By default, the maximum path length limit in Windows is 260 characters. However, if the application is properly manifested, it is possible to remove the limitation on Windows 10 (v. 1607 or later) so the application will support the paths that are longer than 260 characters. There are alternative ways to allow the application to access paths beyond the 260 characters limit:

Windows Home Users:

Filesystem Registry entry

    1. Press Win + R keys on your keyboard and type regedit then press Enter. Registry Editor will be opened.
    2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem.
    3. Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named LongPathsEnabled and set it to 1.
    4. Restart your Windows.

Alternatively, you can download, unzip, and double-click the following REG file, it will make the registry changes automatically. Do not forget to restart your computer after applying the file.

Windows Pro and Enterprise (Windows Server 2016 or above) Users: 

There are three alternative ways to enable long paths:

Using Group Policy

    1. Press Win + R keys on your keyboard and type gpedit.msc then press Enter. Group Policy Editor will be opened.
    2. Go to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Filesystem, then enable the Enable Win32 long paths option.
    3. Restart your Windows.

Group Policy Registry entry

    1. Press Win + R keys on your keyboard and type regedit then press Enter. Registry Editor will be opened.
    2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies.
    3. Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named LongPathsEnabled and set it to 1.
    4. Restart your Windows.

Filesystem Registry entry

    1. Press Win + R keys on your keyboard and type regedit then press Enter. Registry Editor will be opened.
    2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem.
    3. Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named LongPathsEnabled and set it to 1.
    4. Restart your Windows.

Alternatively, you can download, unzip, and double-click the following REG file, it will make the registry changes automatically. Do not forget to restart your computer after applying the file.

5 comments

  1. OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise
    Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045

    I don’t know if this is normal. I implemented
    .. Group Policy
    .. Group Policy Registry entry
    .. Filesystem Registry entry

    To be more specific,
    Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Filesystem enabled
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\LongPathsEnabled = 1
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies\LongPathsEnabled = 1

    Unfortunately, still cannot create pathnames longer than around 240 characters.

    Reply

      1. Denis, thank you for replying. After attempting to enable the long paths, using the group policy editor and regedit, I made the following directory path, using File Explorer (formally known as Windows Explorer):

        C:\Users\rogersc\Documents\test45678911234567892123456789312345678941234567895\test45678911234567892123456789312345678941234567895\test45678911234567892123456789312345678941234567895\test45678911234567892123456789312345678941234567895

        So far, that is about 234 characters for path to a directory. When I try making another directory, the longest directory name File Explorer allows entered into the new directory name is CUsersrogers. That is the full length allowed.

        Reply

  2. i should have mentioned, I restarted Windows after making the registry and group policy changes. I suspect the problem I am having is caused by some kind of group controls put on the machine by my employer. The settings I added per the instructions on this webpage have not been overwritten. Perhaps there is another setting in Regedit or Group Policy.

    Reply

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