“The file is being used by another program and can’t be attached” when using Outlook Web App in Safari

Problem

In Safari, when you try to attach a file using an email service powered by the Outlook Web App, you get the following error:

“The file <filename> is being used by another program and can’t be attached.  Please close it and try again.”

Solution

Reset Safari.

28 comments

  1. I just ran into this same issue in Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome. I isolated the problem to files located in one specific folder. Every file in that folder was suddenly unable to be attached to any email. I found a solution by simply creating a new folder and dragging all the files from the “bad” folder to the new one. Once I did that, the problem was solved and all files were “attachable.”

    1. Thanks Mike, I had the same problem, and your solution of creating a new folder and dragging the files from “bad” folder to new folder worked 🙂

    2. Thanks Mike, I had the same problems and tried every sort of trick but by following your suggestion I solved the issue very quickly. Great.

  2. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You saved me a lot of time and effort. Quick and easy fix to an annoying problem. : )

  3. Thank you so much, It worked for me. But why does that happen in the first place? There was a suggestion to reset safari settings. Would that remedy the problem altogether?

  4. thanks guys!!! had the same problem and just sorted it out creating a new folder and transferring the “faulty” files there!

  5. Thanks for the help!
    But still, I would love to know why is is happening? I noticed these kind of problems only when using OUtlook, hotmail mail boxes, when I use gmail or other, no such issue…

  6. thanks its a work around at least. as for the question about why this is happening its simply the fact that its a microsoft piece of software they suck

  7. I have had this problem after messing around with Time machine files… I’m guessing that’s what triggered this issue for me. :s

  8. I think I may have found the cause. This was tested on a Mac running OS X 10.8, using OWA in Safari.

    It looks like OWA doesn’t like it if there is a trailing space in a folder name somewhere in the file path. So for example, attaching the following file will not work:

    ~/Documents/TestDir /filename.doc

    because there is a trailing space in the name of the folder “TestDir “. If you remove the trailing space by renaming the folder, the file will then be attachable.

    Give that a try and see if that fixes your problems.

  9. Thanks so much, incompatible folders do have the trailing space.
    That was frustrating.

  10. Yes! I was having the same problem and found a trailing space as well. Removing it solved the problem!

    Thank you!!

  11. So, you’re like, some sort of genius or something? I got rid of my training space, and that got rid of my problem!!!

  12. Renaming my folder and deleting the space fixed my problem! I am so thankful for your advice! This was killing me!

  13. Mike, three years later your response helped!!! I dragged the file into a new folder and was able to succesfully attach the file. thanks!

  14. Thanks. i have been trying to fix this for hours!! The add folder and drag across has saved me. Much appreciated.

  15. This solution is still working!! I couldn’t find a solution to this problem anyway, but thanks to you, I found success!!!

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