{"id":22193,"date":"2023-10-09T18:00:33","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T18:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/?p=22193"},"modified":"2025-04-18T06:42:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T06:42:51","slug":"open-a-file-too-big-for-notepad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/open-a-file-too-big-for-notepad\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Open a File That Is Too Big for Notepad (Notepad++)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Notepad++ developers have created an award-winning open-source text and code editor, which has now been downloaded over 28 million times<\/a><\/p>\n

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Do you encounter the “file is too big for Notepad” error when trying to open a large text file on your Windows PC? Unfortunately, neither the Notepad application nor its improved version, Notepad++, is designed for such tasks.  <\/p>\n

However, in this post, you’ll learn how to open a large file in Notepad and Notepad++.  <\/p>\n

Also, we’ll take you through a list of other exciting text-reader applications that you can try. <\/p>\n

Let’s begin.\n<\/p>\n

What Is the Maximum File Size Notepad++ Can Open?<\/h2>\n

Here’s what you need to know before solving the “file is too big to be opened by Notepad++.” Notepad++ cannot support text files that are larger than 2GB, whereas Notepad, which is the older version, can only handle file sizes below 512MB. This is because Scintilla<\/a> is the core component of Notepad++. According to the developers, it is responsible for several aspects of the app’s high-quality text display. Also, Notepad++ will often require four times the memory space occupied by a text file to enable users to enjoy the advanced features. F or example, the OS must allocate 8GB of RAM if the user wishes to open a text file of 2GB using Notepad++. Consequently, sufficient RAM space <\/a>is a critical factor for viewing files with the software. However, in most cases, the OS will decline such demands, resulting in the “file too large” error message. Fortunately, there is a trick to get past that barrier and view big text files without installing other software. Here’s how to open big files in Notepad++. <\/p>\n

How to Open a Large File in Notepad or Notepad++<\/h2>\n

Below are some simple tricks you can use to open large files in Notepad or Notepad++: <\/p>\n

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PRO TIP<\/div>\r\n
However, be reminded that RAM space plays an essential role in how your PC reads text files. For optimum results, we suggest using a PC optimizer tool to clear out the clutter from your system’s memory.<\/p>\n

For that, we recommend Auslogics BoostSpeed.<\/a> With a click, it will scan your system drives and get rid of junk and software leftovers.<\/div>\r\n

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Option 1: Break the text file into smaller parts<\/b><\/h3>\n

\nIf the file is larger than 2 GB, use a site like Split CSV to divide it into portable chunks. Then, open them one after the other on Notepad++.<\/p>\n

However, this approach may negatively affect your PC’s performance, resulting in delays.<\/p>\n

To circumvent the issue, disable the following:\n<\/p>\n