Windows has a longstanding file path length limitation that can cause headaches for users trying to access or manage deeply nested files and folders. The “Path Too Long” error occurs when file paths exceed 260 characters, preventing normal operations in File Explorer. Fortunately, there are several ways to work around this restriction and regain access to problematic files.
Enable Long Path Support in Windows 10/11
The most effective solution is to enable built-in long path support, which allows Windows to handle paths up to 32,767 characters:
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows + R, typing “regedit”, and pressing Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
Step 3: Find the LongPathsEnabled value on the right side. If it doesn’t exist, right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it LongPathsEnabled.
Step 4: Double-click LongPathsEnabled and set the Value data to 1.
Step 5: Click OK and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
This method requires admin rights but provides system-wide support for long paths in Windows and compatible applications.
Use PowerShell Commands
PowerShell can handle longer file paths than File Explorer, making it useful for managing problematic files:
Step 1: Open PowerShell as administrator.
Step 2: Use the cd command to navigate to the parent directory of the problem file/folder.
Step 3: Use commands like Move-Item, Copy-Item, or Remove-Item followed by the full path in quotes. For example:
Move-Item "C:\Very\Long\Path\To\File.txt" "D:\New\Location"
PowerShell supports paths up to 32,767 characters when prefixed with \\?\, allowing you to work with files beyond the standard Windows API limit.
Utilize Third-Party File Management Tools
Several third-party applications are designed to handle extremely long file paths:
Long Path Tool
This freeware utility allows you to copy, move, delete, and rename files with paths exceeding the Windows limit.
Step 1: Download and install Long Path Tool from a reputable source.
Step 2: Launch the application and use its file browser to navigate to the problem files.
Step 3: Perform desired operations using the tool’s interface, which bypasses Windows path length restrictions.
7-Zip File Manager
The popular compression tool 7-Zip includes a file manager that can handle long paths:
Step 1: Install 7-Zip from the official website.
Step 2: Right-click on a folder containing long path files and select “7-Zip > Open archive”.
Step 3: Use the 7-Zip File Manager interface to copy, move, or delete files with long paths.
Shorten File Paths
If the above methods aren’t suitable, you can attempt to shorten file paths:
Step 1: Identify folders with unnecessarily long names in the file path.
Step 2: Rename these folders to shorter, descriptive names.
Step 3: Move files or folders closer to the root of the drive to reduce overall path length.
While this method requires manual effort, it can resolve path length issues without requiring system changes or additional software.
The “Path Too Long” error stems from legacy Windows API limitations, but modern solutions exist to overcome this obstacle. Enabling long path support at the system level provides the most comprehensive fix, while PowerShell and third-party tools offer powerful alternatives for managing problematic files. By implementing these methods, you can efficiently handle files with extensive paths and avoid frustrating accessibility issues in Windows.