How to Enable or Disable Win32 Long Paths in Windows 11

What Are Win32 Long Paths?

Win32 Long Paths is a Windows feature that lets apps work with file paths much longer than the old 260-character limit (known as MAX_PATH). Deeply nested folders and very long file names no longer hit that limit. Starting with Windows 10 version 1607, Microsoft added support for long paths, and apps can now use paths of about 32,767 characters.

The 260-character limit matters if you work with deeply nested folders, build output, node_modules trees, or synced archives. Files buried that deep can be impossible to open, copy, or delete with some apps. Turning on long paths removes that barrier.

One thing to know up front: turning the setting on does not change every program. Only apps that their developers have updated to support long paths will use the longer limit. Apps that have not been updated behave as before, and some built-in tools, File Explorer 📁 included, may still struggle with very long paths. Enabling the setting is safe, but you may not see a difference in every app.

Method 1Enable Win32 Long Paths Using Settings

The Settings ⚙️ app is the simplest method, and it works on both Windows 11 Home and Pro. Open Settings, go to System, then Advanced, and switch on Enable long paths. This option only appears in newer Windows 11 builds. If you don’t see it, update Windows, or use the Group Policy or Registry method below.

1. Open the Settings app. Click the Start menu ⊞ and select Settings, or press Win+I.
2. Click System on the left side.
3. Select Advanced on the right to expand it. You should see a list of advanced options on the page.

4. Find the Enable long paths tile.
5. Switch the toggle On to enable long paths, or Off to disable them. Windows may ask for administrator approval. If so, approve the prompt. The toggle should show its new state.

6. Close Settings when you’re done. If an app still doesn’t handle long paths, restart the 🔄 app, or sign out and back in.

Method 2Enable Win32 Long Paths in Group Policy Editor

Administrators can turn on the Win32 long paths setting with the Local Group Policy Editor. This is a good choice when you manage several computers, because the same policy can be applied to all of them. The Local Group Policy Editor is included in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education. It is not available in Home, so Home users should use the Settings ⚙️ app or the Registry Editor instead.

1. [ADMIN] Open the Local Group Policy Editor. Search for gpedit.msc in the Start menu and open it. The editor window should appear.
2. Navigate to this folder path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Filesystem
3. In the right panel, find Enable Win32 long paths and double-click it. A settings window for the policy should open.

4. Choose one of these options:

   • Not Configured (default) — The policy is not set, and Windows uses its own setting.
   • Enabled — Long paths will work in apps that support them.
   • Disabled — Turns off Win32 long paths.
5. Click OK to save.
6. Restart the computer so the change applies everywhere. To undo it later, return to the same policy and choose Not Configured or Disabled.

Method 3Enable Win32 Long Paths Using Registry Editor

The Registry Editor method works on every edition of Windows 11, including Home. You open the editor, go to one key, and add or change a single value. A wrong change in the registry can cause problems, so back up first.

You can also create a System Restore point to be safe.

1. [ADMIN] Open the Registry Editor. Search for regedit in the Start menu and open it. Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears.
2. Navigate to this path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
3. Right-click the FileSystem folder on the left. A context menu should appear.
4. Select New › DWORD (32-bit) Value. A new value appears in the right pane with its name ready to edit. If the value already exists in the right pane, skip to step 6 and edit it instead.
5. Name it LongPathsEnabled and press Enter.
6. Double-click the value to open it.
7. Under Value data, enter 1 to enable long paths for all users, or 0 to disable them.

8. Click OK. The value list should now show your number in the Data column.
9. Restart your computer. Some apps pick up the change right away, but a restart makes sure it applies everywhere.

To undo the change, open the same value and set it back to 0, or restore the registry backup you made.

Summary

Win32 Long Paths lets apps use file paths up to 32,767 characters, a big jump from the old 260-character limit. It helps most if you often work with many nested folders or very long file names.

Why enable it? If you work with complex folder structures or long file names, you'll stop hitting the old character limit in apps that support it.

What happens when enabled? Only apps designed to support long paths will use the feature. Other apps keep working as they did before, with the old limit.

How to enable it? You have three choices:

• Settings app — The easiest method. Just toggle a switch. It only appears in newer Windows 11 builds.
• Group Policy Editor — For administrators on Pro, Enterprise or Education editions. Good for managing several PCs.
• Registry Editor — The most technical method, and it works on Home too. Always back up first.

Key tips to remember:

• Always back up the registry before making changes.
• Restart your computer after making changes so they apply everywhere.
• Only apps coded to support long paths will benefit from this feature.
• To undo any method, set the option back to Off, Disabled or 0, depending on the method you used.