Fixing Failed Uploads Due to Windows Short File Names (8.3 Format)

Last updated: July 16, 2025

If your file uploads are failing and you notice tildes (~) appearing in the file names when you try to upload, this is likely due to Windows' "short name" or "8.3 format" being used. This commonly occurs when files are in temporary folders or have been recently converted from other formats.

How to Fix

To resolve this issue:

  1. Create a new folder in a permanent location (like your desktop)

  2. Move or copy your files into this new folder

  3. Try uploading the files again from this permanent location

How to Verify the Fix

Before attempting to upload again, you can verify the fix by:

  1. Opening one of the files in your PDF viewer

  2. Checking the file name in the viewer's title bar

  3. Confirming that the file name no longer contains a tilde (~)

This issue commonly occurs when files have been converted from PST format or extracted from archives into temporary folders. Moving them to a permanent location resolves the Windows short filename behavior that causes upload failures.