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Naming a file

Anonymous
2021-06-05T11:16:22+00:00

Hello Microsoft,

Why aren't we allowed to include symbols like colon, greater, less than or slash in a file name?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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DaveM121 891.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2021-06-05T11:48:40+00:00

Hi Marco,

I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this.

Some special characters like colon, greater, less than or slash are used by Windows 10 to navigate the file system in the background and for other purposes, that is why you cannot use those symbols, because if you did use one of those symbols, that would cause Windows to navigate somewhere else on the drive.

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-06-05T12:06:39+00:00

    Hi Marco,

    I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this.

    Some special characters like colon, greater, less than or slash are used by Windows 10 to navigate the file system in the background and for other purposes, that is why you cannot use those symbols, because if you did use one of those symbols, that would cause Windows to navigate somewhere else on the drive.

    Thank you very much for your quick response. I understand now. :)

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