Windows Long Filename Remover (LFR) BETA

The Solution for "Path Too Long" Errors

If you've ever encountered the frustrating "The specified path, file name, or both are too long" error on Windows, you know how impossible it can be to delete those files. Traditional Windows Explorer can't handle paths longer than 260 characters due to the legacy MAX_PATH limitation.

LFR (Long Filename Remover) solves this problem by using Windows' extended path prefix (\\?\) which supports paths up to 32,767 characters – that's 127 times longer than the standard limit!

How it works

• Automatic Scanning: Point to any folder and LFR recursively scans for files and folders exceeding MAX_PATH (260 characters)
• Smart Detection: Automatically detects locked files, shows file sizes, path lengths, and directory structures
• Manual Selection: Browse and select specific files or folders to delete using the intuitive GUI
• Bulk Operations: Select all, filter results, or delete individual items – you're in complete control
• Deep Nesting Support: Handles extremely nested directory structures that even some advanced tools struggle with
• Live Feedback: Real-time scan progress, deletion status, and detailed error reporting

Key Features

Why Windows shows "path too long"

Windows has historically used a 260-character limit (MAX_PATH) for file paths due to legacy DOS and early Windows API design. While modern Windows versions support longer paths through extended path syntax, most applications (including Windows Explorer) still enforce this limit.

LFR uses the extended path prefix (\\?\) which tells Windows to bypass the MAX_PATH limitation, allowing access to files and folders with paths up to 32,767 characters. This works on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11.

Common Use Cases

• Failed Downloads: Sometimes download managers or torrents create deeply nested folder structures
• Development Projects: Node.js node_modules folders can create extremely deep nesting
• Backup Failures: Backup software may create paths too long to delete normally
• Archive Extraction: ZIP files with long internal paths can cause issues when extracted
• Git Repositories: Nested Git repos can exceed MAX_PATH
• Malware Removal: Some malware creates long paths intentionally to prevent deletion

System Requirements

• Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 (64-bit or 32-bit)
• Administrator rights (required for deletion; view-only mode available without admin)
• 10 MB free disk space

FAQ

Q: Do I need Administrator rights?
A: Administrator rights are required to delete files and folders. However, you can run LFR in view-only mode to scan and identify long-path items without admin privileges. The program will prompt you to elevate if needed.

Q: Is it safe to use?
A: Yes! LFR only deletes files and folders that you explicitly select. It does not modify the Windows registry, install services, or run background processes. The tool is portable and can be deleted at any time.

Q: What's the maximum path length it supports?
A: LFR can handle paths up to 32,767 characters, which is the Windows maximum when using extended path syntax (\\?\). This is 127 times longer than the standard 260-character limit.

Q: Will it delete locked or in-use files?
A: LFR automatically detects locked files and shows their status with a 🔒 icon. It will attempt to delete them, but if a file is actively locked by another process, Windows will prevent deletion. You'll see a detailed error message in that case.

Q: Does it work with network drives (UNC paths)?
A: Yes, LFR supports UNC paths and network drives using extended UNC syntax (\\?\UNC\).

Q: Can I export the list of long-path files?
A: Yes! Click the "Export List" button to save all found items to a text file with complete metadata including path lengths, file sizes, and lock status.