Notepad Crashes When Opening Large Files – Solution

If you’ve ever tried to open a large text file in Notepad — like a massive log, code file, or exported CSV — you might have noticed that Notepad freezes or crashes instantly.

You wait.
And wait.
Then suddenly… 💥 Notepad stops responding.

This issue frustrates many users, especially developers and IT professionals who often work with huge files.
But don’t worry — it’s not your PC’s fault. The truth is:

🧩 Notepad was never designed for very large files.

Still, there are several smart ways to fix or work around this problem.
In this article, you’ll learn why Notepad crashes, how to make it handle large files better, and the best alternatives that can open gigabyte-sized files instantly.

Why Notepad Crashes on Large Files

To understand the fix, you first need to know why it happens.

Here’s the simple reason:

Notepad loads the entire file into memory (RAM) before displaying it.

So, if you open a file that’s:

• 200 MB,
• 500 MB,
• or 1 GB+,

then Notepad tries to load all of it at once.

If your PC doesn’t have enough free memory, Notepad locks up or crashes.

Common signs include:

• Notepad freezing immediately after opening a large file.
• “Not Responding” message on the title bar.
• CPU and memory usage spiking to 100%.
• The app closing automatically without saving changes.

Typical Scenarios

• Opening huge log files from a web server or software crash.
• Viewing large CSV exports from Excel or databases.
• Reading long code files or system dumps.

Notepad is great for small text tasks — but for anything above ~100 MB, it begins to struggle.

Fix 1: Upgrade to the Latest Notepad (Windows 11 Version)

The modern Notepad app on Windows 11 is much faster and more stable than the old one.

Steps:

1. Open Microsoft Store.
2. Search for Notepad.
3. Click Update (or Install if missing).
4. Restart your PC after updating.

The new Notepad supports:

• Better performance with larger files.
• Automatic text rendering improvements.
• More efficient memory usage.

💡 Tip: If you’re on Windows 10, update to the latest build or install Notepad manually from the Microsoft Store.

Fix 2: Close Background Programs

Sometimes Notepad crashes not because the file is too big — but because RAM is already full.

Try this:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Sort by Memory usage.
4. End high-memory apps (like browsers, games, or video editors).
5. Then reopen the large file in Notepad.

Freeing RAM often lets you open files that previously crashed.

Fix 3: Split the Large File into Smaller Parts

If the file is several hundred MB or GB, it’s better to split it before opening.

🧩 Option 1 – Use a Free File Splitter

You can use a tool like GSplit (https://www.gdgsoft.com/gsplit/) to divide the text file into smaller chunks.

🧩 Option 2 – Use Command Prompt

If you prefer built-in tools:

1. Open Command Prompt.
2. Navigate to the file’s folder using cd.
3. Run a PowerShell command like: Get-Content largefile.txt -TotalCount 10000 | Out-File part1.txt This extracts the first 10 000 lines into a new file.

Repeat the command with different ranges to create smaller readable parts.

Fix 4: Use an Alternative Text Editor for Large Files

If you regularly deal with big files, the best solution is to use a text editor designed for size and speed.

🔹 Recommended Tools:

Editor	Max File Size	Key Features
Notepad++ (Official Site)	2 GB+	Free, fast, supports plugins, syntax highlighting
Large Text File Viewer (Download)	1 GB–10 GB	Opens instantly, read-only mode, ideal for logs
Universal Viewer	10 GB+	Multi-format viewer with hex/text support
EmEditor (Site)	20 GB+	Extremely fast, professional-grade
LogExpert	4 GB+	Tail-mode for live-updating logs

All of these are free or freemium and can easily handle large data files without freezing.

Fix 5: Open Files in Read-Only Mode

Sometimes Notepad tries to index or auto-format files when opening.
You can avoid crashes by opening the file in read-only mode to skip unnecessary processes.

Quick Trick:

1. Right-click the file → Open with → Notepad.
2. Before editing, don’t type anything — just read or copy needed parts.

If you must edit, consider doing it in chunks using Notepad++ or VS Code instead.

Fix 6: Use Command-Line Tools for Viewing Large Files

If you only need to view (not edit) large files, the Command Prompt or PowerShell is your friend.

Examples:

• To read the first 50 lines: Get-Content largefile.txt -TotalCount 50
• To see the last 20 lines: Get-Content largefile.txt -Tail 20
• To monitor logs live (like Linux tail): Get-Content logfile.txt -Wait

These commands are memory-efficient and instant — great for quick inspections.

Fix 7: Increase Virtual Memory

If you still want to open large files in Notepad, you can increase virtual memory (paging file).

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter.
2. Go to Advanced → Performance → Settings.
3. Under Advanced, click Virtual Memory → Change.
4. Check Automatically manage paging file size (or set manually).
5. Restart your PC.

This gives Notepad extra “virtual RAM” to load bigger files.

Fix 8: Convert the File into a More Efficient Format

If the large text file is structured (like logs or CSV), convert it into another format such as .log, .csv, or even .json.

You can use Excel, PowerShell, or Python to open, filter, or compress the data.

This way, you only open the parts you actually need, instead of loading everything at once.

Fix 9: Use Online Tools for Quick Viewing

If you just want to preview a file without installing software, use an online viewer:

• EditPad.org – simple online editor for small / medium files.
• FileViewer.io – view text and code files online.
• aNotepad.com – good for notes and smaller text previews.

⚠️ Don’t upload sensitive data — online tools are best for safe, public, or temporary files only.

Summary Table

Problem	Cause	Solution
Notepad freezes or stops responding	File too large for RAM	Use Notepad++ or EmEditor
Slow opening time	Background apps eating memory	Close apps via Task Manager
File won’t open at all	Corrupt or massive log file	Split file into smaller parts
Limited RAM	System resource issue	Increase virtual memory
Need quick read access	Too big for GUI editors	Use PowerShell Get-Content

Final Thoughts

Notepad is one of Windows’ simplest and most trusted tools — but it has limits.
When working with huge files, it’s better to use specialized editors like Notepad++ or EmEditor that can handle gigabytes of text easily.

If you’re just inspecting logs, try Large Text File Viewer or use PowerShell commands for fast line previews.

With these tricks, you’ll never have to deal with Notepad crashes again — and you’ll save a ton of time opening big files safely and efficiently.