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How to Split Large Files Using WinRAR
Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
WinRARFile ManagementWindowsCompressionData HandlingFile SharingSoftwareArchivingLarge FilesStorage
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Handling large files can be a real challenge, especially when you need to share them over the Internet, store them on physical media, or even transfer them across different systems. Fortunately, tools like WinRAR make this task much easier. WinRAR is a powerful file compression tool that not only helps you compress files and folders, but also allows you to split large files into smaller parts, which we call archives. This capability can be extremely useful when you need to bypass size limitations, such as those imposed by email providers, or when you're dealing with storage devices that have a maximum file size limit.
Introduction to file splitting
File splitting is the process of taking a large file and dividing it into several smaller pieces. This is especially useful when dealing with file size restrictions. For example, if you need to copy a file to a USB drive with a FAT32 file system, which does not support files larger than 4GB, splitting the file is necessary. Also, if you want to send a large file via email, where the size limit may be limited to around 25MB, splitting the file into smaller parts can help avoid these constraints by sending each part separately.
Why use WinRAR?
WinRAR is a popular choice for file compression, but it is also efficient at splitting files. Its friendly interface and strong compression capabilities make it a favorite tool for users around the world. Plus, it supports various formats like RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZH, ACE, TAR, GZip, UUE, ISO, BZIP2, Z, and 7-Zip, making it versatile. Beyond splitting files, WinRAR can password-protect archives, add recovery records, and even test your archived files for errors, providing a robust solution for data management.
How to split large files using WinRAR
Splitting a file with WinRAR is a straightforward process. Below are step-by-step instructions on how you can achieve this:
Step 1: Install WinRAR
Before you begin, make sure you have WinRAR installed on your computer. You can download a trial version from the official WinRAR website. Follow the installation instructions on the site. Typically, installation requires you to download a setup file, run it, and then follow the installer instructions. Be sure to set up any custom configurations you need during installation, then open WinRAR once it's installed.
Step 2: Open WinRAR
Find and double-click the WinRAR icon on your desktop or search for it in your Start menu. Once opened, you will see the main WinRAR window, showing a list of files and folders on your system. This interface will be your workspace.
Step 3: Choose your file
Find the file you want to split by navigating through the file explorer in WinRAR. You can move through folders by clicking them. When you find your file, click on it to select it. If you have multiple files to archive and split, you can also select multiple files by holding down the CTRL key while clicking on the files or by using CTRL+A to select all files in a folder.
Step 4: Add to collection
After selecting your file(s), click the "Add" button usually found at the top of the WinRAR window. This action will open the "Archive name and parameters" dialog box where you will set the options for your archive.
Step 5: Set the name of the archive
The “Archive name” field will allow you to specify what the final archive files will be called. WinRAR automatically suggests a name based on the original name of your file, but you can change it to suit your needs.
Step 6: Choose the compression format
WinRAR supports several compression formats, but it defaults to the RAR format for its own advantages of speed and depth of compression. However, if you need wider compatibility, such as with systems that only support ZIP, you may want to choose the ZIP option. Select your preferred format using the radio buttons available in the dialog.
Step 7: Split the file
The important part of splitting your file relates to the "Split into volumes, size" section. Here you enter the size range for each part of the split archive. This size can be defined in bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB). Some common presets may be displayed, such as 100MB or 700MB, which align with common media storage sizes such as CDs.
For example, if you input 100MB in this field, WinRAR will split the archive into parts, each part no larger than 100MB, until the entire file is processed. Be aware of how much you select here relative to the size of the original file. For reference, a 1GB file will be split into 10 parts of 100MB each.
Step 8: Compression and other options
You may want to change other settings to suit your needs. For example, under the "Compression method" section, it's important to decide whether you want to prioritize speed (fast compression) or smaller file sizes (slow compression). Choosing "Fastest" or "Fast" makes the process faster, but results in a larger total archive size. Conversely, "Best" makes it slower but results in a smaller file size in the end.
Additional options include adding password protection or including error recovery data. For example, if archives are emailed, you can require a password, ensuring they remain private unless you share the password with the recipient.
Step 9: Begin the storage process
After setting your preferences, click "OK" to begin the process. WinRAR will begin splitting and archiving according to your settings. The time taken will depend on the size of the original file, the speed of your computer, and the compression settings you choose. You can monitor the progress through the status bar that appears during archive creation.
Step 10: Verify the split archives
Once the process is complete, you will see several archive file fragments in the destination folder, usually with extensions like .part1.rar, .part2.rar, etc. It is important to make sure every piece is present, as missing parts can hinder reassembling and extracting the original file.
Using split archives
After the files have been successfully split and archived, you'll need a method to use them. To reassemble the original file from these parts, open the first part (e.g., .part1.rar) in WinRAR. The tool will automatically recognize and detect subsequent parts if they are in the same directory. Simply click "Extract to" to choose the destination, and WinRAR will combine the pieces into the original file format.
Benefits of splitting files
Splitting files provides significant advantages:
- Better manageability: Smaller files are easier to manage, store, and transfer.
- Compatibility with size limitations: Bypass email server or file system size restrictions.
- Data security: Password-encrypted data keeps sensitive data secure even when shared.
- Corruption protection: If a part becomes corrupt, you can recreate it instead of re-uploading the entire file, provided recovery records are used.
Conclusion
WinRAR's feature of splitting files into smaller parts is incredibly useful for anyone handling large data sets. By providing a detailed guide, we aim to simplify the process, allowing you to efficiently manage, transfer and store large files without any major hurdles. While the primary focus is on file splitting, the same principles can be applied to compressing, protecting and ensuring data integrity using WinRAR.
Whether you're an office worker with large spreadsheets, a photographer dealing with high-resolution images, or a developer transferring extensive codebase files, mastering file splitting with WinRAR can be a beneficial addition to your digital toolset.
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