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0x80070011SystemLow

Error 0x80070011 — Not Same Device (ERROR_NOT_SAME_DEVICE) | Windows System Error Fix

Windows 11Windows 10Windows 8.1

What Does 0x80070011 Mean?

The system cannot move the file to a different disk drive. A rename operation was attempted across different volumes.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1Attempting to move a file across drives using a rename API instead of copy+delete
  2. 2Application using MoveFile without the MOVEFILE_COPY_ALLOWED flag
  3. 3Attempting junction or symbolic link operations across volumes incorrectly

Symptoms

  • ⚠File move operation fails between different drives
  • ⚠Application reports it cannot rename a file
  • ⚠Drag-and-drop between drives fails in certain applications

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Copy the file to the destination drive first, then delete the original
  2. 2Use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V instead of Ctrl+X when moving between drives
  3. 3Use robocopy for reliable cross-drive file moves: 'robocopy source dest /move'

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Applications should use MoveFileEx with MOVEFILE_COPY_ALLOWED flag for cross-volume moves
  2. 2Use robocopy with /MIR for large directory moves across volumes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is moving files between drives different from moving within a drive?
Moving within the same drive just updates the directory entry (instant). Moving across drives requires copying all data then deleting the original, which takes time proportional to file size. Some operations only support the fast within-drive rename.

Related Error Codes

0x80070002File Not Found (ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND)0x80070003Path Not Found (ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND)

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.