Difference between revisions of "Windows Path Length Limit Reached"
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==INTRO== | ==INTRO== | ||
| − | In many cases, Windows has a default limit of how many characters can make up a complete path to a file. That includes the length of the folder names. The limit is supposedly 260 characters for a path name. But, we've seen it actually stop at 255. | + | :In many cases, Windows has a default limit of how many characters can make up a complete path to a file. That includes the length of the folder names. The limit is supposedly 260 characters for a path name. But, we've seen it actually stop at 255. |
| − | To get around this limit, Windows allows you to make a change in the registry that will allow you to have a much longer path (in terms of number of characters in the path name) up to 32767 characters. A big increase! | + | :To get around this limit, Windows allows you to make a change in the registry that will allow you to have a much longer path (in terms of number of characters in the path name) up to 32767 characters. A big increase! |
==Make a registry edit to increase path length== | ==Make a registry edit to increase path length== | ||
| − | Two ways to make the change. Either run the registry editor yourself (Method 1) or run a prepared script to do it for you (Method 2) | + | :Two ways to make the change. Either run the registry editor yourself (Method 1) or run a prepared script to do it for you (Method 2) |
| − | ===Method 1: Edit the registry by-hand, if you're comfortable making registry changes== | + | ===Method 1: Edit the registry by-hand, if you're comfortable making registry changes=== |
| − | Run Regedit. | + | *Run Regedit. |
| − | The key to change is located at: | + | ::The key to change is located at: |
| − | '''HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem''' | + | :::'''HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem''' |
| − | The actual key change: | + | ::The actual key change: |
| − | '''"LongPathsEnabled"=dword:00000001''' | + | :::'''"LongPathsEnabled"=dword:00000001''' |
| − | + | * Reboot! | |
| − | |||
| − | Reboot! | ||
===Method 2: Run a script to make the change for you.=== | ===Method 2: Run a script to make the change for you.=== | ||
Revision as of 17:58, 20 May 2021
INTRO
- In many cases, Windows has a default limit of how many characters can make up a complete path to a file. That includes the length of the folder names. The limit is supposedly 260 characters for a path name. But, we've seen it actually stop at 255.
- To get around this limit, Windows allows you to make a change in the registry that will allow you to have a much longer path (in terms of number of characters in the path name) up to 32767 characters. A big increase!
Make a registry edit to increase path length
- Two ways to make the change. Either run the registry editor yourself (Method 1) or run a prepared script to do it for you (Method 2)
Method 1: Edit the registry by-hand, if you're comfortable making registry changes
- Run Regedit.
- The key to change is located at:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
- The actual key change:
- "LongPathsEnabled"=dword:00000001
- Reboot!
Method 2: Run a script to make the change for you.
- Download to your windows system by clicking:
- Unzip the downloaded file Win-LongPathsEnabled.zip
- That will result in a file called LongPathsEnabled.reg
- Double-click LongPathsEnabled.reg to run that file.
- Reboot to activate the change.