Fix the ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database File in Use’ Error Efficiently

While working on the SQL Server, a user encounters various errors while moving the database files. When the error occurs, a message shows up stating ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database File in use’ Error. Here, the major cause for the error is that it is being used by the SQL Server. 

Let’s get a closer look at this issue and understand the other causes that may lead to this error. We will also discuss the challenges it may create for the users and the solutions to resolve the error.  So without any further delay, let’s begin with understanding this SQL error.

What is SQL Database Locked Error?

When we talk about what this issue is, the error message makes it quite simple to understand for the users. As the error name suggests, this issue is caused during the copying or moving of the database when the file is still in use by the server. 

It’s not important that the file is only in use when a user is working on it, sometimes there are background processes that might be occupying the database files. Similarly, there can be other factors leading to the file in use error. Let’s move to the causes now. 

What Are the Reasons For ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database file in use’ Error?

As we have already mentioned, there are numerous factors that lead to this specific error. Here we are mentioning some of them.

Active or Online Database:

One of the reasons for the database cannot be copied error can be the database being online or active. When a database is active, it generally locks the files so that the file integrity is not compromised. But by locking the database file, it also results in error when the user tries to move or copy the database file. 

Being in Use by Other Applications

If the database files are being used by applications like SQL Server Management Studio, they are locked and cannot be released until the application releases the lock. So it becomes difficult to move the file during the process or when it is being used by the applications resulting in the Cannot Copy SQL Database file in use’ Error.

Processes in the Background

Sometimes the processes running in the background also become a factor for the error to occur. These background processes can be the backing up of the database files, or database maintenance process. When the database is being backed up or being indexed, the files eventually get locked and further become a reason for the ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database file in use’ error.

Insufficient Permissions:

Another common reason for the file in use error occurrence is due to the insufficient permissions. If the user does not have the required permissions to access or move the database, it can also become a contributing factor to this error. 

These are the factors that can result in the error. And with this error, certain challenges are also created for the users. Let’s see how the error can impact the database administrators and how we can help them resolve the error in the ideal ways. 

Challenges Faced By Users When They Cannot Copy SQL Database

When the users try to copy the database, they face certain challenges that restrict them from doing so. Some of these challenges are:

• Backup Issues: With the occurrence of cannot copy SQL Database file in use error, it becomes difficult to take backup of the file. As when the files are in use by the SQL Server, they get locked, and restricts the files to be copied or saved as backup file.
• Process delays: While working on the database, database administrators may wish to copy or move the database. But with the error, it gets complex to move them and results in further delays in the processes.
• Can’t Copy Database: If the database files are locked by the SQL Server, the database administrators can’t copy them. This may restrict them to . The error might also result in bigger challenges for the users if not resolved properly.

With these challenges, it becomes complex for the users to copy the files and may lead to the ‘cannot copy SQL Database file in use’ error. After going through the challenges, we have now understood how much it can impact the users with their daily operations. So to resolve the error, we will now take a look at the solutions that can be helpful in doing so. 

How to Resolve ‘Can’t Copy SQL Database’ Error?

When it comes to the solutions, there are many of them. These solutions can be a little complex to understand, but we will try to explain them in simpler ways. Let’s take a look at how these solutions will help in resolving the SQL Database file in use error. 

The first method we will be discussing is the detach and attach the database method. Let’s proceed with the solution. 

#1 Resolve the Error by Detaching and Attaching the SQL Database

If the database files are locked by the SQL Server, we can free them and resolve the ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database file in use’ Error by detaching the database from the server, copying them, and re-attaching them. The steps of doing this are:

1. The first step is to open the SQL Server Management Studio. 
2. Go to Tasks and then choose the Detach option. 
3. Next go to drop connection to stop any active connection that might be causing issues.
4. Then, click on Ok to detach the database from the SQL Server. 
5. Now go to the location where the database files are stored, and copy the files. 
6. After copying, in SSMS, right click on the database tab and click on the attach option to re-attach the database.

After understanding the working of the first manual method, let’s take a look at how the next method will help in resolving the error. 

#2 Fix ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database File in Use’ Error Using Backup File

To resolve the error and copy SQL database, users can also use the backup files. Let’s understand how the method works. For the backup method, it is necessary to create a backup file first. To do that, follow the given steps:

1. Open SSMS, and go to Tasks. Then from Tasks, click on the Backup Option. 
2. Choose the backup type as per your requirements. 
3. Then, click on OK Button to create the backup of the SQL database.  
4. Once the backup file is created, copy the file to your desired location. 
5. If you wish to restore the database to another server, 
   1. In SSMS, click on the Restore database option.
   2. Choose the .bak file and then restore.

This method will help you to copy the database from one server by using the backup files of the targeted database. Now let’s move to the next method for fixing the file in use error. 

#3 Resolving the Error by Stopping the SQL Services 

This method can be considered as the last resort for resolving the ‘cannot copy SQL Database file in use’ error. This method requires the stopping of the services to release locks of the acquired databases by the SQL Server. To proceed with this method, let’s take a look at how the method works.

1. Press the Windows + R key. When the Run dialog box opens, type services.msc in it. This will open the Services window. 
2. Then look for SQL Server or the SQL Server instance name, and then right click on it. From the options, choose STOP. 
3. Now, as the services have stopped, go to the databases and copy SQL Database file. 
4. After the database file is copied, restart the SQL Server Services. 

All these methods can help with resolving the error up to some extent. But to free the SQL Database files completely from the SQL Server lock, we need a professional solution. Let’s see how the professional solution can help in resolving this error. 

Professional Method to Fix ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database file in Use’ Error 

The professional method can be proved helpful for copying the database files efficiently. Before getting deeper into the solution description, let’s first see what the solution is and how it works. The software we are using is the SQL Database Migration Tool. And the steps for using this software to copy SQL Database file are quite straightforward. Here’s how you can use the solution.

It comes with advanced features, filters, any many other benefits that make the task less risky & more result-oriented. Some of the amazing features of this solution are:

Step-1.Install and Launch the migrator.

Step-2. From the two options: Offline or Online, choose one as per your needs.

Step-3. Preview the database File Components like tables, views, functions, etc.

Step-4. Click on the export tab.

Step-5. Then in the Export window, choose a destination path and add the required credentials.

Step-6. Click on the Export button to copy the SQL Database file to another database or locally on your system.

By following these simple steps you can easily copy the database files and resolve the error more professionally. Now we have understood both manual and professional solutions to fix the cannot copy SQL Database file in use error. But how is the professional tool better than the manual approaches? Let’s answer this question first. 

Why Choose the Professional Solution?

The professional solution is comparatively better than the manual solutions in these factors:

• • • The manual solution might allow the users to release the files from SQL Server lock, but doesn’t ensure the efficiency of the process. 
    • The manual methods can result in the service downtime during the resolving process.
    • The SQL Service stop method can eventually end up resulting in service halt till the error is resolved. 

On the other hand, the professional solution is an optimal way of dealing with the ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database file in Use’ error. Let’s see how.

• • • The professional software is ideal for this error, as it offers the users to directly upload the MDF file into the software and then export them into their desired database or server. 
    • Being a standalone software, the tool only needs the MDF files and does not depend on the SQL Server for fixing the error.

Additionally, there are numerous features offered by this tool that helps to make the complete process easier. How about we take a look at the features offered by the professional tool. 

Prominent Features of the Software

• • • Dual Migration Options – This software offers you dual options for migration of the database, i.e., Offline and Online Modes. 
      • The online mode allows you to copy the SQL Server Database from one live server to another.
      • And the offline mode allows you to migrate the MDF files even if the SQL Server is not connected or present in your local system. 
        
    • Export Database Objects Easily – Using this software, you can easily export all the desired database components in a hassle free way. These components can be tables, triggers, views, functions, etc. 
      
    • Option to Create a New Database – While exporting the database, if you wish to copy the files to a new database, the software offers you an option to create a new database within the software only. 
      
    • Export Options – With the help of this software, you get the choice of migrating only the schema of the database file, or the schema with data completely. 
    • Supports Various SQL Server Versions – If you are worried about the SQL Server version you are using, rest assured. This software supports the latest SQL Server versions and the older versions as well. 

All these advanced features offered by this software make it an ideal solution for resolving the ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database file in use’ error and that too in a simple and efficient way. 

Conclusion

Confronting an error in the SQL Server can be troubling. That too when the error restricts you from copying database files. Similarly, with the ‘Cannot Copy SQL Database file in use’ Error, it may cause many challenges and is a little complex to deal with. So to help you with resolving the error, we have provided all the manual methods and the professional solution for resolving the error.