# Long file path support

## What are long filepaths, and why do I need them? 

{% hint style="info" %}
This should be a standard setting in every operating system. Unfortunately, Windows doesn't care.
{% endhint %}

In the year of our lord 2025, Windows does not (by default) support file paths longer than 256 characters — and if you're somebody who likes to use subfolders, this **will** break Wolvenkit's mod packing.

We decided to show you a warning at every startup, because

* the fix is super easy
* we can't solve the problem in Wolvenkit
* if you run into this, you'll be unable to create mods

## How to enable long filepath support?

### Windows

{% hint style="success" %}
If you don't trust something you read on a random modding wiki, find the full guide at [microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/maximum-file-path-limitation?tabs=registry#enable-long-paths-in-windows-10-version-1607-and-later). 
{% endhint %}

1. Open the registry editor as administrator\
   \&#xNAN;*(Keyboard shortcuts: `Windows+R`, type `regedit`, press`Ctrl+Shift+Enter)`*
2. In the search bar at the top, enter the following:\
   `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem`
3. In the window on the right, find `LongPathsEnabled`
4. Double-click on it and set the numeric value to 1
5. Reboot<br>

<details>

<summary>Outdated guide (may not work)</summary>

1. Open a Powershell window as administrator \
   \&#xNAN;*(Keyboard shortcuts: `Windows+R`, type `powershell`, press`Ctrl+Shift+Enter`)*\
   \
   Correct Powershell (shows Administrator in the title bar):\
   ![](https://4106170459-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MP_ozZVx2gRZUPXkd4r%2Fuploads%2FTkSDH33Eww2X4NyRemhK%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=b2567b8b-e2c2-44cf-92f8-ef9b9074839f)\
   \
   Incorrect Powershell (doesn't show Administrator in the title bar ⇒ runs as user):\
   ![](https://4106170459-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MP_ozZVx2gRZUPXkd4r%2Fuploads%2FAK1G7koJquDQiVer6rqV%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=8f88a960-6e06-4766-997c-6dd1eae839ec)
2. Paste the following command:

```powershell
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem" `
-Name "LongPathsEnabled" -Value 1 -PropertyType DWORD -Force
```

3. Press `Enter`

</details>

That's it! You now have long path support enabled.

### Linux

This feature is supported out-of-the-box. Just try to stay under 4000 characters.