8.3 file naming convention
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Recommendation
Leave as defaultDo not change the setting if you use old games, installers or corporate software.
On a modern, verified configuration, short name creation can be disabled, but a noticeable gain in games is unlikely.
- Scope
- New files on NTFS volumes
What changes
Section titled “What changes”NTFS can create a second entry for every file with a long name — a short name in the 8.3 format. According to Microsoft documentation, when creating files in a directory, NTFS looks for existing short names associated with long ones — this is additional overhead work on every file creation.
The BoosterX setting disables the creation of short names: new files do not receive aliases, and the overhead lookup disappears. Existing short names are preserved, so programs that access short paths will continue to find old files — but not new ones.
Registry changes
Section titled “Registry changes”The setting is available in the free version of BoosterX. The table shows its registry values.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Hive and path | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem |
| Value name | NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation |
| Type | REG_DWORD |
| Windows default | 2 |
| Disable creation | 1 |
| Revert | 2 |
The value 2 is the default per-volume control; 1 is the complete disabling of short name creation. Revert — the value 2.
Exceptions and differences
Section titled “Exceptions and differences”Microsoft documents four values of the parameter: 0 — enable creation on all volumes, 1 — disable on all volumes, 2 — per-volume control, 3 — disable everywhere except the system volume. The BoosterX tweak uses complete disabling (1) versus the default per-volume control (2).
If you use old games, installers or corporate software, you must not disable it: accesses to short paths will break. A noticeable gain in games is unlikely.
How to verify the result
Section titled “How to verify the result”- Before the change, create a file with a long name in a test folder (for example,
оченьдлинноеимяфайла.txt). The command linedir /xwill show its short alias. - Apply the disabling and create another file with a long name next to it: the new file should not get an alias.
- Existing files keep their short names — check in the same way.
How to change and revert
Section titled “How to change and revert”In BoosterX, open «Optimization» → «Tweaks» → «Disk and file system» → «8.3 filename convention», switch the toggle to the desired state and click «Apply». If «Instant apply» is enabled, a separate click is not required. Repeat the check in the test folder.
Confirmation
Section titled “Confirmation”- Microsoft: fsutil behavior, checked 2026-09-19 — the short name mechanism and the registry key.
- Microsoft: fsutil 8dot3name, checked 2026-09-19 — the documented parameter values.
Last check: 2026-09-20.