Learn how to create a folder with any name in Windows, including names that contain special characters or are reserved by the system.
Windows is a popular operating system that allows users to create and manage files and folders. However, some users may encounter difficulties when they want to create a folder with a specific name, such as a name that contains special characters or a name that is reserved by the system. In this article, we will explain why Windows does not allow certain folder names, and how to bypass this limitation using different methods.
Table of Contents
- Why Windows Does Not Allow Certain Folder Names
- How to Create a Folder with Any Name in Windows
- Method 1: Use the Command Prompt
- Method 2: Use a Third-Party Tool
- Method 3: Use a Different Operating System
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Question: Why do I need to create a folder with a specific name in Windows?
- Question: What are the risks of creating a folder with an invalid name in Windows?
- Question: How can I delete a folder with an invalid name in Windows?
- Summary
Why Windows Does Not Allow Certain Folder Names
Windows has some rules and restrictions for naming files and folders. These rules are designed to prevent errors, conflicts, and confusion when accessing or manipulating files and folders. Some of the rules are:
- A folder name cannot contain any of the following characters: \ / : * ? ” < > |
- A folder name cannot be any of the following reserved names: CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8, COM9, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, and LPT9. Additionally, a folder name cannot consist of a period (.) character or a space character followed by a period character.
- A folder name cannot end with a period (.) character or a space character.
- A folder name cannot be longer than 255 characters.
These rules apply to all versions of Windows, including Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. If you try to create a folder with an invalid name, Windows will display an error message and prevent you from creating the folder.
How to Create a Folder with Any Name in Windows
There are several methods to create a folder with any name in Windows, even if the name violates the rules mentioned above. Here are some of the methods you can try:
Method 1: Use the Command Prompt
The Command Prompt is a text-based interface that allows you to execute commands and perform various tasks in Windows. You can use the Command Prompt to create a folder with any name, including names that contain special characters or are reserved by the system. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows + R, typing cmd, and clicking OK.
- Navigate to the location where you want to create the folder by using the cd command. For example, if you want to create the folder on the desktop, type cd %userprofile%\Desktop and press Enter.
- Type the following command to create the folder with the desired name: mkdir “\?\C:\path\to\folder.name.” Replace C:\path\to\folder with the actual path to the folder, and .name. with the actual name of the folder. For example, if you want to create a folder named .htaccess on the desktop, type mkdir “\?\C:\Users\username\Desktop.htaccess.” and press Enter. Note that you need to enclose the path and the name in double quotes, and add a period at the end of the name.
- Close the Command Prompt and check the folder you created.
Method 2: Use a Third-Party Tool
Another way to create a folder with any name in Windows is to use a third-party tool that can bypass the Windows restrictions. There are many tools available online that can help you create folders with any name, such as New Folder Wizard, FileBoss, or Bulk Rename Utility. You can download and install any of these tools, and follow their instructions to create folders with any name. However, be careful when downloading and installing third-party tools, as some of them may contain malware or unwanted software.
Method 3: Use a Different Operating System
A third method to create a folder with any name in Windows is to use a different operating system that does not have the same restrictions as Windows. For example, you can use Linux, Mac OS, or Android to create a folder with any name on a Windows file system, such as NTFS or FAT32. To do this, you need to have access to a device that runs a different operating system, and connect it to the Windows device via a USB cable, a network, or a cloud service. Then, you can create the folder with any name on the Windows device using the file manager of the other operating system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Why do I need to create a folder with a specific name in Windows?
Answer: There may be various reasons why you need to create a folder with a specific name in Windows. For example, you may need to create a folder with a name that starts with a dot (.) to store configuration files for certain applications, such as .git, .vscode, or .ssh. Or, you may need to create a folder with a name that is reserved by the system, such as CON, to test or demonstrate some features or vulnerabilities of Windows.
Question: What are the risks of creating a folder with an invalid name in Windows?
Answer: Creating a folder with an invalid name in Windows may cause some problems or issues, such as:
- You may not be able to access, rename, delete, or move the folder using the Windows Explorer or other Windows applications.
- You may encounter errors or unexpected behaviors when performing operations on the folder or its contents, such as copying, compressing, scanning, or indexing.
- You may compromise the security or stability of your system, as some malicious programs or hackers may exploit the folder name to bypass the Windows protection mechanisms or execute malicious code.
Therefore, you should only create a folder with an invalid name in Windows if you have a valid reason and know what you are doing. You should also backup your data and system before creating such a folder, and delete it when you no longer need it.
Question: How can I delete a folder with an invalid name in Windows?
Answer: If you have created a folder with an invalid name in Windows, and you want to delete it, you can use one of the following methods:
- Use the Command Prompt to delete the folder with the same syntax as you used to create it. For example, if you created a folder named .htaccess on the desktop using the Command Prompt, you can delete it by typing rmdir “\?\C:\Users\username\Desktop.htaccess.” and pressing Enter.
- Use a third-party tool that can delete folders with any name, such as New Folder Wizard, FileBoss, or Bulk Rename Utility. You can download and install any of these tools, and follow their instructions to delete folders with any name.
- Use a different operating system that can delete folders with any name on a Windows file system, such as Linux, Mac OS, or Android. You can connect the Windows device to the other device via a USB cable, a network, or a cloud service, and delete the folder with any name using the file manager of the other operating system.
Summary
In this article, we have explained how to create a folder with any name in Windows, including names that contain special characters or are reserved by the system. We have also discussed why Windows does not allow certain folder names, and what are the risks and solutions of creating such folders. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. We do not endorse or recommend creating folders with invalid names in Windows, as it may cause problems or issues for your system or data. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from following the instructions or methods in this article. Please use them at your own risk.