Can't move files - The operation can’t be completed because the item is in use.

The issue began with me when I upgrade to Yosemite (I skipped Mavericks).

Permissions are not the issue.

The entire files copy - completely - then I get the error at the end. If there were permission issues the error would occur as soon as the copy was first attempted.

Permissions are not the issue.

If I keep trying over and over, the file will eventually will copy successfully with no changes to any permissions between attempts. If there were permission issues the copy would never be successful without changing permissions.

Permissions are not the issue.

I tried quitting/disabling DiskUnmountWatcher but that didn't help me. I do not have Evernote nor any EvernoteHelper running. However, these clues about DiskUnmountWatcher and EvernoteHelper may point toward the root cause: "something" is occasionally (randomly?) opening/locking these files either on the local drive or on the network drive. I'll keep poking around to see if I can tell what that "something" is.

My current work-around is to use the "cp" command (I'm not using "sudo" - permissions are not the issue). I haven't received an error using "cp" yet but I've only used it for a handful of files. I need to copy a lot more files before I'm convinced using "cp" is a reliable work-around.

I'll report back when I have a better idea about other processes and the reliability of this work-around.

WHY do I have to use TERMINAL and CP?

I force stopped Diskunmount blah blah blah whatever

I have 10.10.3 and yes, when the file is 1Gb or more, I get can not complete blah blah blah is in use, EVEN when copying the .MP4 video by itself.

this is to a QNAP TS-419P+ and FIRST I copied the folder to my desktop

BUT

when I copied from SDcard straight to a DLINK DNS-323 NAS WITHOUT going to my desktop it went right thru

I mean whats the ******* problem Apple?

need a terminal command to fix it

Happens regularly to me with files within folders, copying large folders to a different drive. It's not the "file in use" problem, but the "already exists" one.

Only solution I have found is, when wishing to update a backed up folder, make sure the old one is buried down in another folder. I can drag a copy to the drive top level. Then dragging it to copy over the outdated folder asks the alert question and then does it correctly. If I try to replace an old folder with a new one directly I get the same name alert, I click OK, it copies nearly to the end and then says it can't be completed because a file with that name already exists. It's a huge problem doing things like backing up image libraries which are separate folders each containing 30 or 40 gigs of images and project info.

I don't use any of the softwares mentioned in this thread. On BOTH a 2011 MBP with 10.9.5 and a 2008 MBP with 10.6.8.

Had a similar problem moving files from desktop to a network drive. The "File is in use" message would pop up for no apparent reason - even after restart.

The files in question were all titled "filename.mp4" I simply retitled them by removing the .mp4 appendage like "filename" and the files had no trouble transferring after that.

Don't know if that will work on all file types or in all situations but it seemed to work. Also should note that it didn't happen on all of the .mp4 files I had either.

So far the forced stop on DiskUnmountWatcher has worked for the first files!

But I never realized it was something within Apple. I have formatted my harddisc and everything.

Please Apple fix this so we do not have to work around it anymore! Cause this is annoying to say the least!

The solution of Johnny with the temp folder is unclear to me. Can you Elaborate on it please? as the previous solution is not working anymore.

There is a workaround that does actually work, albeit it it is painful...

I have no idea why Apple hasn't fixed this.

I use SAMBA shares from a QNAP and if you try and copy multiple files to the QNAP then it fails pretty much every time.

the workaround is to create a folder in the location where all your local files are.

Then, move all the files into the folder.

Lastly, drag the folder itself over on to the share where you want to copy it.

Obviously when its gone across you can move the files out of the temp folder you created.

Not ideal but it works every time for me.

This seems to be working for transfer from one external hard drive to another. I did have to change the sync settings to "update" after the first attempt failed when I simply unchecked the the files going the opposite direction. Thanks!

Hi Guys, try turning off the icon previews in the original location and the destination disk, I have had some success with this, in the case of mp4s finder is creating preview I think it maybe finder it self that is using the file (1st Frame) causing this issue, it should be noted this is just a theory at this point but it is an easy try and if all give it a shot and prove it, apple may be able to track a fix, this has been in the last few OS releases.

In my case, "Show icon preview" was already turned off in Finder. I also turned off "Show icons" but that didn't help either.

The only reliable way I've found to copy large files and/or many files FROM a local disk TO a mounted network share is to use the "cp" command in the terminal.

Hi Truthskunk

I guess that is the end of that theory, though it is working for me most of the time only once in awhile I get a fail, usually big files (1 gig plus) and also happens on photos though this is much rarer, some other stats, the drives I copy to are fat 32 format on a WD nas, is this consistent with others? this does not happen at all for me between other Mac formatted devices and drives on my network, also does not seem to happen to files not edited on the source device, also is this consistent with others?

All my network shares are formatted Reiser3 and shared via SMB so they're supposed to "smell like" Windows shares. I do this because they're consumed by both Windows and Mac machines.

It's interesting that you don't experience this issue with volumes shared by other Macs. I supposed these are formatted MacOS and shared via AFS. My NAS only supports Reiser3 formatting but I can share different ways (SMB or NFS with the current version). In order to share via AFS and "smell like" an Apple, I'd have to upgrade Slackware on my NAS. But I've been looking for an excuse to do that anyway so I'll give it a try when I get time and report back.

Good tip - something I haven't tried yet - thanks.

Hi truthskunk

No problems interested to see how this plays out we may be able to sort issue ourselves just need more input, I have shifted my NAS drives formatted fat 32 onto a mac mini as a server, I have left them as is just changed the host machine from WD to apple. Keeping in mind I have not had issue on apple equipment and apple formatted drives (HFS) Next step would be to change drives format (lot of effort) have tested putting file inside a folder and copying this seems to work, (not a lot of evidence though as have now changed conditions cant verify) pointing finger back at finder preview as previous theory.

I don't know if this will help or not. I have been suffering the same problem copying images to a Buffalo Linkstation Duo. During the process to try and sort it out, I happened to copy the files from my Mac Internal SSD to myAirport Time Capsule and back again. Following this the files then copied to the NAS with no problems at all. I still haven't figured out why. It may be a contributory factor, but I am suffering the "unknown user" in the permissions section of GetInfo on the Time Capsule.

Hope this helps some or all of the sufferers.

Following on from my previous post, I tried again, this time checking permissions at each stage. The interesting thing was that before I copied the files from my Mac HD My account had Read+Write, Staff had Read only and Everyone had read only. After copying to the TimeCapsule and back. All three accounts had Read+Write and again copied to the NAS with no problem. A quick experiment where I simply changed the permissions of a file on my MAC HD for Staff and Everyone to Read+Write showed that this solved the problem without needing to copy to the TimeCapsule and back.

Been fighting this issue primarily with MP4 and MKV files. I did not have either of the programs mentioned running, so that wasn't the issue. I was getting ready to try using CP in Terminal, but another post caught my eye.

I just moved the files into an untitled folder, then copied the folder over and finally removed the files from the folder at the other end. Not glamorous, but it seems to work and I can avoid Terminal.

Hi

I've had the same problem but only since I upgraded to the latest El Capitan version. Tried about everything anyone suggested to no avail and guessed it had to do with one of the programs I recently bought. Still a nuisance. The programs concerned were quit, the files closed and saved, everything as it should be.

Finally found an easy solution.

Open trash, ctrl click on the offending file and on "delete immediately". Should this line be grayed out, first ctrl click on "put it back", pull it once again into the trash and then ctrl click on "delete immediately".

Still a bother to use a work around but at least it's easy and quick.