Increase 260 Character Filename Limit

Question

Hey guys, I am currently using a dual boot setup with Windows 7 & 10 Home editions. I’ve been trying to increase the 260 character filename limit but I haven’t been successful. I’ve tried everything this person has https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/151463-how-remove-260-characters-limit-windows-10-ntfs-paths.html Pretty much, I am trying to organize my files better and I’m deleting my duplicates with software. Things like TOSEC sets or a naming pattern for Plex can make filenames too long. So, I guess my question is how do I remove the 260 character limit? If I can’t remove that limit, would I have to switch to Linux or Windows 10 Ultimate edition rather than Home edition? Has anyone successfully removed the 260 character limit if so how? Any help on this matter would greatly be appreciated, thanks.

Answer 1

You tagged your question wrong. WinForms is a graphics library that is only useful if you are the writing a software.

Your question does not haver a solution, as such limit is not at operating system level, it is at application level. Windows itself support file path length up to 32k characters since Windows 2000. The article you linked is misleading, the part that application developers have to declare their software are long file name aware with a manifest is omitted.

Adding a manifest by yourself won't work, as the application needs to have large enough buffer to store file names to begin with. If you forced long file name on a software that does not support it, you will be lucky if you get an instant crash. A worse case is silent data corruption and if you don't have backup, you may lose your important document/game save permanently.