How to fix file name and path length errors in SharePoint

You can usually fix file name and path length errors by shortening the file name or moving the file to a shorter folder path. You may also need to remove special characters that SharePoint does not allow.

What file name and path length errors mean

File save or sync operations can fail when file names or full paths become too long, or when they include characters that are not allowed by the operating system or application. Depending on the version of the system, file name and path length limits typically range between 255 and 400 characters. Keep file names concise to avoid saving errors and to ensure compatibility across different platforms, including SharePoint and other file systems.

Symptoms you might see

• Errors when you try to save a file to SharePoint.

• Errors when you sync SharePoint files to your computer.

• A message such as “File name is not valid” or “The file name is too long.”

Steps to fix file name length errors

1. Find the file that shows the error in SharePoint or in your synced folder on your computer.

2. Right-click the file, then select Rename.

3. Change the name to something short and clear, such as Client_Tax_2024.docx.

4. Remove extra words, dates, or symbols from the file name.

5. Select Save or press Enter to confirm the new name.

6. Try saving or syncing the file again.

Steps to fix path length errors

1. Check the full path for the file. The full path includes the SharePoint site, document library, folders, and the file name.

2. In SharePoint, open the document library that contains the file.

3. Move the file to a folder that is closer to the top level of the library. For example, move the file from Clients/State/2024/Returns/Archive to Clients/2024.

4. To move the file in SharePoint, select the file, then select Move to, and choose the new folder.

5. If you cannot move the file, copy the file instead. Select the file, then select Copy to, and choose the new folder.

6. Try saving or syncing the file again after you move or copy it.

SharePoint file name and path restrictions

SharePoint has strict file naming restrictions and character limits. Files with long names, especially those containing special characters or exceeding path length limits, may be prevented from saving. Some SharePoint or file systems may have limitations on file name length that are more restrictive than the underlying operating system. Because of these stricter rules, you may see a “File name is not valid” message in SharePoint even when the same file name saves successfully to a local disk.

Common SharePoint naming problems

When saving to SharePoint, the following issues can cause errors:

• File names that are too long relative to SharePoint’s character limit.

• Use of unsupported or special characters in the file name.

• File names that start with a space.

Steps to fix SharePoint naming problems

1. Shorten the file name to three or four words.

2. Remove special characters from the file name.

3. Make sure the file name does not start with a space.

4. When working with email attachments, save the attachment to your computer first, then rename it to a shorter, simpler name.

5. Upload the renamed file to the correct SharePoint folder.

6. If the attachment is in a ZIP file, extract the ZIP file on your computer.

7. Rename any files with long names after you extract them.

8. Upload the renamed files to the SharePoint library.

Unsupported characters in SharePoint file names

To resolve SharePoint save issues related to naming, avoid the following characters in file names:

~, ', #, %, &, *, :, <, >, ?, /, \, {, |, }

1. Rename the file and remove any characters from the list above.

2. Make sure the file name does not start with a space.

3. If direct saving fails, save the file to your desktop.

4. Drag and drop the file from your desktop into the correct SharePoint folder.

5. If multiple files fail to save, open and save them one at a time after renaming the files.

Best practices for naming files in SharePoint

• Keep file names relatively short. Avoid unnecessary words or characters to reduce the total path length.

• Avoid special characters. Do not use characters like ~, ', #, %, &, *, :, <, >, ?, /, \, {, |, } in file names.

• Use underscores or hyphens to separate words. This improves readability and helps avoid issues with spaces.

• Use clear, descriptive names without excessive numbers or dashes.

• Make sure the total file path length is within SharePoint's character limit. Remember that the full path includes site, library, folder, and file name segments.

An example of a SharePoint-friendly file name is:

Crypto_Acknowledgement_2025.docx

By following these practices, you can reduce file save and sync errors in SharePoint and other systems.

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