path - Does MAX_PATH issue still exists in Windows 10

Question

Can someone please tell us/me if the MAX_PATH issue still exists in (the technical preview of) Windows 10. And if it exists: How many characters can a path and an individual file name have?

Answer 1

The issue will be always present in Windows, to keep compatibility with old software. Use the NT-style name syntax "\?D:very long path" to workaround this issue.

In Windows 10 (Version 1607 - Anniversary Update) and Windows Server 2016 you seem to have an option to ignore the MAX_PATH issue by overriding a group policy entry enable NTFS long paths under Computer Configuration -> Admin Templates -> System -> FileSystem:

The applications must have an entry longPathAware similar to DPIAware in the application manifest.

<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0" xmlns:asmv3="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3" >
  <asmv3:application>
    <asmv3:windowsSettings xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SMI/2016/WindowsSettings">
      <longPathAware>true</longPathAware>
    </asmv3:windowsSettings>
  </asmv3:application>
</assembly>