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The File Stops Copying Halfway: 10 Quick Solutions to Fix

Is there enough space on the destination drive?

4 min. read

Updated onAugust 13, 2024

updated onAugust 13, 2024

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If your file stops copying halfway the first thing to check is whether the destination drive has enough available storage or has any integrity issues. There are many other potential causes, but we’ve got some quick and effective solutions to help you get back on track.

What do I do if a file stops copying halfway in Windows?

1. Check the drive storage space

Ensuring enough space on the target drive helps avoid interruptions during file copying.

2. Optimize the drive

Disk defragmentation consolidates free space and enhances performance, reducing the chance of the copying process stopping midway. Defragmentation is only recommended for HDD. The procedure for SDD is optimization, but it’s less effective.

3. Update the disk drivers

Updating drivers ensures compatibility and performance, preventing potential interruptions during file transfers. With the help of professional software, such asPC HelpSoft Driver Updater, this can be done safely and with minimal effort.

⇒Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater

4. Check the drive for errors

Error checking resolves file system issues that might be causing the copying to stop.

5. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot eliminates software conflicts that could interrupt the copying process.

6. Format the destination drive to NTFS

If the file you’re trying to copy is larger than 4 GB, you won’t be able to copy it on a FAT 32 drive. Formatting to NTFS accommodates larger files and resolves format-related interruptions.

7. Disable Remote Differential Compression

Disabling RDC can help speed up file transfers by minimizing network-related delays.

8. Temporarily disable indexing of your drives

Stopping the indexing service can prevent it from interfering with file copy operations.

9. Temporarily turn off the antivirus

Antivirus software might interfere with large file transfers. Disabling it temporarily can allow the transfer to complete.

10. Allow your external hard drive to cool down

Overheating can throttle the drive performance. Letting it cool down can prevent interruptions during the transfer.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of your file stopping halfway during copying. To avoid such problems in the future, regularly check your drive’s health and keep your system updated.

If the copying is still not working, you may tryperforming the copy action in Command Prompt. In case theCalculating the time required to copy the files errorappears, you may click the highlighted link to find the right fixes. Also, if you’re encountering the“You’ll need to provide administrator permission to copy this file”error,we can help out.

For any other questions or suggestions, feel free to address the comments section below.

The File Stops Copying Halfway: 10 Quick Solutions to Fix#

What do I do if a file stops copying halfway in Windows?#

1. Check the drive storage space#

2. Optimize the drive#

3. Update the disk drivers#

4. Check the drive for errors#

5. Perform a Clean Boot#

6. Format the destination drive to NTFS#

7. Disable Remote Differential Compression#

8. Temporarily disable indexing of your drives#

9. Temporarily turn off the antivirus#

10. Allow your external hard drive to cool down#