File name too long

The error File name too long occurs when an operating system or filesystem rejects a file or directory name because it exceeds the allowed length. This is a global ROOT error enforced at the OS and filesystem level and commonly appears on Linux, macOS, Unix systems, and environments such as Docker containers, build tools, Java applications, and network-mounted filesystems.

When does this error occur?

  • Creating or extracting files with very long names or deeply nested directories
  • Running build tools that generate long package or class paths
  • Copying files from one filesystem type to another with stricter limits
  • Unzipping archives created on different operating systems
  • Applications dynamically generating filenames using long identifiers

Root cause of File name too long

This error occurs because filesystems enforce fixed limits on individual filename length and total path length. Most Unix-like filesystems allow a maximum of 255 bytes per filename and a limited total path length. When a filename or its full directory path exceeds these limits, the kernel blocks the operation and returns the File name too long error.

How to fix the error (step-by-step)

Linux / macOS

Shorten the filename or reduce directory depth. 

mv very_long_filename_here.txt short_name.txt

Check filesystem limits. 

getconf NAME_MAX /
getconf PATH_MAX /

Move files closer to the root directory to reduce path length. 

mv /home/user/projects/deep/path/file.txt /home/user/file.txt

Docker / containers

Use shorter working directories inside containers. 

WORKDIR /app

Avoid mounting host directories with very deep paths.

Java / build tools

Reduce package or module depth and clean build artifacts. 

mvn clean
gradle clean

Configure build output directories to shorter paths.

Verify the fix

Retry the file operation after shortening the filename or path. If the operation completes without errors and the file is accessible, the issue is resolved. Monitoring logs should show no further File name too long messages.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming the error is permission-related
  • Ignoring directory depth when filenames seem short
  • Copying files between filesystems without checking limits
  • Letting build tools generate uncontrolled directory structures

Quick tip

Design directory structures and filenames with predictable, short naming conventions to stay well below filesystem limits.

FAQ

Q: Is this error specific to Linux?

A: No. It exists on all operating systems but is most visible on Unix-like systems due to strict filesystem limits.

Q: Can filesystem limits be increased?

A: No. These limits are defined by the filesystem design and cannot be safely increased.

Conclusion

The File name too long error is a filesystem limit issue resolved by shortening filenames or paths; explore related ROOT filesystem errors on ErrorFixHub for more guidance.

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