OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Path Too Long Sync Errors on Windows 10

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 30, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users encounter a 'path is too long' error preventing files from syncing to OneDrive or SharePoint.

How to Fix OneDrive Path Too Long Sync Errors on Windows 10

Product: OneDrive and SharePoint
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Employees are trying to sync shared company folders or personal files, but the sync fails due to lengthy user, folder, or file names within the directory path.
Observed behavior: OneDrive displays a 'path is too long' error message for some users, halting synchronization. Additionally, some files may display truncated operating-system short names instead of their full file names.

Before you start

Before reorganizing or renaming files, coordinate with your team to ensure no one is actively editing the shared documents, which helps prevent version conflicts during the sync process.

Solution 1Recommended

Shorten File Names and Restructure Folders

Reduce the total character count of your file paths by renaming lengthy items and moving deep folders closer to the main OneDrive root directory.

Windows limits standard file paths to 260 characters. This limit includes the drive letter, user profile name, all nested folder names, and the file name itself. If a colleague has a shorter Windows username, they might successfully sync a shared folder that fails for you.

Locate the affected files

Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive or SharePoint sync folder.

Rename long files and folders

Right-click on files or folders with excessively long names, select 'Rename', and provide a shorter, concise name.

Move folders to the root directory

Select deeply nested folders, cut them, and paste them closer to the root of the OneDrive directory (e.g., directly under C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive).

Create a separate sync location

If a project naturally requires long file names, create a new top-level folder in OneDrive specifically for that project to minimize the base path length.

Shorten File Names and Restructure Folders

Understanding Shortened Names: If you see files with strange, truncated names (like FILENA~1.TXT), these are Windows operating-system 8.3 short names automatically kicking in, rather than a configurable OneDrive naming convention.

Solution 2

Contact Microsoft 365 Administrator Support

If you have tried shortening paths but specific users still cannot sync shared directories, the issue may require backend investigation by Microsoft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum path length limit for OneDrive on Windows 10?

By default, the Windows API restricts file paths to 260 characters (MAX_PATH). OneDrive enforces this limitation. The 260 characters include the drive letter, colons, slashes, your user profile name, all folder names, and the actual file name with its extension.

Why can some employees sync the shared folder while others get the path error?

The total path length includes the user's local Windows profile name (e.g., C:\Users\FirstnameLastname\OneDrive). If one employee has a long username and another has a short username, the employee with the longer username will hit the 260-character limit sooner when syncing the exact same shared folder.

Can I enable long paths in Windows 10 to fix this OneDrive error?

Windows 10 does offer a Registry and Group Policy tweak to 'Enable Win32 long paths'. However, while this allows the operating system to handle longer paths, OneDrive's synchronization client and many traditional applications still strictly enforce the 260-character limit, meaning renaming and moving folders remains the most reliable solution.

What does it mean when my file names suddenly look like abbreviations with tildes (~)?

This is an older Windows operating-system feature called 8.3 short names. When file paths get too long or encounter specific compatibility issues, Windows may display a shortened, auto-generated version of the file name (like DOCUME~1.DOC). This is not a OneDrive setting you can turn off directly.

Document & File Issues