How to Split Large Files in Windows 11: 4 Simple Methods

Working with large files in Windows 11 can be challenging, especially when you need to share them via email, cloud storage, or removable media with size limitations. Fortunately, Windows 11 offers several built-in and third-party tools to split large files into manageable chunks. Here are four effective methods to accomplish this task.

Why Split Large Files in Windows 11?

Splitting large files offers several benefits:
- Easier Sharing: Many platforms have file size limits (e.g., email attachments, cloud storage).
- Faster Transfers: Smaller files upload/download more efficiently.
- Better Organization: Managing smaller segments can simplify backups and storage.
- Compatibility: Some systems struggle with extremely large files.

Method 1: Using 7-Zip (Free & Open-Source)

7-Zip is a popular file archiver that supports file splitting with strong compression.

Steps to Split Files with 7-Zip:

1. Download and install 7-Zip if not already installed.
2. Right-click the file you want to split and select 7-Zip > Add to archive…
3. In the archive settings:
   - Choose Archive format (e.g., ZIP or 7z).
   - Under Split to volumes, bytes, enter the desired chunk size (e.g., 100M for 100MB, 2G for 2GB).
4. Click OK to create split archives.

Rejoining Split Files:

• Simply extract the first part (.7z.001 or .zip.001), and 7-Zip will automatically merge all parts.

Method 2: Using WinRAR (Paid with Trial)

WinRAR is another powerful tool for splitting files, offering additional features like encryption.

Steps to Split Files with WinRAR:

1. Right-click the file and select Add to archive…
2. In the General tab:
   - Set Archive format to RAR or ZIP.
   - Under Split to volumes, size, specify the chunk size (e.g., 500M).
3. Click OK to split the file.

Rejoining Split Files:

• Extract the first part (.part1.rar), and WinRAR will handle the rest.

Method 3: Using PowerShell (Built-In)

For users who prefer command-line tools, PowerShell offers a native way to split files.

Steps to Split Files with PowerShell:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Use the Split-File cmdlet (requires Windows 10/11):
   powershell function Split-File { param([string]$FilePath, [int64]$ChunkSize) $file = Get-Item $FilePath $buffer = New-Object byte[] $ChunkSize $stream = [System.IO.File]::OpenRead($file.FullName) $part = 1 while (($bytesRead = $stream.Read($buffer, 0, $buffer.Length)) -gt 0) { $partFile = "$($file.FullName).part$part" $partStream = [System.IO.File]::OpenWrite($partFile) $partStream.Write($buffer, 0, $bytesRead) $partStream.Close() $part++ } $stream.Close() }
3. Run the function:
   powershell Split-File -FilePath "C:\LargeFile.iso" -ChunkSize 500MB

Rejoining Split Files:

• Use the Copy-Command to merge parts:
  powershell cmd /c copy /b "LargeFile.iso.part*" "LargeFile.iso"

Method 4: Using Git Bash (For Advanced Users)

Git Bash includes Unix-like commands, making it useful for file splitting.

Steps to Split Files with Git Bash:

1. Install Git for Windows (includes Git Bash).
2. Open Git Bash and navigate to the file location.
3. Use the split command:
   bash split -b 500M LargeFile.iso "LargeFile_part_"
   - -b 500M sets the chunk size to 500MB.
   - LargeFile_part_ is the prefix for split files.

Rejoining Split Files:

• Use the cat command:
  bash cat LargeFile_part_* > LargeFile.iso

Choosing the Best Method

Final Thoughts

Splitting large files in Windows 11 is straightforward with the right tools. For most users, 7-Zip offers the best balance of simplicity and functionality. Advanced users might prefer PowerShell or Git Bash for automation. Choose the method that fits your workflow and enjoy seamless file management!