This error often occurs even when there’s plenty of free space on the drive, confusing users unfamiliar with FAT32’s structure. Drives used in media players, cameras, and older systems can also cause this error due to their default formatting. In this article, we will discuss different ways to solve this error.
1. Copy the Files to a Subfolder
If you see this error when copying files to the root folder of your drive, you can often bypass the problem by copying the files into a folder inside the drive instead. Every file system (FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, etc.) has a limit to how many files can be placed in the root directory. For example, with FAT16, the root directory can’t have more than 128 files. Many users who struggled with the 0x80070052 error found that creating a new folder and copying the files there (instead of directly to the root) resolved the problem. If you think this might help in your situation, open your removable drive, right-click on some empty space, and select New > Folder. Name the folder as you wish, and then paste your files into this new folder instead of the root directory. Check if you still encounter the 0x80070052 (The directory or file cannot be created) error when copying files into the new folder.
2. Format the Drive to FAT32
Most of the time, the 0x80070052 (The directory or file cannot be created) error happens if your removable drive uses an old file system, such as FAT16, that can’t handle a high number of files or larger file sizes. If you’re not sure which file system your external drive uses, you can check by right-clicking on the drive in File Explorer and selecting Properties. In the Properties window, look under the General tab for File system. If the drive is using an outdated file system like FAT16, or a non-compatible one, reformatting to FAT32 (or NTFS/exFAT if supported) can help.
3. Copy Encrypted Files
If you’re having this issue while transferring encrypted files, there are a few extra things to consider to ensure the encryption key is also available. If you used Windows’ built-in file encryption, just make sure the Credential Manager service is set to Automatic and actively running while you copy the files. If you used external encryption software (like McAfee or any other third-party tool), make sure that program is open and running before you attempt to copy the encrypted files.
4. Repair the Drive for Corruption
Sometimes, this error shows up because there is corruption on your removable device—this is especially common after unexpected problems like removing the drive while it’s in use or a sudden power loss. SD cards used in cameras can also develop this issue: they work properly in the camera, but give errors when transferring files to your computer.
