# what is maximum number of characters allowed in filename?

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/what-is-maximum-number-of-characters-allowed-in-filename/10690
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [August 22, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/what-is-maximum-number-of-characters-allowed-in-filename/10690 "2010-08-22T19:15:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author: ![djs777](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/8dc957/32.png) [@djs777](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djs777)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/what-is-maximum-number-of-characters-allowed-in-filename/10690/1 "2010-08-22T19:15:01Z")

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I asked the question below in another thread, and it perhaps didn't belong there: anyone have any insghts on this?

I use %artist% - %album% - %track% - %title%, or at least try to. I find that Mp3tag occasionally chokes on some files when I try to rename them with this format. The error reported is either that the file could not be found or that the file could not be accessed, but the real issue appears to be that there is a file name length limit. I'm guessing on this, but I have been able to eliminate every occurrence of these errors (about 50 so far) by shortening file names, so I think I'm correct.

I also think there is some kind of limit on the combined total number of characters in the path and file name, because I discovered that the longer the path, the shorter I had to make file names. I think these limits are less than NTFS limits, because I've had problems in Mp3tag and not in Windows Explorer or other Vista functions, and I believe I've always had a path less than NTFS's MAX\_PATH limit of 260 characters.

I suggest that Mp3tag be tweaked to check for, and report a clearer error on, file names that are too long either when attempting to convert tag information into filenames, or adding directories. In addition, clarification of the exact limit on file name size and any interaction with filename and path length would be much appreciated.

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