Sometimes you may see an error when saving, moving, or renaming a file that says something like:

• "The file name(s) would be too long for the destination folder. You can shorten the file name and try again, or try a location that has a shorter path."

What is a “file path” (and why does it matter)?

A file path is the full “address” of your file, including:

• the drive or location

• every folder it’s inside

• the file name itself

Example path:
C:\Users\Tyler\OneDrive - Pioneer Library System\Department\Files\Projects\2026\January\Reports\Final Report Version 3.docx

Even if your file name looks short, the full path may be too long.

What is the 260 character limit?

Windows has a common limit where the full file path can’t be longer than 260 characters.

That means long folder structures like this can cause problems:

• Lots of folders inside folders

• Very long folder names

• Very long file names

• Deep SharePoint/Teams synced folders (they add extra text automatically)

This happens most often in:

• OneDrive (Synced to your computer)
• This happens a lot with shared folders and long department file names.
• SharePoint / Microsoft Teams (Synced to File Explorer)
• Teams files often have long paths because they include site and library names.
• Shared Drives or File Shares
• Long folder structures can build up over time.

How to fix it

Option 1: Move the file closer to the top (best fix)

Move the file to a simpler location like:

• Desktop

• Documents

• A folder directly inside OneDrive

Example:
OneDrive - Pioneer Library System\Temp\

Then try renaming, opening, or uploading again.

Option 2: Shorten the folder names

Try reducing long folder names like:
2026 - January Monthly Reports and Documentation
Change to:
2026 Jan Reports.

Option 3: Shorten the file name

Try removing extra words like:
Final_Version_APPROVED_Updated_Copy_UseThisOne (3).docx
Change to:
Final Approved.docx

Option 4: Avoid nesting too many folders

Instead of:
Department > Team > Year > Month > Projects > Project Name > Drafts > Final > Files

Use something like:
Department > Projects > Project Name

Helpful tip: Watch for “synced folder” paths

If your files sync to your computer, the path may look like:
C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive - Pioneer Library System...

That extra text counts toward the character limit too.

Still stuck?

If you’re still getting “path too long” errors, submit a help ticket and include:

• The file name

• Where it is stored (OneDrive / SharePoint / Teams)

• What you were trying to do (move, rename, upload, etc.)

• A screenshot of the error (if possible)