If your C: drive has permission issues, install to a secondary drive.
The error "cannot create soundtoys version root folder" typically occurs during the installation or initialization of Soundtoys 5 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
due to permission restrictions or unexpected system pathing. This is often tied to the software's inability to write necessary files to the default preset and user data directories. Primary Causes & Fixes
Temporary Folder Pathing (Windows):If your system's Temp folder has been moved to a drive other than your main system SSD, the installer may fail to create the necessary root folders.
Fix: Reset your environment variables to point the Temp folder back to the default location: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\Local\Temp.
Directory Permissions & Admin Rights:The installer or the DAW may lack the administrative permissions required to create the root directory in restricted folders like C:\Users\Public\Documents.
Fix: Run the installer with full administrative rights. Ensure the destination folder for presets—C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Soundtoys\Soundtoys 5 on Windows or /Users/Shared/Soundtoys/Soundtoys 5 on Mac—is not set to "Read-Only".
Hardlinks and Symbolic Links:Soundtoys has identified issues where users attempting to use hardlinks or symbolic links for their installation paths (to save space on a primary drive) cause the software to fail when creating version root folders.
Fix: Avoid using symbolic links for the core installation or preset directories. Use the default installation paths provided by the manufacturer.
Corrupted Previous Installation:Residual files from a partial or older installation can create "phantom" directories that block new folder creation.
Fix: Manually delete the Soundtoys folder from your plugin directory and clear your DAW's plugin cache before attempting a fresh reinstall. Default Installation Paths Verify these locations exist and are writeable:
Windows Presets: C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Soundtoys\Soundtoys 5 Mac Presets: /Users/Shared/Soundtoys/Soundtoys 5 Windows VST2: C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins\Soundtoys
Are you running the installer as an administrator, and is your iLok License Manager fully updated to the latest version? Soundtoys 5 released! - Page 4
The error message "cannot create Soundtoys version root folder" typically occurs due to restricted system permissions or non-standard system configurations that prevent the installer or plugin from writing necessary files. Primary Troubleshooting Steps cannot create soundtoys version root folder at soundtoys 5
Reset System Temp Folder (Windows Only): If you have moved your Windows Temp folder to a different drive, the installer may fail to create the root directory. Resetting the Temp folder to its default location (C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Temp) has been a confirmed fix for this specific error.
Run as Administrator: Ensure you are running the Soundtoys 5 installer with administrative privileges. Right-click the installer and select "Run as administrator" to bypass potential folder creation restrictions.
Antivirus Interference: Some antivirus or security software can block installers from creating new folders in protected areas like Program Files or Public Documents. Temporarily disable your antivirus or add the installer and your DAW to its "safe" or "exclusion" list. Verification and Manual Folder Checks
If the installer continues to fail, verify that you have access to the default root and preset locations: Windows Default Paths:
Presets: C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Soundtoys\Soundtoys 5. Plugins: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\Soundtoys. macOS Default Paths: Presets: /Users/Shared/Soundtoys/Soundtoys 5. Plugins: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/. Additional Solutions
Clean Reinstall: If you are updating, manually delete existing Soundtoys folders from the locations listed above, empty your trash, and restart your computer before attempting a fresh installation.
iLok Verification: Ensure you have the latest iLok License Manager installed and that your licenses are properly activated to your computer or a physical iLok key, as activation issues can sometimes trigger unexpected folder errors in DAWs.
Are you encountering this error specifically during installation or when opening a plugin inside your DAW?
Soundtoys V5 Preset location, presets not saving and hardlinks
The error message "cannot create soundtoys version root folder at soundtoys 5" typically occurs when a Soundtoys 5 plugin attempts to initialize its directory structure (often for presets or user data) but lacks the necessary system permissions or encounters a conflict with the file path.
This issue most frequently affects users on Windows and macOS during initial setup or after a system update. Core Causes of the Root Folder Error The problem generally stems from one of three areas:
Permission Restrictions: The software lacks "Write" access to the required directory.
Antivirus/Security Blocking: Third-party security software identifies the folder creation as a suspicious action. If your C: drive has permission issues, install
Redirected System Folders: Moving your system's "Temp" or "Documents" folders to a different drive can confuse the installer's hardlink logic. Step-by-Step Solutions 1. Fix Directory Permissions and Security Settings
Most root folder errors are resolved by ensuring the plugin has permission to write to its default preset location.
Windows Solution: Navigate to C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\. Right-click the Soundtoys folder (if it exists), select Properties, and ensure "Read-only" is unchecked. In the Security tab, ensure your User account has "Full Control".
Mac Solution: Go to /Users/Shared/Soundtoys/. Right-click the folder, select Get Info, and under "Sharing & Permissions," set all users to "Read & Write".
Antivirus Check: Temporarily disable your antivirus or add an exclusion for the Soundtoys installation directory and your DAW. 2. Reset the Windows Temp Folder
If you have moved your Windows Temp folder to a secondary drive to save space on your SSD, Soundtoys 5 may fail to create its root folders.
The Fix: Reset the TEMP and TMP environment variables to their default location: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\Local\Temp. 3. Clean Reinstall (The "Trash and Reinstall" Method)
If the error persists, corrupted old folder metadata (sometimes showing dates as old as 1970) can block new folder creation. Uninstall Soundtoys 5 via your system's uninstaller.
Manually Delete any remaining Soundtoys folders in the following locations:
Mac: /Library/Application Support/Soundtoys and /Users/Shared/Soundtoys
Windows: C:\Program Files\Soundtoys and C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Soundtoys Restart your computer.
Reinstall using the latest installer from the Soundtoys download page. 4. Host-Specific Fixes (FL Studio / Ableton)
Sometimes the error is triggered by how the DAW interacts with the plugin: For the Program Files location:
FL Studio: In the Plugin Manager, find the Soundtoys entry showing an error. Manually set the "Type" to Effect and hit "Apply Changes".
Ableton: Ensure you are not running Ableton as an Administrator, as this can sometimes create permission mismatches for sub-processes. Summary of Default Paths
To verify your installation, ensure the following "root" paths exist: Preset Root Folder Plugin Root (64-bit VST) Windows C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Soundtoys\Soundtoys 5 C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins\Soundtoys macOS /Users/Shared/Soundtoys/Soundtoys 5 /Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST/Soundtoys [Source: Soundtoys Knowledge Base, Sweetwater FAQ] Soundtoys 5 released! - Page 4 - Gearspace
For the Program Files location:
For the ProgramData location (hidden folder):
Once you’ve successfully installed SoundToys 5, follow these best practices to avoid encountering the "cannot create version root folder" error again:
Aggressive antivirus software – particularly Avast, McAfee, Bitdefender, and even Windows Defender – can flag SoundToys’ installer behavior as suspicious because it writes to protected system directories.
To disable Windows Defender Real-time protection:
For third-party antivirus: Right-click the antivirus icon in your system tray and look for "Disable," "Pause protection," or "Silent mode." Consult your AV’s documentation if unsure.
Windows has a default path length limit of 260 characters (MAX_PATH). If your username is long or you have deeply nested folders, SoundToys’ installer might exceed this limit when creating C:\Users\[LongUserName]\AppData\Roaming\SoundToys\...
How to enable long paths in Windows 10/11:
For Windows Home users, enable long paths via Registry:
Running the installer as an administrator ensures that the plugin has the necessary permissions to create folders and files in the designated installation directory.