Source Path Too Long Error

By Timothy Tibbetts

on 07/21/2023

When trying to delete a file or folder with over 258 characters, you may encounter an error that says, Source Path Too Long followed by "The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file system." In this guide, we look at the steps to solve this error.

1: Delete the File or Folder in File Explorer

One consideration would be to move any contents of a folder elsewhere and delete the folder permanently by clicking on the folder and press the Shift + Del keys instead of just the delete key.

2: Delete the File or Folder With Third-Party Apps

IObit Unlocker should be able to delete the file or folder for you.

Unlocker would be another popular choice by the readers of MajorGeeks. Be sure to opt-out of third-party offers or download the portable version. These apps are designed to "unlock" files or folders that can't be deleted.

Map a Network Drive

If you can't delete the file or folder, and you don't want to download anything we'd consider mapping a network drive to a shorter path so it can be deleted. We should mention this method is hit or miss as far as success rates go.

Be sure only to try the apps listed here. There is a well-known group of scammers marketing apps that delete long file or folder names, and they're sure to spam this article as well, although you'll never see it.