How to delete directories with pathnames too long for normal delete. There are two things not already mentioned in the existing answers. You can use extended length path prefix to access long paths. With Windows 1. 0, you can enable long path support for general use note however, that not all applications will work with long paths, you should test older software. RoboCop-RoboCopy_10.png' alt='Robocopy Long File Name Support Your Local Sheriff' title='Robocopy Long File Name Support Your Local Sheriff' />Only software with an appropriate manifest entry will be able to make use of this. Long Path Prefix. The Windows API has a special function that supports Unicode path names up to 3. This is often mistakenly referred to as UNC naming but it isnt though it is related. The prefix used to tell the API to use long Unicode paths is as in D very long path. UNC names are normally used when referring to paths on remote servers in the form servernamepath namefile name. You can combine this with the long path prefix so UNCservershare. Note that some, poorly written but sadly quite common, applications do not support UNC file paths nor the long path prefix. Reference https msdn. Robocopy Long File Name Support' title='Robocopy Long File Name Support' />Long path support. This is an option that has been added to recent versions of Windows 1. It is not, at the time of writing, activated by default since it requires specific application support. Interestingly, Power. Shell has support built in so enabling this option will allow long paths to be used directly in Power. Shell scripts. You can activate it via the Group Policy editor if you have a version of Windows with that. Or you can simply use the following Registry change. As always, please back up the section of the registry you are changing before doing anything. Run regedit. exe. RichCopy1.jpg' alt='Robocopy Long File Name Support Number' title='Robocopy Long File Name Support Number' />Destination Path Too Long error when trying to copy or move a file to a folder Windows Explorer will fail when longer than 256 characters. Yes, once again RoboCopy comes to the rescue for things other than copying files and folders. If youve been an admin on Windows boxxen for terribly long, I hope. The major flaw with Robocopy is that it is a command line tool. I really really hate command line tools, its sooo 80s and outdated in these smart phone ages. How To Install Language Pack In Red Alert 3 Uprising here. Confirm the UAC prompt. Navigate to the key HKEYCURRENTUSERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrent. VersionGroup Policy Objects4. F2 4. 2A6 A0. 48 0. B3. 97. 34. 95. FMachineSystemCurrent. Control. SetPolicies. Create or change the key Long. Paths. Enabled. If it does not exist, right click on Policies and select New Dword 3. Value from the menu. Set Long. Paths. Enabled to 1 to enable. Any applications with appropriate manifest entries will now have access to POSIX standard long paths. This should include Windows Store apps. Reference https blogs. UPDATE 2. 01. 7 0. I did some more digging. It looks like you can now set long filename support with a system key HKLMSYSTEMCurrent. Control. SetControlFile. System Long. Paths. Robocopy Long File Name Support QuotesRobocopy Long File Name Support SynonymSAN should have nothing to do with it. First, by writing the log file you will be able to see when it happens, so thats a good thing. Second, when you retry the RC. Windows seems to have a length limit on file names when trying to delete, though it wont prevent those files from being created. Our build process creates a number. This article describes different methods to delete files or folders that cannot be deleted normally. After trying the following methods, please click here to let us. Enabled Type REGDWORD. This still only works for applications that are specifically set to use it though requires an entry in the applications manifest. You should also note that you cannot use relative path names with this method.