# Conflict: cannot rename file
**URL:** https://forum.syncthing.net/t/conflict-cannot-rename-file/2578
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [April 29, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/conflict-cannot-rename-file/2578 "2015-04-29T14:38:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@zaudo](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/zaudo)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/conflict-cannot-rename-file/2578/1 "2015-04-29T14:38:58Z")
v0.11.1. I get a Puller rename/delete error when I try to save conflicting versions of files. I do not think it’s the same as this:
> [@Puller final / cannot find the file specified](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/puller-final-cannot-find-the-file-specified/2560):
>
> so I was watching a file being transferred, when the file transfer completed, this is what happened : [7LQ62] 2015/04/28 17:27:40.128272 rwfolder.go:1088: WARNING: Puller: final: rename \?\F:\video\TV Shows\Game of Thrones\season 02\Game Of Thrones S02E09 Blackwater.mkv \?\F:\video\TV Shows\Game of Thrones\season 02\Game Of Thrones S02E09 Blackwater.sync-conflict-20150428-172740.mkv: The system cannot find the file specified. why?
…because it’s not a case of deleting a file that’s syncing. Instead, what I did was:
- Create v1 of a Word doc on Computer 1
- Allow it to sync to Computer 2
- Open the Word doc on both computers
- Edit the doc to v2 on Computer 1; to v3 on Computer 2
- Save both documents within quick succession
- Leave the document open in Word on Computer 2 (and hence the file locked)
I get the following error on Computer 1:
```
Puller: final: rename \\?\S:\Test\test.docx: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process
```
And the following on Computer 2:
```
Puller: final: rename \\?\D:\Test\test.docx \\?\D:\Test\test.sync-conflict-20150429-123457.docx: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process
```
---
### Author:  [@calmh](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/calmh)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/conflict-cannot-rename-file/2578/2 "2015-04-29T15:16:23Z")
The files are locked, presumably by Word, so syncthing is not allowed to sync them.
---
### Author:  [@zaudo](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/zaudo)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/conflict-cannot-rename-file/2578/3 "2015-04-29T17:36:32Z")
I see.
In one sense, Syncthing is working as intended. It’s syncing the folders, but it’s unable to rename a file in the case of a conflict due to the user.
In another sense, it’s a common use pattern that (I think) most people would not expect. Most people do not understand that common software like Word locks files for writing.
How about keeping both files, but performing different renames on different peers?
For example, whereas at the moment you see this happening:
```
Computer 1
Computer 1's version: file.doc
Computer 2's version: file.sync-conflict-20150429-000000.doc
Computer 2
Computer 1's version: file.doc
Computer 2's version: file.sync-conflict-20150429-000000.doc
```
We could see this:
```
Computer 1
Computer 1's version: file.doc
Computer 2's version: file.sync-conflict-20150429-000000.doc
Computer 2
Computer 1's version: file.sync-conflict-20150429-000007.doc
Computer 2's version: file.doc
```
This way, no renames occur and locked files in conflict can be still be dealt with.
Syncthing DB would of course have to be aware of this. Any other peers would receive files using the “correct” names which is what Computer 1 sees. The only peer in the network that has “special” naming is Computer 2.
---
### Author:  [@calmh](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/calmh)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/conflict-cannot-rename-file/2578/4 "2015-04-29T18:25:45Z")
That would leave the two devices out of sync (since file.doc is different), and possibly also lie about it and cause general confusion.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/conflict-cannot-rename-file/2578/5 "2017-05-12T12:58:25Z")