Sublime Text Update 3083 Error - Error Code 32

Question

When trying to update Sublime Text 3 to version 3083 on a Windows 10 computer I keep getting an error message at the end of the update saying

'Unable to rename C:\Program Files\Sublime Text 3 to C:\Program Files\Sublime Text 3 (3083), error code: 32'

I looked it up on Microsoft's website and error 32 stands for 'The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process'.

So I tried closing down all other programs and tried updating again but I still get the same problem. I have also tried running the program as an administrator but the update creates the same error message.

I only have package control installed and the Haxe plugin installed and so I can't find any other reason why it wouldn't work, although I haven't updated it before.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Trophy

First, is there a reason you're not using Build 3103? Second, you're not running Sublime or have any Windows Explorer windows with this directory open, are you? – Calandra

I'll try but I don't think it was. I don't know why it's only downloading build 3083 but might it be because I'm not a registered user? – Trophy

3103 is the latest edition of the public beta, so you don't have to be a registered user to use it. You can get it here. – Calandra

Okay, I'll just uninstall sublime text and reinstall it then. Thanks! – Trophy

Answer 1

All the application is trying to do is copy the new files into the sublime program folder. You can do this yourself:

1. Close your Sublime Text program
2. Open a file browser C:\Users\...\AppData\Local\Sublime Text 3\Update (or wherever your update landed)
3. Open another C:\Program Files\Sublime Text 3 (Make a backup of this folder if you want to be cautious)
4. Copy everything from the update to the Program Files folder
5. Run Sublime Text (you should now see the update dialog)
6. Remove the update folder and backup if everything looks good

Ferrite

I use portable version of Sublime Text. I found this update folder inside data folder. And then I followed from Step 3 and it worked for me. Thanks. – Doing

Finally was able to do this and get rid of the frustrating error. Thanks – Bucket

Answer 2

For me, I found that my antivirus (Malwarebytes) was causing the issue.

(I was alerted to this because I tried to update using the installer from the website and it warned me that Malwarebytes was holding on to files it needed to complete.)

I cancelled the installer, turned off Malwarebytes, and opened sublime to let it update itself normally and it worked nicely.

It seems this is common:

https://forum.sublimetext.com/t/build-3143-flagged-as-virus/31272?u=spenceryue

Goldplate

disabled Windows Defender to workaround the issue today. Thx! – Naoise

Answer 3

I can't believe chrome.exe (Google Chrome) was using the folder where Sublime Text was installed. Removing that lock with unlocker fixed the update error.

It's not like I have ANY plugin or open tab related to sublime text on chrome.

I really recommend unlocker though, saves you more than one time.

Forty

Answer 4

I was troubled by this problem for some days on Windows 10, and resolved it at last.

1. Navicate to sublime text path, like 'C:/program files/sublime text/'
2. find 'update_installer.exe' and 'sublime_text.exe'
3. Open the file's properties - compatibility - Run as administrator...(Something like that, maybe the spelling is wrong)
4. Select OK, and rerun sublime text.

Lillith

Right click on sublime_text.exe and select Run as Administrator, enter password and let it update. This works perfectly for v3 to v4 and keeps all your themes and settings. – Almsman

Answer 5

In my case, the reason was a package (the Powershell Editor Services package), which establishes a handle to C:\Program Files\Sublime Text 3. Those processes continued to run even after cleanly quitting Sublime Text. Killing them and removing the package that spawned them allowed Sublime Text to install its update.

I found this by using Process Explorer (procexp). Here's how:

• In procexp, run "Find Handle or DLL" (ctrl+F). Type "sublime" in the search field. When I did this, I saw "C:\Program Files\Sublime Text 3" appear several times in the search results.

• Click on one of the results in the search window. The process that has a handle on the folder will be highlighted in procexp's main window.

• Hover over the process name. You will see a Windows hint containing the command line that invoked the process. This is the command line which ran the process which had a lock on the Sublime Text 3 folder on my machine: powershell.exe -NoProfile -NonInteractive -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& \"C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roaming\Sublime Text 3\Packages\PowerShell\editorservices/Start-EditorServices.ps1\" -EditorServicesVersion \"0.7.1\" -HostName \"Sublime Text Host\" -HostProfileId \"SublimeText\" -HostVersion \"3.0.3170\" -LogLevel \"Verbose\" -LogPath \"c:\users\yourus~1\appdata\local\temp\1526304355-EditorServices.log\" -BundledModulesPath \"C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roaming\Sublime Text 3\Packages\PowerShell\editorservices\modules\""

The issue is documented here and has been resolved here. So, the team is being responsive. Hopefully the procedure described here will help others find and resolve similar issues, with other processes that leave unnecessary handles floating around.

Derisive

Answer 6

In my case the reason was I had Sublime Text opened with another user in the same computer. I closed Sublime Text for each user and then the installer worked.

Contracture

Answer 7

For me it was a plugin running in background called host plugin 3-8 and i ended it right away by clicking end process tree in task manager (Windows 7)

Glossotomy