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james_wright Author

Level 1

5 points

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

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to move some files off an external hard drive to my macbook pro. These are mostly video files.

However, there's a handful of files which are causing the following error:

"The operation can’t be completed because the item “XXX” is in use."

I've no idea what's wrong but would appriaicte some help. All the previous threads I can find with the same error are related to moving items to the trash and I actually followed some of the advice (shutting down etc) but it still didn't help.

Thanks anyone and everyone for the assistance.

James

Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 11, 2014 12:09 PM

Top-ranking reply

elleyh

Level 1

4 points

Posted on May 14, 2014 10:15 AM

this is a problem that's become a huge issue for a great many people since Apple's launch of Mavericks. I have huge problems trying to transfer files to a networked NAS drive. It would seemlessly for the past 3 years, but since Mavericks, I always get this stupid error. The above advice is completely useless. I've spent hours researching this with many workarounds touted, but none of which provide a solution.

Trying to transfer files now means that I have to do each file seperately, sometimes 10+ times to get it to actually complete copying. If you copy multiple files and one is "in use", the system then deletes all the others.

Apple.... good, until it's complete rubbish.

View in context

52 replies

Aug 13, 2015 1:54 AM in response to james_wright

I'm pretty sure this is caused when attempting to create resource forks, unfortunately apple in its infinite wisdom doesn't provide any way to prevent resource fork creation

Aug 24, 2015 1:36 PM in response to james_wright

Have found an easy way to move files from computer to external drive: using ForkLift, FTP app, to move files. No problems whatsoever with "items in use" issue.

Sep 18, 2015 7:34 AM in response to DoeJM

This is interesting. I don't have a "DiskUnmountWatcher" process running (OS X 10.10.3 / "Yosemite")

DoeJM, what version OS X are you running?

Thanks

DoeJM

Level 1

0 points

Sep 18, 2015 7:43 AM in response to TruthSkunk

I am running Yosemite 10.10.5 at the moment.

Plus downloading Forklift FTP as we speak, see if that helps.

Dec 23, 2015 1:23 AM in response to Ombilgo1

Thank you Ombilgo1you are my hero! This did the trick when nothing else did.

Mar 8, 2016 8:15 AM in response to FrenchToast

FT --- Thanks, the terminal MV command with pasting the source/destination files/directory worked PERFECTLY. Major help moving 1000s of files.

dlnsoh

Level 1

4 points

Apr 7, 2016 8:54 PM in response to Johny5

It works! It's so simple and yet it took me so loooong to get it solved! Thank you so much Johny5!!!

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