OpenFiles PowerShell command doesn't work as described in Microsoft Docs

Question

Introduction:
I need help with OpenFiles, which also comes with Windows 10 Pro.

Situation:
I enabled the local mode as described here https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/openfiles and I can see all local open files as expected. The /disconnect argument however doesn't work with the local files. Whenever I try to terminate a connection with openfiles /disconnect /id ID of handle nothing happens, there's no output (even if the ID is invalid) and if I list all open files again, nothing happened.

Computer details:
My PC on which I'm trying to do this, is running Windows 10 Pro, Version 21H1, Build 19043.1586. I also installed a fresh copy of Windows 10 Pro on a virtual machine to see, if this is an issue related to my install, and on a fresh Windows 10 Pro, Version 21H2, Build 19044.1288 I'm also facing this issue. Didn't test on Windows 11 as I'm not interested in Win11.

Solutions I tried:
-Fresh copy of Windows
-Restarting computer
-Using PowerShell as an administrator (obviously)
-Adding a /local behind the /disconnect, which granted a syntax error

Microsoft Windows Customer Support brought me here, I hope you can help me here.

Best regards,
Gab

Answer 1

Openfiles only disconnect remotely opened files.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-R2-and-2012/cc732490(v=ws.11)

openfiles /disconnect
Enables an administrator to disconnect files and folders that have been opened remotely through a shared folder.

For local files you can use handle or process explorer.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/handle

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

Those tools do not need "openfiles /local on", so you can turn that off.

Answer 2

Hi @Gab

Administrator privileges are required for the openfiles command to work as expected.

Please try the following:

Right-click the command prompt entry and select Run as administrator from the context menu. Enter openfiles and hit enter to run the command on the system. Description: Enables an administrator to list or disconnect files and folders that have been opened on a system. /Disconnect Disconnects one or more open files.

Openfiles can do a server direct. You don't have to run it remotely.

From Help openfiles /query /?

OPENFILES /Query /S system /U username /P password /NH

I hope this answers your question.

Thanks.

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