Top 5 Ways to Find Long Paths & File Names in Windows 11, 10, 8

Explore the Top 5 best ways to find long paths and long file names in Windows. List path length and file name length and sort them by size. Solve the “path too long” errors.

The issue of paths longer than 260 characters is a longstanding challenge in the realm of file management and system compatibility, particularly within the Windows operating system. Historically, Windows has enforced a maximum path length of 260 characters, which includes the folder names and file names within a directory structure. This limitation, often referred to as the “MAX_PATH” constraint, can lead to various complications and hinder efficient file organization, especially in complex directory structures or when dealing with deep file hierarchies.

As technology has advanced, the demand for more robust and flexible file management systems has grown. Many modern applications, development tools, and cloud services have evolved to handle longer paths, surpassing the traditional limitations imposed by Windows. Despite these advancements, the challenge of managing paths longer than 260 characters persists, affecting compatibility, data migration, and overall system usability. In this context, addressing the intricacies of extended path lengths becomes essential for ensuring seamless file operations and enhanced user experiences within evolving computing environments.

List of the best ways to find the longest paths and file names in Windows:

1. Find Long Paths Using a Free App
2. Find Longest Paths From Windows Command Line
3. Discovering Long Paths with PowerShell
4. List Long Paths Using Windows Explorer
5. Unlocking Long Paths in Windows 10

1. Find Long Paths Using a Free App

The free Folder Size app offers a robust solution to the persistent issue of “path too long” errors by incorporating a specialized feature that identifies and manages lengthy file paths and names. In scenarios where Windows’ traditional 260-character path limitation poses challenges, Folder Size steps in to streamline the process. This feature enables users to identify files and directories with extended path lengths, allowing for efficient management and resolution of potential errors associated with excessively long paths. By providing insights into path lengths and offering tools to address them, Folder Size contributes to a more seamless and effective file organization experience, particularly in environments where extended path lengths are prevalent.

Find Long Paths – Find Long File Names

To help free up disk space, Folder Size also provides the largest files and largest folders reports. As a result, it sorts the folders from largest to smallest to easily spot the missing space. Find the newest files or oldest files in a drive or a folder and all its subfolders. Print folders and files or export folder and file lists to EXCEL, CSV, or XML. In addition, a handy option to organize files is the one for finding empty folders and files. To clarify, These are just a few of the features of this marvelous tool. Best of all it is free and can clean up disk space in minutes. Download Folder Size and you will never worry about missing disk space again.

Longest Pahts Report

Steps to Find Long Paths:

1. Choose a drive, folder, or network location to search for long paths.
2. From the toolbar choose “Longest Paths”.
3. Review the results and rename or remove the entries that are longer than 260 characters.

This report sorts all files in a folder and all its sub-folders by path length. As a result, it makes it easy to identify long paths that may cause problems during data migration and backup processes. Long paths may also cause issues with the system and certain applications. The recommended path size in Windows should not exceed 260 characters. Nevertheless, there are certain cases where creating such paths is possible. Of course, such paths cause issues at a later stage when accessed. The new report makes it easy to identify and fix long paths.

Download Folder Size for FREE.

2. Find Longest Paths From Windows Command Line

If you’re comfortable with scripting and navigating the Windows command line interface, the Console offers a powerful tool to identify and address long paths effectively. You can use commands such as dir and cd to traverse directories and pinpoint lengthy file paths.

Steps to find long paths from the Windows command line:

1. Navigate to the Target Directory:
   Use the cd command to navigate to the directory you want to examine. For example: cd C:\Your\Target\Directory
2. List Files with Paths:
   Employ the dir command along with the /S parameter to list all files in the directory and its subdirectories, displaying their complete paths: dir /S
3. Identify Long Paths:
   Examine the results for paths exceeding the 260-character limit. Note that paths longer than this limit may contribute to “path too long” errors.
4. Resolve Long Paths:
   Once identified, you can take corrective actions, such as renaming files or relocating them to shorter paths, using command-line tools or scripts.

You can extend the above example by using a more complex command like:
dir /s /b | sort /r /+261 /o longpaths.txt

It will print all the paths in the current folder and all its subfolders to a file named longpaths.txt. You can then open the file with a text editor and put a guideline at character 260.

This method empowers you to leverage the flexibility of the Windows Console for efficient long path management, particularly useful when dealing with intricate directory structures or encountering “path too long” challenges. By integrating scripting expertise with the Windows command line, you gain a comprehensive approach to handle extended file paths seamlessly.

3. Discovering Long Paths with PowerShell

For those well-versed in PowerShell, Microsoft’s powerful scripting and automation framework, finding and managing long paths becomes a streamlined process. PowerShell provides cmdlets and scripts that enable users to identify and address lengthy file paths efficiently. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Navigate to the Target Directory:
   Use the cd cmdlet to change the current location to the directory you want to examine. For instance:
   cd C:\Your\Target\Directory
2. List Files with Full Paths:
   Utilize the Get-ChildItem cmdlet along with the -Recurse parameter to list all files in the directory and its subdirectories, displaying their complete paths:
   Get-ChildItem -Recurse
3. Filter Long Paths:
   Employ PowerShell to filter and identify paths exceeding the 260-character limit. For example, using the Where-Object cmdlet:
   Get-ChildItem -Recurse | Where-Object { $_.FullName.length -gt 260 }
4. Take Corrective Actions:
   Once long paths are identified, PowerShell allows you to execute various actions. This may include renaming files, moving them to shorter paths, or creating symbolic links.
5. Automate the Process:
   PowerShell scripting enables users to automate the identification and resolution of long paths, making it a scalable and efficient solution for large directory structures.

By using PowerShell, you can efficiently handle long paths without unnecessary complexity. Whether dealing with intricate directory hierarchies or encountering “path too long” errors, PowerShell equips you with a robust set of tools to streamline the process and enhance your file management capabilities.

4. List Long Paths Using Windows Explorer

While Windows Explorer itself doesn’t provide a built-in feature to identify long paths directly, you can still employ some workarounds to discover and manage lengthy file paths.

To find long paths in Windows Explorer using filters, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Explorer:
   Launch Windows Explorer by pressing the Win + E keys or clicking on the File Explorer icon.
2. Navigate to the Target Directory:
   Go to the directory where you suspect there might be long paths.
3. Use the Search Bar:
   Locate the search bar in the top-right corner of the Windows Explorer window.
4. Enter a Search Query:
   In the search bar, type a search query to filter files based on their path length. For example:
   length:>260This query instructs Windows Explorer to display files with paths longer than 260 characters.
5. Review the Results:
   Windows Explorer will display a list of files matching the search criteria.
   Manually inspect the results to identify files with long paths.
6. Perform Actions as Needed:
   Once you’ve identified files with long paths, you can take actions such as renaming files, moving them to a different location with a shorter path, or deleting unnecessary files.

This method provides a quick way to filter and identify files with long paths directly within Windows Explorer. However, keep in mind that this approach may not be as detailed or automated as using PowerShell or third-party tools. Adjust the search criteria based on your specific needs, and use additional tools if more detailed analysis is required.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\LongPathsEnabled (Type: REG_DWORD)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
"LongPathsEnabled"=dword:00000001