What does Windows error code 1920 (ERROR_CANT_ACCESS_FILE) mean?

 
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ERROR_NO_SITENAME ERROR_CANT_RESOLVE_FILENAME

ERROR_CANT_ACCESS_FILE

The system cannot access the referenced file.

ERROR_CANT_ACCESS_FILE is Win32 error 1920 (0x780). It is a broad system status used when a component has a file reference but cannot access the underlying object as required. The cause may involve permissions, sharing, storage availability, reparse or offline state, encryption, or a race with rename and deletion. The exact API and preceding error context are essential.

Access conditions to investigate

  • the caller’s token lacks rights on the file or a parent directory
  • another process holds an incompatible share mode or an exclusive operation is underway
  • the volume, network path, cloud placeholder, or removable medium is unavailable
  • a reparse point or mount target resolves to an inaccessible location
  • the file was renamed, replaced, deleted, quarantined, or made offline between discovery and access

File evidence to log

Record the exact failing API, original and final normalized paths after safe redaction, caller identity and integrity level, desired access and share flags, file attributes, reparse tag, volume identity, network provider, placeholder or offline state, and concurrent operation. Preserve the first GetLastError immediately; later diagnostic calls can overwrite it.

How to isolate the access barrier

Test access using the same token, session, and path syntax as the application. Inspect ACLs and share permissions, but also examine share modes, oplocks, antivirus or filter-driver activity, and storage availability. Compare opening the parent directory, metadata-only access, and the exact desired access requested by the failing operation.

Hold a handle when identity matters, because path-based checks race with rename and replacement. For network or cloud files, verify hydration and connectivity. If the path crosses a reparse point, inspect the final target and its security boundary rather than changing permissions on the visible link alone.

Recovery and coding guidance

Restore the file or backing storage, correct narrowly scoped permissions, release conflicting use, hydrate the placeholder, or retry after a documented transient condition. Do not grant broad access such as Everyone Full Control to bypass an unknown cause.

Open the file once with the required flags and operate through that handle, use bounded retry only for recognized sharing or availability transitions, and log the precise access request. Administrators should correlate recurring 1920 errors with filter, storage, and network events.

Difference from an unresolved filename

ERROR_CANT_RESOLVE_FILENAME means Windows cannot turn the supplied name into a usable target. Error 1920 generally indicates that a target reference exists but access to the file cannot be completed in the current context.

Example

A service discovers a cloud placeholder while the user is online, then tries to read it after the sync provider disconnects. The operation receives 1920. Restoring provider connectivity and hydrating the file resolves access; changing the filename would not.

References

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