How to fix Path Too Long and File Name is Too Long errors in windows

How to fix path too long or file name is too long error when unzipping compressed files such as .zip .tar .rar

[EVZebra]

Thanks for this video, I spent weeks designing a drive for a bicycle and ziped it to keep it safe when I tried to open the top level assemblies half the files were missing, I was really worried. Putting the zipped file on my desktop worked perfectly so thank you very much for saving me a lot of time.

[Freyathrith]

This was very helpful even for just problems I had copying directories, not just decompressing files. HUGE THANKS! :)

[robermaldo]

Your comment that the error message did not relate to the zip file was the key to solving the problem for me. I did not even have to finish watching the video. I opened an Explorer window showing the contents of the zip file and a separate Explorer window for the destination directory (short name, short path). I then dragged the zip contents over. My problem was that I was using the "Extract too..." from the context menu and, although I picked a directory with a short name, the extracted files were being placed in a new directory named after the zip file (a long name). Thank you!

[paulaanderton]

Just had this problem marking student Powerpoint submissions, and this fix worked perfectly. You saved me a real headache. Thanks!

[MeritBiz]

Thank you Steve, this video is clear, straight to the point and easy to follow. There are too many fixes like this on youtube but almost all were made by Indians and I had a hard time understanding their English. Then your video came along which is a great relief for me. Thanks again and God bless

[davef.]

Thank you! The explanation made sense and it worked perfectly for me just now!

For those who are saying that he's saying you should put _everything_ on the desktop, I think you're misunderstanding. All he's saying is to move the folder to be extracted, then extract it. Then you can move the new folder with the extracted files back to where you originally wanted them to be in the first place! (You can move the compressed folder back there, too, if you want, if you hang on to those.)

[joeywd]

Finally someone that has the answer to the nagging problem of the "path too long" Thank you so much for your help. It was the perfect answer to the problem on Windows 7. I had to subscribe to you because you actually talk while your telling how to fix the problem. I love that!

[stanleyuwuilekhue]

Thanks, its a simple solution to a seemingly complicated problem. thanks for your time Steve.

[kayleenwest]

Steve, thank you so much. I had this issue. I did find some files still couldn't be copied back to where I wanted them but I now know to put them in a closer directory.

[getMoreClientsPro]

Thanks! Dang! that thing was giving me trouble for years.
This was Super useful!

[Ramtopredneck]

Thanks for posting, fixed my problem simply and easily. Understanding the nature of the issue helped immensely. Nice workaround

[tiffanybautista]

Thank you for explaining WHY! Copying the folder straight to the desktop solved my problem. Thank you!

[JimboJS]

I've been using google to find a solution for deleting files where the path name was too long and everything involved installing some program or a process that was way too complicated than necessary. a quick youtube search on the matter and I run into your video, and the solution was as simple as moving the folder, cheers!

[AngeloPapapavlos]

Nice! I just saved to my desktop then moved to the correct folder. Thanks for the quick vid and tips!

[ParadoxP]

thanks, it worked! The folder i was working with had a long folder name and long file names within it. I just renamed the folder with only a few characters. Then it extracted fine.

[Meeshell]

AWESOME!! Thanks a million - super helpful!

[filstoy]

Thank you. Many are missing your point. I just made a folder with a single letter for the name and moved the zipped file there (instead of to the desktop) and extracted it (could not extract it before). After extracting it then I could move the contents where ever I wanted and everything worked.

[genevievenavisotschnig]

Thank you so much! That easily solved a problem I've had for many years.

[darlenebissonette]

This worked for me. I find that when I download files they are already in folders and sub-folders. By moving them to my desktop to extract I can then take them out of needless folders and then place them in my documents where I want them. Thank you for a simple solution.

[HOTMiSCHiEF]

I think you inadvertently saved me! I couldn't delete a file with a name that was too long from a zipped mod for a game. I moved the undeletable file to my desktop and bam. Delete able! Wooo Hoo thanks!