3 Ways to Fix the "Path Too Long" Error in Windows

If you're getting an error that your file path is too long, you may be wondering how exactly to fix it. This issue commonly occurs when trying to unzip a file, though you may experience it when opening or creating a file or folder, as well. Windows has a maximum path length of 260 characters, but you can enable longer paths in the Registry Editor or the Group Policy Editor. You can also try simpler methods, such as renaming or moving the file. Keep reading to learn more.

Fixing the "Path Too Long" Error

Use a PowerShell command to enable long file paths in the registry.
Alternatively, you can manually edit the registry yourself to enable long file paths.
If you have access to Group Policy Editor, edit the group policy to allow long paths.
You can also try moving the file, using 7-Zip, or renaming the file.

Section 1 of 7:

Using a Command

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To do this, type powershell into the taskbar search bar, then right-click on PowerShell in the Start menu and click Run as administrator.
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Paste the command to change the registry. If you don't want to change the registry yourself, you can use a command to do it for you. Copy and paste New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem" -Name "LongPathsEnabled" -Value 1 -PropertyType DWORD -Force into the PowerShell window.
- It's still recommended to back up your registry before continuing, just in case something goes wrong.
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This will run the command, and your registry will be changed. You can now exit PowerShell.
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Reboot your computer. To make sure all applicable applications know that this registry entry has been changed, you'll need to restart your PC.^{[1]
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- Some applications may not have been modified to accept long paths. The developers of individual applications will need to declare that their apps are long path-aware.
- Enabling long file paths won't let you create longer file paths in File Explorer. Jump ahead to see which third-party file managers work with longer paths.

Section 2 of 7:

Using Registry Editor

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Open the Registry Editor. If you don't want to use the command from the first method, you can also manually edit the registry yourself. To open the Registry Editor, type registry editor into the taskbar search bar and click Registry Editor.
- Before editing the registry, make a backup. Editing the registry incorrectly can cause your computer to stop working properly.
To do this, click the address bar at the top of the screen and highlight it. Copy and paste the following path into the address bar, then press ↵ Enter: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem.
Near the top of the list in the FileSystem folder, you'll see the "LongPathsEnabled" DWORD. Right-click it to open a menu.
This will open a pop-up.
Under the "Value data" heading, you'll see a text box that says 0. Click into this box and change the 0 to a 1.
You can now close the Registry Editor.
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Reboot your computer. To make sure all applicable applications know that this registry entry has been changed, you'll need to restart your PC.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Some applications may not have been modified to accept long paths. The developers of individual applications will need to declare that their apps are long path-aware.
- Enabling long file paths won't let you create longer file paths in File Explorer. Jump ahead to see which third-party file managers work with longer paths.

Section 3 of 7:

Using Group Policy Editor

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1
Open the Group Policy Editor. To do this, type gpedit into the taskbar search bar, then click Edit group policy in the Start menu that pops up.
- The Group Policy Editor can only be used if you have the Pro, Enterprise, or Education version of Windows. If you have the Home edition, you'll need to use the PowerShell method or Registry Editor method.
To do this, double-click on the following folders in the left-hand sidebar in Group Policy Editor: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > File System.
This will open a new window.
In the upper-left corner of the screen, you'll see that there are three radio buttons: Not Configured, Enabled, and Disabled. Click the radio button next to "Enabled."
You can now close the Group Policy Editor.
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Reboot your computer. To make sure all applicable applications know that the group policy has been changed, you'll need to restart your PC.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Some applications may not have been modified to accept long paths. The developers of individual applications will need to declare that their apps are long path-aware.
- Enabling long file paths won't let you create longer file paths in File Explorer. Jump ahead to see which third-party file managers work with longer paths.

Section 4 of 7:

Moving the File

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If you keep getting the "path too long" error, moving the file or folder to your root directory (usually the C drive, though it could be any drive letter) will fix the issue. By doing this, you're making the path much shorter, which is helpful if you have a very long file or folder name that you can't or don't want to change.

Section 5 of 7:

Unzipping the File with 7-Zip

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Use 7-Zip to unzip the file. Windows File Explorer and its built-in file extraction tool won't work if the path to your file exceeds 260 characters. One way to get around this is to use 7-Zip, a free third-party file extractor that can extract any type of compressed file.
- To use 7-Zip, download it from their website (7-zip.org) and install it. Follow the on-screen instructions to get started.
- When unzipping your file with 7-Zip, you may still run into issues accessing it if its path is too long. If this is the case, try an alternative file manager. Alternatively, you can move the file to a different location so it doesn't give you the error anymore.

Section 6 of 7:

Renaming the File or Folder

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Change the name of the file or folder. If your file or folder has a very long name, you can rename it to stop Windows from giving you the "path too long" error, confirms Tech Expert Carter Keel.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Carter Keel
Tech Expert

Expert Interview} For example, if your file is named something like homework_assignment_for_economics_may_1_2026, try renaming it to something like econ_5.1.26.
- Keel adds that renaming files or folders is easy. Just right-click the file or folder and select 'Rename,' then type a shorter name.^{[5]
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  Carter Keel
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  Expert Interview}

Section 7 of 7:

Alternative File Managers

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Changing Windows' file path length won't allow you to make long paths in Explorer. Windows' built-in File Explorer is somewhat limited when it comes to long file paths. Even if you enable long file paths in Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor, you will still run into issues with File Explorer. To get around this, you'll need to download an alternative file manager that supports long paths.^{[6]
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Research source} Here are some options you can try: