How to fix
Error 0x80070299: The requested operation could not be completed due to a file system limitation
on Windows

Hi, I can't copy a file - I keep getting an error that states "Error 0x80070299: The requested operation could not be completed due to a file system limitation." How can I resolve it?

Error 0x80070299 in Windows typically occurs when you are trying to copy or move large files. The full error message reads, "The requested operation could not be completed due to a file system limitation."

This issue can prevent the successful completion of file operations, particularly affecting users working with large amounts of data or managing large files on their systems.

Causes of the 0x80070299 error

This issue is frequently caused by constraints inside the NTFS file system, which is the basic file system used by Windows operating systems. The largest file size that NTFS can support is limited, particularly for sparse files - files that are usually bigger in information than in actual content.

The 0x80070299 error may occur when NTFS is unable to handle new data due to excessive metadata fragmentation on the system or when the volume approaches a limit on file size. Disk space problems, such as severe fragmentation or inadequate storage for the operation, might potentially cause this error.

What can be done to fix the issue

Resolving Error 0x80070299 involves a few practical measures that you can undertake to manage the underlying issues with your file system. Start by ensuring the target drive where you're attempting to transfer files has adequate space available.

This basic check can prevent many common file system errors. Additionally, consider performing disk defragmentation, which reorganizes the data on your disk more logically, potentially freeing up space and improving your system's ability to manage large files.

Another critical step is to use a disk-checking utility like CHKDSK to scan for and fix any file system errors. This tool can detect and resolve issues related to disk integrity, which are often at the heart of the 0x80070299 error.

If the error is specifically related to handling sparse files, converting these files to a standard format might also mitigate the issue. This conversion reduces the complex metadata associated with sparse files, making it simpler for the NTFS file system to process them.

For a thorough solution, especially when dealing with persistent or complicated system issues, using a PC repair tool [d1] is advisable. This software can automatically diagnose and fix underlying Windows issues, optimizing system performance and stability.

Fix 1. Defragment or optimize your drive

Defragmenting reorganizes the data on your hard disk by consolidating fragmented files, which can enhance the drive's efficiency and potentially alleviate file system limitations.

• Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
• Go to This PC.
• Right-click on your main drive and go to the Tools tab.
• Under Optimize and defragment drive, click Optimize.
• Select the drive you wish to optimize.
• Depending on whether you use HDD or SSD, click either Defragment or Optimize.
• Wait for the process to complete.

Fix 2. Perform Check Disk

Running Check Disk can identify and repair errors on the disk, such as bad sectors or file system errors that might be causing the 0x80070299 error.

• Type in cmd in Windows search.
• Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
• In the User Account Control window, click Yes.
• In the new window, type in the following command and press Enter after:
  chkdsk c: /f
  (Note: use chkdsk c: /f /r /x command if you are using SSD as your primary partition. Also, replace c: with another drive letter if you are not using default)
• If you receive an error, type in Y, close down Command Prompt, and restart your system.
• Wait till the scan is finished.

Fix 3. Install all Windows updates

Keeping your system up to date with the latest Windows updates can provide important improvements and bug fixes that might resolve file system issues.

• Type Updates in Windows search and hit Enter.
• In the new window, click Check for updates.
• If optional updates are available, install them as well.
• When all the update processes are complete, restart your device.

Fix 4. Increase the size of Volume Shadow Copy

Increasing the allocated space for Volume Shadow Copy can prevent errors related to insufficient storage space for shadow copies when using NTFS.

Setting the maximum size of the Volume Shadow Copy storage area to "No limit" can help avoid errors related to space limitations when creating shadow copies, which are essential for NTFS operations.

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
• Type the following:
  vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage followed by /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=UNBOUNDED
• Replace C: with the appropriate drive letter.
• Press Enter to apply the change, effectively removing any limit on the shadow copy storage size.

Fix 5. Format the drive with /L parameter

Formatting the drive with the /L parameter can help by setting a larger cluster size, which might mitigate file system limitations with large files on NTFS volumes.

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
• In the new window, type in the following command:
  format [drive letter]: /L
• Replace [drive letter] with the appropriate letter and press Enter.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the format.
• Restart your PC.

Fix 6. Disable NTFS compression

Disabling NTFS compression can reduce the metadata overhead that can contribute to the 0x80070299 error, especially on volumes with many compressed files.

• Right-click on the drive in File Explorer and select Properties.
• Uncheck the option to Compress this drive to save disk space under the General tab.
• Click Apply and then OK to make the changes.