How to Split Large Files in Windows 11

If you’ve ever tried to upload or share a massive file online, you’ve probably hit a size limit. Whether it’s a large video, an archive, or a backup file, splitting it into smaller parts makes it easier to upload, transfer, or store. Thankfully, Windows 11 offers multiple ways to split large files without damaging or losing data.

In this guide, we’ll show you several methods — both built-in and third-party — to split large files efficiently on Windows 11.

Split Large Files in Windows 11

Before getting started, make sure you know where your large file is located on your PC, have enough free disk space to store the split parts, and decide which tool or method you want to use. Once that’s set, you’re ready to go over the best ways to split large files in Windows 11.

Method 1: Split Files Using 7-Zip (Free and Easy)

The most popular way to split large files in Windows 11 is by using 7-Zip, a free and lightweight file compression utility.

Step 1: Install 7-Zip

1. Visit the official 7-Zip website.
2. Download and install the version that matches your system (64-bit for most PCs).

Step 2: Split the File

1. Locate your large file in File Explorer.
2. Right-click the file and choose 7-Zip > Add to archive….
3. In the Add to Archive window, look for the Split to volumes, bytes field.
4. Enter the size for each part (for example, 500M for 500 MB pieces or 2G for 2 GB pieces).
5. Click OK.

7-Zip will now compress and split your file into multiple smaller archive files — for example, filename.7z.001, filename.7z.002, and so on.

To rejoin them later, just double-click the .001 file, and 7-Zip will automatically combine all parts into the original file.

Method 2: Use WinRAR to Split Large Files

If you already have WinRAR installed, it’s another excellent tool for splitting and recombining files.

Step 1: Add the File to an Archive

1. Right-click the file you want to split and select Add to archive….
2. In the WinRAR window, find the Split to volumes, size field.
3. Enter a size limit for each split part (e.g., 700M for CD-sized chunks or 1G for 1 GB parts).
4. Click OK to start splitting.

WinRAR will automatically create multiple archive files with extensions like .part1.rar, .part2.rar, etc.

Step 2: Combine the Files Later

To recombine, ensure all parts are in the same folder, then right-click the first file (.part1.rar) and choose Extract here. WinRAR will merge the parts into the original file.

Method 3: Split Large Files Using the Command Line (Advanced Users)

If you prefer not to install third-party tools, you can use the Command Prompt with PowerShell or gsplit commands to break files into smaller pieces.

Option 1: Use PowerShell’s Split Function

1. Press Windows + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin).

2. Use the following PowerShell script format:

$infile = "C:\path\to\your\largefile.iso"
$outfile = "C:\path\to\output\part"
$chunksize = 500MB
$i = 1
$fs = [System.IO.File]::OpenRead($infile)
$buffer = New-Object byte[] $chunksize
while (($r = $fs.Read($buffer, 0, $buffer.Length)) -gt 0) {
    $name = "{0}{1:D3}.part" -f $outfile, $i++
    $out = [System.IO.File]::OpenWrite($name)
    $out.Write($buffer, 0, $r)
    $out.Close()
}
$fs.Close()

This splits your file into multiple 500 MB parts. You can adjust the size by changing the $chunksize value.

Option 2: Use GSplit (Free GUI Tool)

1. Download GSplit from G.D.G. Software.
2. Open the program and select your large file.
3. Choose the destination folder and specify the size of each split part.
4. Click Split File.

GSplit also creates a small “self-uniting” executable that automatically rejoins all the parts when run.

Step 4: Verify File Integrity

After splitting and recombining files, it’s important to make sure everything is intact.

• 7-Zip and WinRAR automatically check file integrity during extraction.
• If you used PowerShell or another method, you can verify file hashes using: Get-FileHash "C:\path\to\file"

Compare the hash of the recombined file with the original to ensure no data was lost.

Wrapping Up

Splitting large files in Windows 11 is easy once you know which tool to use. For most users, 7-Zip or WinRAR offers the perfect balance of simplicity and reliability. Power users can take advantage of PowerShell or GSplit for greater control and automation.

Whether you’re sharing large videos, backups, or software installers, these methods make it easy to manage huge files without running into upload limits or storage issues.