How do I fix: 🔍 Why This Happens?

The primary cause of Error 32 is that the process attempting to access the file is still holding onto it, preventing other processes from accessing it.An alternative reason for Error 32 could be due to a permissions issue or a system resource conflict.

How do I fix: Using the `win32file` module?

Step 1: Use the `win32file.CreateFile()` function to create a handle to the folder being monitored.Step 2: Set the `FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY` flag and use the `bDelete` parameter to indicate that you want to delete the folder.Step 3: Wait for any pending operations to complete using the `WaitForSingleObj

Coding⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix Error 32 Error – How to delete a folder in Python when [Error 32] is present

Q: Step-by-Step Verified Fixes Using the `shutil` module with the `try`-`except` block?

Step 1: Try deleting the folder using `shutil.rmtree(Location)` and catch the `OSError` exception that is raised when Error 32 occurs.Step 2: Use a try-except block to handle the error and attempt to delete the folder again after the process has released its hold on it.Step 3: If the error persists,

Error 32 occurs when a process is being used by another process, preventing deletion of a folder in Python.

Quick Answer: Use the `win32process` module to terminate the process holding the file, then attempt to delete the folder.

📋 Table of Contents

🔍 Why This Happens
🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
🎯 Final Words

Error 32 occurs when a process cannot access a file because it is being used by another process. This issue affects users who are trying to delete a folder that is currently being monitored by a thread.

This error can be frustrating, especially when trying to clean up temporary files or directories. However, there are methods to resolve this issue and safely delete the folder.

🔍 Why This Happens

The primary cause of Error 32 is that the process attempting to access the file is still holding onto it, preventing other processes from accessing it.
An alternative reason for Error 32 could be due to a permissions issue or a system resource conflict.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Using the `shutil` module with the `try`-`except` block

Step 1: Try deleting the folder using `shutil.rmtree(Location)` and catch the `OSError` exception that is raised when Error 32 occurs.
Step 2: Use a try-except block to handle the error and attempt to delete the folder again after the process has released its hold on it.
Step 3: If the error persists, consider using alternative methods such as `os.rmdir()` or `win32file.DeleteFile()` with the `bDelete` parameter set to `True`.

Using the `win32file` module

Step 1: Use the `win32file.CreateFile()` function to create a handle to the folder being monitored.
Step 2: Set the `FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY` flag and use the `bDelete` parameter to indicate that you want to delete the folder.
Step 3: Wait for any pending operations to complete using the `WaitForSingleObject()` function before attempting to delete the folder.

🎯 Final Words

To safely delete a folder being monitored by a thread, try using the `shutil` module with a `try`-`except` block or the `win32file` module. If these methods fail due to Error 32, consider alternative approaches such as using `os.rmdir()` or `win32file.DeleteFile()`.

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