[GNC] could not obtain lock message when opening GnuCash

[Tommy Trussell]

On Tue, Apr 15, 2025 at 2:18 PM David Long <davidvernonlong at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I am using GNucash on 3 machines, who share the file on Dropbox. I make
> sure only one version is open at any one time. When opening GnuCash, I get
> the message * GnuCash could not obtain the lock to( folder\filename). That
> database may be in use by another user, in which case you should not open
> it."  I always ignore the message and open it anyway, as the backups give
> me the same message. I am worried that this might give me problems at some
> stage. What should I do?
>


Have you read the FAQ?

https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/FAQ#Q:_GnuCash_says_that_it_can.27t_obtain_the_lock_for_my_file._What_should_I_do.3F

The lock file (or flag?) gets reset when GnuCash closes PROPERLY.

Are you closing GnuCash with the File--> Quit command (or the keyboard
equivalent)?

Is it possible GnuCash is crashing for some reason?

Dropbox should be deleting the .LCK file when you quit, but check your
Dropbox settings -- there may be a reason it isn't removing that file when
GnuCash removes it.




> -----
> Please remember to CC this list on all your replies.
> You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
>