top of page

32,767: the real Windows file path limit

Updated: Jun 4, 2021

The Litigation Support Tip of the Night for March 13, 2017 discussed how to get around the 255 limit for file paths in Windows Explorer in the Windows 10 operating system. The actual NTFS file system used by Windows actually has a far longer file path limit of 32,767 characters. See this post to the Microsoft Windows Developer site on Maximum Path Length Limitation., which confirms this is the limit. The reason why is that this is highest number that can be used for a 16-bit application written for early versions of Windows.



Sean O'Shea has more than 20 years of experience in the litigation support field with major law firms in New York and San Francisco.   He is an ACEDS Certified eDiscovery Specialist and a Relativity Certified Administrator.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the owner and do not reflect the views or opinions of the owner’s employer.

If you have a question or comment about this blog, please make a submission using the form to the right. 

Your details were sent successfully!

© 2015 by Sean O'Shea . Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page