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How to split large files
Splitting a very large file into smaller files may be necessary if the file is really too big even for modern fast Internet connections: files of 1GB or more make it difficult to load them in a reasonable time. By splitting a file, on the other hand, you can upload and then download files from the internet with less effort, downloading all the “fragments” of the same file one at a time, which will then be reunited. Let’s see together the most effective methods for splitting large files.
7-Zip
One of the most effective methods for splitting large files is to use 7-Zip, famous open source software for file compression downloadable from the official website.
To divide the files that are too large, open the program, go to the path where the file is too large (using the file manager integrated with 7-Zip), select it with the left mouse button, press up on add and, once in the compressed file creation window, click on the drop-down menu under the item Divide into portions to choose the size of each individual fragment.
Once the choice has been made, click on OK at the bottom to confirm and to start the compression process, which will automatically divide the files into many fragments; to assemble them, just open the main file (with 7-Zip), making sure that all the fragments are in the same folder, so you can proceed with the decompression.
To learn more about how a complete program like 7-Zip works, we suggest you read our guide Use 7Zip to open ZIP, RAR, and compressed file folders.
HJ-Split
Another very famous program that we can use to split large files is HJ-Split, downloadable for free from FileHippo.
With this small program it is possible to split large files without compressing them, but creating many small fragments that can be joined with the same HJ-Split from another PC. To use this tool let’s open it, click on Split, we press the button Input File to select the file to be divided, we choose the folder where to save the fragments in the field Output then we press the key Start.
To reunite the files we open HJ-Split again, this time we press on Join, click on the Input file, we indicate the first fragment created with the app (making sure that all the fragments are present in the same folder), and finally press on Start to gather the fragments and get the big file.
GSplit
As an alternative to the programs seen previously, we can also use GSplit to split large files; this free program can be downloaded from the official website.
GSPlit is a free portable application that allows you to divide large files into small pieces, giving the possibility to share them, make backup copies on floppy disks (if you still use them), on CDs, DVDs, USB sticks, and media, or to send them by e-mail, etc., etc. To split a file with GSplit we press on File to split, select the file you want to split into smaller files, click Destination Folder to choose the folder where you want to place the various pieces of the file, and finally press on Split File and the file division operation starts. After splitting the file, an executable file is created which, when started, brings together all the files of the original one.
The person to whom the file is sent does not need to have GSplit installed on their pc to reunite the files, they just need to open the executable created by GSplit together with the file fragments.
filesplit.org (online)
If the file we want to divide is not too big for our connection (especially in upload) but it can be for those who have to receive it, we can avoid using programs to divide large files and rely on the site PineTools, which we can reach from the official website.
To use this valid free service, press the button Choose the file, load our file to be divided, choose from the right side whether to divide by a number of files or by size of each fragment (by reflexively choosing the desired number of fragments or the size of each individual fragment) and finally press on the Split file below to divide.
At the end of the process, we will be able to download all the fragments or share them directly on the main social networks, so as to immediately have the fragments ready for online sharing.
Conclusions
Although splitting files can be considered quite anachronistic with the fast Internet connections of our times, we must never take everything for granted: there are still many Italians with connection speeds below 10 Megabits per second and, if we have to send them any large file, they will prefer to download one fragment at a time rather than waiting hours to download a single huge file.
This file division system can also be useful for protecting a secret file: Only users who have all the fragments will be able to access the complete file.
In another article, we have shown you the best programs to combine parts of files, rar, ancestors, mp3 albums. If instead, we need to split PDF files, we can read our guide How to merge and split PDFs from PC, Mac, and online.
If this procedure becomes boring and long, we can also use online sharing services, such as those seen in the guide as WeTransfer alternatives to transfer files of any size.