Allow file paths longer than 260 characters — via Microsoft Learn

Registrylow riskNeeds adminWindows 11Windows 10 1607 and later

Removes the classic 260-character MAX_PATH limit for apps that declare they support long paths (PowerShell 7, Git, many developer tools). Handy when deep folder trees like node_modules break copies. It doesn't magically fix apps that aren't long-path aware.

Restart the computer

Group Policy

Open gpedit.msc (Pro, Enterprise and Education only) and go to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Filesystem > Enable Win32 long paths

Registry equivalent

Download apply .reg Download undo .reg

Double-click a .reg file and confirm to merge it. Right-click → Edit first if you want to read it, which is always a good idea with any .reg file from the internet.

Apply

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Oddbyte.Me: Allow file paths longer than 260 characters

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
"LongPathsEnabled"=dword:00000001

Undo

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Oddbyte.Me: undo Allow file paths longer than 260 characters

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
"LongPathsEnabled"=dword:00000000

Same thing from a command prompt

Run in an administrator Command Prompt or Terminal.

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem" /v "LongPathsEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Undo:

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem" /v "LongPathsEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Processes read the value once, so restart (or at least restart the affected apps). Apps must also include longPathAware in their manifest; File Explorer itself may still struggle with very long paths.

long pathsmax_path260 charactersdeveloperfile system

Check memory pressure, not 'free RAM' — via Apple Support

Tricklow risk

A Mac that shows almost no free memory is usually fine: macOS keeps recently used files cached in RAM so apps reopen faster. The number that matters is the Memory Pressure graph in Activity Monitor, which combines free memory, swap and cached files.

List every login and background item in one report — via Howard Oakley, The Eclectic Light Company

Commandlow riskAdmin

The Login Items screen often shows vague names that don't tell you which app installed what. An undocumented command dumps macOS's full list of login and background items, with the app and file behind each one, to a text file you can read.

Keep your Mac awake for a while with caffeinate — via SS64

Commandlow risk

Need your Mac to stay awake during a long download, render or presentation without changing your sleep settings? The built-in caffeinate command holds sleep off for as long as you say, then everything goes back to normal on its own.