ERROR_CANT_ACCESS_FILE 0x80070780

Error code 1920 · HRESULT 0x80070780

WINDOWS

The file cannot be accessed by the system.

Windows troubleshooting diagram: Device Manager warning and a system file scan
Windows errors: check drivers, system files and Event Viewer, in that order.

What it means

ERROR_CANT_ACCESS_FILE is a Windows error code (system error 1920, returned as HRESULT 0x80070780) reported by Windows. Its official message is: “The file cannot be accessed by the system.”

How to fix ERROR_CANT_ACCESS_FILE

  1. Run the affected program as administrator (right-click → Run as administrator)
  2. Check permissions on the target resource: Properties → Security → your account
  3. Check Event Viewer → Windows Logs → Security for the matching audit entry
  4. Verify the path/file actually exists and is not blocked by antivirus quarantine
  5. Reinstall the application that raised the error to restore missing files
  6. Check the full path spelling (long paths >260 chars need a registry opt-in)

Related errors

ERROR_CANT_ACCESS_DOMAIN_INFOERROR_NO_SITENAMEERROR_CANT_RESOLVE_FILENAMERPC_X_PIPE_EMPTY0x803F70010xC19001010xC19002080xC1900200

Source: Microsoft WinError.h

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