TensorFlow install error, Windows LongPath support not enabled

Question

I'm trying to install TensorFlow but I keep getting a longpath error , I have Python 3.9 installed and pip 21.3.1. Whenever I run pip install tensorflow I receive the following error:

ERROR: Could not install packages due to an OSError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\Users\obrie\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.9_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python39\site-packages\tensorflow\include\external\com_github_grpc_grpc\src\core\ext\filters\client_channel\lb_policy\grpclb\client_load_reporting_filter.h' HINT: This error might have occurred since this system does not have Windows Long Path support enabled. You can find information on how to enable this at https://pip.pypa.io/warnings/enable-long-paths

This seems to clearly be an error caused by the fact that LongPathsEnabled was set to false by default. I've got into my registry editor, gone to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem and changed LongPathsEnabled to a value of 1.

LongPathsEnabled set to 1

I've restarted my computer, but still get the longpaths error. Please help me understand what I am missing.

Answer 1

This fixed the problem for me!! Here are the steps to enable long path support:

1. Open the Start menu and type "gpedit.msc" in the search bar. Press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. In the editor, navigate to "Computer Configuration" > "Administrative Templates" > "System" > "Filesystem".
3. Double-click the "Enable Win32 long paths" policy and set it to "Enabled".
4. Click "OK" to save the policy changes.
5. Restart your computer to apply the changes.