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Windows cannot find file that exists

Anonymous
2024-08-18T17:08:00+00:00

When I try to open an image file directly in File Explorer, it pops up an error that says "Windows cannot find [File Path]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, then try again." I've been trying to fix this for a while. I've already tried the methods detailed in this post. What am I doing wrong?

EDIT: I should add that this started after I transferred my files from my old Windows 10 laptop to a new Windows 11 one.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-08-21T10:30:22+00:00

    Dear Kota Corff,

    Thank you for providing additional context regarding the issue. I understand how frustrating it can be when specific file types, such as images, won’t open in File Explorer despite them being accessible through other programs. Let's delve deeper and try some focused troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue.

    Additional Troubleshooting Steps

    Step 1: Repair or Reset the Photos App

    Repair the Photos App:

    1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
    2. Navigate to Apps > Apps & features.
    3. Scroll down and find the Photos app.
    4. Click on it and select Advanced options.
    5. Click Repair and wait for the process to complete.**Reset the Photos App (if Repair doesn’t work):**1. Follow the same steps as above and click Reset.
    6. Restart your computer and try opening the image files again. Step 2: Clear the Thumbnail Cache

    Press Win + S, type File Explorer Options, and select it.

    Go to the View tab.

    Click on Reset Folders and then Restore Defaults.

    Apply the changes and click OK.

    Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.

    Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:

    taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

    del /f /s /q /a %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_*.db

start explorer.exe

    Step 3: Check File Permissions

    Open File Explorer and go to the Downloads folder where the image files are located.

    Right-click on an image file, select Properties.

    Go to the Security tab and ensure your user account has Full control over the file.

    If permissions seem fine, apply them to all files in the Downloads folder:

    Click on Advanced in the Security tab.

    Ensure your user account is listed as having Full control and check the option to replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object.

    By following these steps, we aim to address potential issues with file associations, app functionality, cache problems, and file permissions that might be causing this particular issue with image files in File Explorer.

    If the issue persists despite these efforts, it might be helpful to create a new user account and see if the problem replicates there, as it could be user-profile specific.

    1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
    2. In the Settings menu, click on Accounts from the left-hand sidebar.
    3. Click on Family & other users in the Accounts menu.
    4. Under the Other users section, click on Add account.
    5. In the Microsoft account sign-in window that appears, click on I don't have this person's sign-in information at the bottom.
    6. On the next screen, click on Add a user without a Microsoft account.

    Please let me know if these steps help or if the issue continues. I'm here to assist further as needed.

    Best Regards,

    Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2024-08-21T20:01:15+00:00

    Thanks. Repairing the Photos app seems to have done the trick. While it did automatically set all PNGs to be opened with the photos app, I set it back to paint.net and it seems to work fine now. :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-08-19T03:40:15+00:00

    Dear Kota Corff,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community

    Thank you for reaching out and providing detailed information about the issue you're facing. I understand that encountering an error when trying to open files, especially after transferring them to a new device, can be quite frustrating. I'm here to help you resolve this issue.

    Based on the details you've shared, it seems you've already tried disabling your antivirus software and taking ownership of the file, but the problem persists. Given that this issue started after transferring files from a Windows 10 laptop to a Windows 11 one, there could be a few underlying factors causing this. Let’s go through some additional steps that might help:

    **1. Check File Path Length:**Windows has a limitation on the maximum file path length (260 characters). If the file path exceeds this limit, it can cause the system to not recognize the file properly. Try moving the file to a location with a shorter path (e.g., C:\Test) and see if you can open it from there.

    **2. Rebuild the Search Index:**Sometimes, the issue can be related to the Windows search index not being updated. Rebuilding the index can help:

    • Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows.
    • Click on Advanced Index options > Advanced.
    • Under the Index Settings tab, click Rebuild.
    • Wait for the process to complete and then try accessing the file again.

    **3. Check for Corrupted Files:**It’s possible that the file may have become corrupted during the transfer process. Try opening the file on another device or with a different application to see if it works. If possible, re-transfer the file from the original source to your new laptop.

    **4. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM:**Running these tools can help repair any corrupted system files that might be causing this issue:

    • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
    • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Let the scan complete.
    • After the SFC scan, run the following commands one by one: 
         DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    • Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

    If you've tried all these steps and the problem still persists, there might be a deeper issue at play. At that point, providing more context, such as whether this happens with all files or just specific ones, could help us further diagnose the problem.

    Please let me know how it goes, and if you need further assistance, I'm here to help.

    Best Regards,

    Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2024-08-19T17:58:26+00:00

    Thanks, Martin. Sadly, none of the things you mentioned worked (File path was a reasonable length, rebuilding the search index did nothing, the file opens fine in other programs, and SFC/DISM wasn't much help). As for more context:

    * This only seems to happen with image files. Another program seems to be having issues finding files, but the problem is most likely unrelated.

    * The file is stored in the downloads folder of my user files, which I copied over from another computer.

    * It seems to be a File Explorer-specific problem, as I can open it in paint.net just fine.

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