Copy long file names in long paths get canceled without any error

William654 · Sep 24, 2023

Hi

I am trying to copy many files from Windows 11 to my android phone but I found while using explorer the copy get canceled at any time. After testing I found that long file names and long paths are the problem. I tried to use Total Commander but same problem happean. Even worse I have so many files appear like that in Windows:

Ø¨Ø§Ø ÙØ¨Ù.pdf

Also these files escaped from copy. Any solution ?

Berton · Sep 24, 2023

Not all devices, systems can use long file names, can't get around that except by shortening the file name.

As for copying to the phone I'd try creating a new folder on the computer, call it Copy to Phone, or something else, then Copy the desired files into that new folder, will shorten the path for the purpose.

Kees · Sep 24, 2023

A simple solution would be to first copy the files (or the last subfolders) to a folder, that does not have a long path. Something as D:\TempDump

If that is not possible, you have copied (or created) the files by some other program and you should use that program to copy the files to the TempDump folder first.

William654 · Sep 24, 2023

Thanks . What I should do with long file names and files that has strange characters ? they are so many like 30GB

Berton · Sep 24, 2023

William654 said:
Thanks . What I should do with long file names and files that has strange characters ? they are so many like 30GB

Are the strange characters from some other language or maybe the text got corrupted? Both circumstances can be changed the same way, change the file name but I'd certainly do a deep scan with antivirus/antimalware to reduce corruption especially if the file source is from outside your system. Some times a user has to open a file to determine what a correct/usable file name would be but that also could activate a hidden infection so there's always a risk involved.

Kees · Sep 24, 2023

Maybe you could use one of the (many, often free) bulk renaming utilities.
I am using Flexible Renamer 8.4, but I don't know how it handles strange characters.
It has quite a complicated method of coding, but for my (simple) purposes it does the job.
But there are other programs that you could use.

William654 · Sep 24, 2023

I found that among thousands of files there is one or two file with too long file name so copy get canceled silently without display any error

Berton · Sep 24, 2023

If I have a need for checking file names in File Explorer I will move the mouse pointer to the vertical bar between Name and the adjacent column and click to drag/slide to the right to show the full name. Also, double-click expands to the full width of that column, show the full name. Another thing if looking for different arrangements is to double-click the column heading to change that arrangement, just like working in a spreadsheet.

One can use Ctrl+A to select all the files, click the first of a list, hold down the Shift key and click the last desired for a group or hold down the Ctrl key to click/select individual files in a random order.

William654 · Sep 24, 2023

Yes I am doing manual check

Kees · Sep 24, 2023

In File Explorer you can see the full path of any file in a folder like this:
- Right-click the bar where is standing Title | Type | (etc.)
- Click "More"
- Select Path
- Click "OK"
The column will show all pathes of the files in that folder and it will be easy to scroll down to find long pathes.

Maybe you need to temporarly unselect all rows that are not important and only leave Name and Path selected.
Then you really can see the full path, even if that path is very long. That is: if you make the window as large as possible and the column of the names smaller.

William654 · Sep 24, 2023

Kees said:
- Click "More"

I can not find more but I will try to use search or tool called everything to find long names

William654 · Sep 24, 2023

Is there a way in explorer to see each folder total size and files count number istead of using properties ?

BobOmb · Sep 24, 2023

You could PUSHD your way up the tree in CMD prompt. One way to deal with long paths.

Kees · Sep 24, 2023

William654 said:
I can not find more but I will try to use search or tool called everything to find long names

I wrote a little manual. Because my system is in Dutch language, the columns have different names.
I tried as good as possible to translate them without knowing the exact English names.
Please see the attached pdf Manual-to-show-full-path-in-File-explorer.pdf

DigitalGoat · Sep 24, 2023

For seeing folder sizes easily and paths etc try Treesize or WizTree or similar, they are free for personal use and usually have a portable version (so no install needed), when run with admin elevation they can show all hidden files and folders as well. Very useful for seeing the 'true' contents of a disk.

William654 · Sep 24, 2023

It is crazy because I remember I copied these files in device with android 7 and I had no problem but with android 13 I can not

jimbo45 · Sep 24, 2023

Windows uses the old API if you use things like windows explorer to copy long file names - so the limit of 266 chars still remaims.

The reason you see "strange characters" is that longer file names are converted to the old DOS 8.3 format so you'll see some weird combo of xxxxxxxx.yyy where xxxxxxxx can be almost anything. So even if the original files are OK (name / path / file length > 266 chars) - depending on how they were created and transferred to windows --once you use windows explorer the api will hose them up.

cheers
jimbo

William654 · Sep 24, 2023

I dont know what is the problem for display error message while copying

William654 · Sep 25, 2023

I found a useful file manager helped me overcome files problem it is directory opus and it is better than total commander

Kees · Sep 25, 2023

That's a shareware program. After 60 days of evaluation you'll have to pay to stay using it.
If you like the program very much you could do so of course.

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