Downloading long file path names ( Windows Issue )
📁 Why You’re Seeing “File Path Too Long” Errors
This is very common in data rooms with many nested folders.
Windows has a 260-character file path limit, which includes:
- 💽 Drive name
- 📂 Root folder
- 📁 Subfolders
- 📄 File name
- 🧩 File extension
Online platforms (Projectfusion, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.) don’t have this limit, so files can be stored with very long paths that Windows cannot download.
🔍 Example of a long path
C:/ProjectX-Ray/Legal Due Diligence/asset sale/acme law llp/insurance/compliance/Properties/Leases/extended leases/collated folder/Example Address/Ground Floor/Retail Premises/Example Shop/2025/thisistheleasedocumentforthisparticularpropertydocx
✅ Easy Ways to Fix the Issue
1️⃣ Ask IT to enable long file paths (recommended ✔️)
Your IT team can switch on Windows’ LongPathsEnabled setting so Windows accepts file paths over 260 characters.
If your IT team wants to enable long path support, here’s the official Microsoft guide:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/maximum-file-path-limitation
2️⃣ Download the data room in smaller pieces 📥
Instead of downloading one large parent folder, download one subfolder at a time to keep paths short.
3️⃣ Shorten folder names ✏️
Renaming long, nested folders reduces the total character count and avoids Windows limits.
4️⃣ Download to a shorter location 📂➡️📁
Your download path adds extra characters.
Long path example:
C:\Users\UserName\Desktop\My Data Room Folder\...
Better option:
C:\VDR
Using a short root folder dramatically reduces the path length.
Updated on: 11/12/2025
Thank you!