Fix: “Could not find this item. This is no longer located in [Path]. Verify the item’s location and try again”

An interesting condition in Windows is when a file is hidden from the system such that we cannot delete, rename, or open it. However, the file still exists in the system directories.

A known error associated with this condition is:

“Could not find this item. This is no longer located in [Path]. Verify the item’s location and try again”.

 

 

Where [Path] is the location of the file in the file explorer. Basically, if we cannot access a file, we cannot do anything with it. However, what could be understood is that this file could be located and modified using Command Prompt since it does exist in the system.

Also read: How to fix Item not found error

Cause

One known reason is that the extension of files created by 3rd party applications might not be clearly defined and this, it might be untraceable by file explorer. However, we cannot conclude this to be the only cause. While moving to the resolution, the only thing we need to have in mind is the file while not locatable by the file explorer could be observed through Command Prompt.

Fix 1 – Deleting the file using Command Prompt

The error would be causing issues to regular work, so most users would consider deleting the file itself. The procedure to do so is as follows:

1]  Search cmd in Start menu search bar in windows PC. Now, when the command prompt icon appears in the search result, Just do a right click and then click Run as administrator.

2] Type the command:

rd /s \\?\"C:\bad\folder\path"

Please replace C:\bad\folder\path inside the double quotes with the path of the file which is creating the issue.

If it is a folder, Just go inside the folder and copy the path from the address bar.

Fix 2 – Archive the files to delete them

If nothing so far has worked out, you can try to archive the files and delete the original files in the process of archiving them.

NOTE–

You will need the WinRAR installed on your computer to enact this solution on your system. If you don’t have it installed, click on this link to download the setup file. Run the setup file to install WinRAR on your system.

1. Go to the location of the problematic files on your computer.

2. Right-click on the file and click on “Add to archive…“.

 

 

3. Once the Archive name and parameters window opens up, check the box beside the “Delete files after archiving”.

4. Finally, click on “OK“.

 

 

Once the archiving process is complete, the original file (problematic file) will be automatically deleted from your system.

5. Now, right-click on the archived file you have just created and click on “Delete“.

 

 

This will also delete the zipped file from your computer. Your problem should be fixed with this quick workaround.

 

Fix-3 Delete the File/ Folder from the file/ folder path-

To delete the problematic file/folder you have to go to folder path through Command Prompt and then delete the file from within it.

1. To open File Explorer window, press Windows key+E and navigate to the file/ folder location.

2. After you have opened the file/ folder, click on to select the file address.

3. Now, press ‘Ctrl+C‘ to copy the file path.

 

 

4. Press Windows key+R to launch Run. In Run window, type “cmd” and then hit Enter.

 

 

Command Prompt window will be opened.

5. In Command Prompt window, copy-paste and modify these commands and then hit Enter after each of the commands to execute them sequentially.

cd <paste the file/folder location>

NOTE–

This command should look like this-

cd C:\Users\Sambit\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player

6. Now, execute this command to delete the file from your computer.

del <File name you want to delete>

NOTE–

The file you want to delete place it after ‘del’ command.

Example- As we want to delete ‘lastplayed’ file, our command will be-

del lastplayed

 

 

Once the file is deleted, close Command Prompt window.

 

 

Fix 4 – Renaming the file using Command Prompt

1] Press Win + R to open the Run window and type the command cmd. Press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

2] We have to navigate to the exact folder in which the file is situated, not the file itself. Type the command:

cd Z:\bad\folder1\folder2…\foldern

Where Z: is the drive in which the file is located.

Basically, the command is cd followed by the path of the file without the name of the file at the end. Then type the following commands one by one (press Enter after each command):

DIR /A /X /P

RENAME (name of the problematic file) (some other name)

EXIT

This would help rename the file so it doesn’t cause that error prompt again.

This should help fix the issue.