How to Enable Long Paths on Windows Using the Registry Editor

Windows operating systems have long had a limitation when it comes to file paths. The default limit for the length of a file path in Windows is 260 characters, which can be quite restrictive, especially for power users, developers, or those dealing with deeply nested folders. 

Step 1: Backup Your Registry Before making any changes to the Registry, it's crucial to back it up in case anything goes wrong.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, click on File in the top left corner.
4. Select Export... to create a backup of your current registry settings.
5. Choose a location to save the backup file and provide a descriptive name.
6. Click Save.

Step 2: Modify the Registry

Now that you have a backup of your Registry, let's proceed to enable long paths.

1. Download the registry file from this link: EnableLongPaths.reg.
2. Save the file to a location on your computer.
3. Double-click on the downloaded EnableLongPaths.reg file. You may see a security prompt; click "Yes" to continue.

Note: If you want to create the .reg file manually, you can open Notepad and paste the following code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 

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

Save this file with a .reg extension (e.g., EnableLongPaths.reg).

After double-clicking the file, you will receive a confirmation prompt. Click "Yes" to proceed.

Download the .reg file here: EnableLongPaths.reg

Happy file management on your Windows machine with longer paths!