File

If taking ownership does not help, the file is likely locked by a running process. You can find out which process is holding the file using the built-in Resource Monitor tool:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Performance tab and click Open Resource Monitor at the bottom.
3. In Resource Monitor, go to the CPU tab and expand the Associated Handles section at the bottom.
4. Type the name of the file (or part of it) into the search box. Resource Monitor will list any processes that have a handle open to that file.
5. Right-click the process and select End Process to close it. Be careful only to end processes you recognize; ending a system process can cause instability.

If you cannot identify the process, a simple restart often clears all file handles. After rebooting, try the operation again before opening any other programs.

Method 3: Disable or Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus Temporarily

Antivirus software is designed to protect your system, but it can also interfere with file operations. If you have a third-party antivirus program (like Norton, McAfee, or Bitdefender), try disabling its real-time protection temporarily:

1. Open your antivirus program’s main interface.
2. Look for a setting called Real-time Protection, Shield, or On-Access Scanning.
3. Turn it off. Some programs require you to select a duration, such as 10 minutes or until restart.
4. Try the file operation that was failing.
5. If it works, the antivirus was the cause. You can either add an exclusion for that specific file or folder, or contact the antivirus vendor for a fix.

If disabling the antivirus does not help, you can also try uninstalling it completely (use the vendor’s official removal tool) and using Windows Defender temporarily to see if the error goes away. Remember to reinstall your antivirus afterward if you prefer it over Defender.

Method 4: Use Command Prompt to Force Delete the File

If the above methods fail, you can use the Command Prompt to force-delete the file. This bypasses some of the normal permission checks and can succeed where File Explorer fails. Run Command Prompt as administrator (search for “cmd”, right-click, and select Run as administrator), then use the following command:

del /f /q "C:\full\path\to\file"

The /f flag forces deletion of read-only files, and /q suppresses confirmation prompts. For a folder, use:

rmdir /s /q "C:\full\path\to\folder"

This removes the folder and everything inside it. Be absolutely sure you have the correct path, as this command does not ask for confirmation and permanently deletes the items.

If the command returns an error saying the file is in use, you can use the handle utility from Sysinternals (a free Microsoft tool) to find and close the specific handle, but that is a more advanced step. For most users, the first three methods will resolve the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can error 0x800713ab cause data loss?

No. The error itself does not delete or corrupt data. It only prevents you from performing a file operation like deleting or moving. Your data remains intact, but you may be unable to access it until the permission or lock issue is resolved.

Does this error mean my hard drive is failing?

No. Error 0x800713ab is a software-level error related to file permissions or locks. It is not a sign of physical drive failure. If you are also experiencing slow performance, unusual noises, or frequent crashes, you should check the drive’s health with a tool like CrystalDiskInfo, but this error alone is not a warning sign.

Why does it happen on network drives?

Network drives often have additional permission layers. The server may have its own ACLs that conflict with your local permissions, or another user on the network may have the file open. The same methods apply, but you may need to contact your network administrator if you cannot take ownership of a file on a server you do not control.

Is it safe to use the command prompt force delete?

It is safe as long as you are certain of the file path. The command permanently deletes the file or folder without sending it to the Recycle Bin. Double-check the path before executing, and never use wildcards like *.* unless you are sure of what they will match.

Will this error happen again after I fix it?

It can, especially if the root cause is a recurring issue like aggressive antivirus scanning or a program that frequently crashes and leaves file handles behind. If the error returns, try to identify the specific program that locks the file and either update it, reconfigure it, or exclude the affected folder from its scanning.

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