How to Resolve 'The System Cannot Open the Device or File Specified' on Windows 10/11

Introduction

Encountering the error "The system cannot open the device or file specified" can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to access an important file or launch an application. You're not alone. Many Windows users have reported that when installing some new programs or accessing a specific device or folder, Windows will pop up this error message and prevent further access.

In this guide, we’ll explore the common causes of this error and provide step-by-step instructions on how to solve it effectively. Additionally, we will also show you how to recover files from an inaccessible drive or folder if you've been locked out of your data.

Why the System Cannot Open the Device or File Specified

This "system cannot open the device or file specified" error can occur for a variety of reasons, including permissions issues, file system corruption, or a conflict with antivirus software. Below are the details of these possible reasons.

🔔Permission Issues: The user might not have the necessary permissions to access the file or folder.

📂Corrupted File System: If the file system is corrupted, Windows might fail to open the file or device.

📌Path Too Long: Sometimes, files may be stored in folders with overly long file paths, preventing the system from accessing them.

☢️Antivirus Interference: Certain security software can block access to files and devices, triggering this error.

🔌Faulty Drivers or Updates: If your device drivers are outdated or malfunctioning, Windows may not be able to access certain files or devices.

💡Software Conflicts: Application-related issues or corrupt program files can also lead to this error, especially with applications like AutoCAD.

How to Solve the "System Cannot Open the Device or File Specified" Error

The good news is that this error is usually solvable with a few simple troubleshooting steps. This section will discuss some common solutions to resolve this issue. Let's explore them each one.

Fix 1. Change Folder or Application Permission

One of the most common reasons for receiving the "system cannot open the device or file specified" error is insufficient permissions. If the file or folder is located in a protected area of your computer, you might not have the necessary permissions to access it. Here’s how to change the permissions:

👉For File or Folder:

Step 1. Locate the file or folder you want to access in the File Explorer.

Step 2. Right click on it and choose "Properties" from the context menu.

Step 3. Under the "Security" tab, click "Edit".

Step 4. Select the user account you're using and check "Allow" for the "Full control".

For application or program, just right click on it and choose "Run as administrator". Alternatively, you can locate the ".exe" file in the program’s installation package, right-click it, and select "Run as administrator".

Fix 2. Shorten the File Path

Windows has a limit on the number of characters in a file path (260 characters). If the file path exceeds this limit, you may encounter the "system cannot open the device or file specified" error. You can try to shorten the file path:

• moving the file to a directory with a shorter path, such as C:\Users\YourName\Documents.
• renaming the folder and file to reduce the length of the path.

Once you've shortened the file path, try opening the file again to check if the error persists.

Fix 3. Run CHKDKS Command

If there are file system errors on the target drive, the system or application will fail to read the files correctly when attempting to access them, thus triggering the "The system cannot open the device or file specified" error. Run CHKDSK command to scan and fix the file system error on the device.

Step 1. Locate Command Prompt in the Start menu and run it as administrator.

Step 2. Input the following command "chkdsk G: /f /r" and press the "Enter" key. Replace the drive letter "G" with your actual drive letter.

Step 3. Wait for the command to complete. Try to access the device or file again to verify the error if continues.

Fix 4. Run DISM and SFC command

System file corruption or issues with Windows components can cause errors like "system cannot open the device or file specified". Running the DISM (Deployment Imaging Service and Management) tool and the SFC (System File Checker) tool can help repair these system file error.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt and run it as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" and press "Enter".

Step 3. After the DISM finishes, enter the SFC command to check for file system integrity "sfc /scannow".

Fix 5. Update Device Driver

If you’re encountering this error when trying to access a device (e.g., USB drive, external hard drive), outdated or corrupted drivers could be the cause. Updating the device driver may resolve this issue.

Step 1. Press "Win" + "X" and select "Device Manager" to open it.

Step 2. Expand "Disk driver" and select your hard drive.

Step 3. Right click on it and choose "Update driver", then click "Search automatically for updated driver software" to continue the process.

Fix 6. Clean Temp Folder

Sometimes software can get stuck due to corrupted temporary files, which prevents the system from opening a device or a specific file. Cleaning up these temporary files may help resolve this issue.

Step 1. Type "Disk Cleanup" in the Start menu and open it.

Step 2. Select the drive which generates the error when you attempt to access it in File Explorer.

Step 3. Scroll down and select the "Temporary files" under the "Files to delete", then click "OK" to clean the Temp files.

Additionally, you can also navigate to the Temp folder by entering "%temp%" in Run dialog and manually delete its content.

Fix 7. Temporarily Disable Any Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software like Windows Defender may block programs from accessing files, especially during installation or certain operations. When these programs attempt to access system files or perform operations, the error will pop up. Temporarily disabling your antivirus can help you determine if it’s the cause of the issue.

Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Security" > "Virus & threat protection", click "Manage settings".

Step 2. Turn off the real-time protection.

Then, try to open the device or file again to check if the error persists.

Fix 8. Reinstall the Application

Corrupted or missing files can also cause the "system cannot open the device or file specified" problem. For application, re-download or reinstall the program from the official website to ensure its integrity. For the file in question, navigate to the corresponding path and check if the file you need still exists.

Fix 9. Perform System Restore

If the error started after a recent change to your system, such as a software installation or a system update, performing a System Restore to revert your computer to a previous state can help resolve the issue. This is on the premise that you have created a usable restore point before the error occurs.

Step 1. Enter "Create a Restore Point" in the search box and open it.

Step 2. Click "System Restore" under the "System Protection" tab.

Step 3. Choose a created restore point and click "Next".

Step 4. Confirm your restore point and click "Finish" to start the process. You can check the affected programs by clicking on "Scan for affected programs".

How to Recover Files from the Inaccessible Drive or Folder

If this error prevents you from accessing and reading data on the drive or folder normally, a professional data recovery tool like MyRecover can help you retrieve files from inaccessible drives, folders, or partitions. Its intuitive interface allows users of all skill levels to easily complete data recovery with just a few clicks.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from Microsoft Store, avoid installing it on the drive with lost files.

Step 2. Open the app and select the drive to scan for inaccessible files, then click "Scan".

Step 3. After the scan is completed, choose the files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover". If you have no data to recover, simply select the "Existing Files" folder to extract files from the drive.

Step 4. Choose a safe location to save the recovered files.

When the process finishes, you'll see the message "Files have been recovered successfully". Then, you can verify the recovered files by clicking on the destination folder path or "Browse" button.

Summary

In short, the "system cannot open the device or file specified" error can be caused by various factors, including permission issues, corrupted files, and faulty drivers. However, with the right solutions, you can easily resolve the problem.

If your files are lost due to an inaccessible device, MyRecover can help you recover them quickly. If you need unlimited recovery capacity and the ability to preview files before restoring them, MyRecover Professional edition is the perfect upgrade. It even helps you recover data from systems that won't boot.