# Unable to find manifest file
**URL:** https://forum.qiime2.org/t/unable-to-find-manifest-file/20968
**Category:** Technical Support
**Created:** [October 4, 2021, 4:39am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/unable-to-find-manifest-file/20968 "2021-10-04T04:39:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@cab](https://forum.qiime2.org/u/cab)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2021, 4:39am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/unable-to-find-manifest-file/20968/1 "2021-10-04T04:39:25Z")
Hello,
I am trying to do my first import of fastq files into Qiime2 and keep getting the error that the path to the manifest file does not exist. Because I am used to working with windows, I'm wondering if I am misunderstanding the directories in Qiime2. If I make a directory in Qiime2 with the same name as on my hard-drive where the data is, will Qiime2 access my hard-drive or will the directory I made in Qiime2 only be useable within the Qiime2 environment? If the latter, how do I tell Qiime2 where the data is?
Thank you,
Catherine
Location of files: 
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### Author:  [@elsamdea](https://forum.qiime2.org/u/elsamdea)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2021, 11:03am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/unable-to-find-manifest-file/20968/2 "2021-10-04T11:03:00Z")
Hi @cab!
> [@cab](#):
>
> I am trying to do my first import of fastq files into Qiime2 and keep getting the error that the path to the manifest file does not exist.
First, you are trying to import your fastq and manifest files: in the `input-path` parameter, you should include the absolute directory path to the q\_trimmed\_seqs folder (without enter inside the folder), that would avoid problems (you can use the `cd` command to enter in the folder and the `pwd` in the terminal to find out what is your absolute directory path). And also, the _fastq_ files should be in a compress form as _fastq.gz_ files.
So then, the command should be:
```
qiime tools import --type 'SampleData[SequencesWithQuality]' --input-path "$PWD/qtrimmedseqs/" --input-format SingleEndFastqManifiestPhred33 --output-path "thenameyouwant.qza"
```
(In the `output-path` parameter, you can use the name you prefer 🙂 ).
> [@cab](#):
>
> If I make a directory in Qiime2 with the same name as on my hard-drive where the data is, will Qiime2 access my hard-drive or will the directory I made in Qiime2 only be useable within the Qiime2 environment? If the latter, how do I tell Qiime2 where the data is?
About that, I guess you are using the Linux subsystem inside Windows... And maybe this post could help you:
> [@Permission denied when importing FASTQ files](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/permission-denied-when-importing-fastq-files/18490/13):
>
> Hi @taf1g17, This is very helpful thank you! As I mentioned earlier is this thread, you can not use Windows-style file paths, but the file paths as WSL understands them. The best way to make sure you are using the correct Linux file paths is to cd into the folder where your sequence files are located, and type pwd. This will provide you with the absolute directory path. Do this within the WSL Terminal of course. wink taf1g17$: cd share/seqs-to-import taf1g17:~/share/seqs-to-import$ pwd …
I hope I have been helpful!
Best,
Elsa
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### Author:  [@cab](https://forum.qiime2.org/u/cab)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/unable-to-find-manifest-file/20968/3 "2021-10-05T01:26:13Z")
Thank you @elsamdea, that was really helpful 😊. I'll give it a whirl and see how I go.
Thanks again,
Catherine
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.qiime2.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2021, 7:26am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/unable-to-find-manifest-file/20968/4 "2021-11-05T07:26:53Z")
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