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Troubleshooting: File Name Too Long

Updated

Symptoms

Errors indicating “The specified path, file name, or both are too long.”

Cause

Standard Windows API has a MAX_PATH limit of 260 characters. This includes the drive letter, folder names, and the filename itself. If you have deeply nested folders with long names, the backup engine may fail to “reach” the file.

Resolution

  1. Shorten the Path: Rename long folders or move the data higher up in the directory structure (e.g., move C:\Users\Admin\Documents\Projects\2024\Marketing\Files\… to C:\Projects\…).
  2. Map a Drive: Map a deep subfolder to a drive letter (e.g., Map C:\Users\Name\Very\Long\Path to X:\) and back up from the X: drive.