CHRC Service Desk

This article will walk you through the limitations that SharePoint has when syncing locally.

Our recommendation is to view documents online via SharePoint and not sync the files.

When syncing SharePoint to your computer, Windows has a file path limit of around 255 characters. This limit includes everything in the path, not just the file name.

What counts toward the limit:

- Your local path (for example: C:\Users\%username%\OneDrive)

- The SharePoint site name

- All folder names

- The file name

Example of a full path:

C:\Users\John.Smith\OneDrive\Central Highlands Regional Council\Finance\2026\Budget\Drafts\Budget_Final_Version.xlsx

Even if the file name looks short, the full path can exceed the limit and cause sync issues.

Why spaces cause problems:

When syncing, spaces are converted to %20. This uses 3 characters instead of 1.

Special characters can quickly push files over the limit.

Best practice:

- Use _ or - instead of spaces

- Keep folder and file names short

- Avoid deep folder structures

Good example:

HR_Policies-Leave_2026.docx

Bad example:

HR Policies Leave Final Approved Copy 2026.docx

Common errors you may see:

- File cannot be synced because the path is too long

- Changes are not saving to SharePoint

- Random temporary files such as ~210dw2.tmp appearing

These temporary files are created when OneDrive cannot save the file back to SharePoint.

If this happens:

- Rename the file or folders to be shorter

- Replace spaces with _ or -

- Move the file closer to the top-level folder

Additional Articles:

Accessing SharePoint Online:

Use this article to access SharePoint online: https://servicedesk.chrc.qld.gov.au/support/solutions/articles/2000062615

Syncing:

If you do need to sync, please use this article https://servicedesk.chrc.qld.gov.au/support/solutions/articles/2000058636