8 Easy Ways to Copy Large Files Quickly in Windows: Speed Up File Transfers

Copying a large number of files quickly in Windows can be done efficiently using a variety of built-in tools and third-party software. Depending on your specific needs (e.g., copying files over a network, maintaining file permissions, or copying to external drives), different methods can be more effective. Below is a detailed guide on several easy ways to accomplish this.

Best & Easy Ways to Copy Large Files in Windows OS

1. Using File Explorer (Basic Method)

Windows File Explorer is the most familiar tool, though not necessarily the fastest for large amounts of data.

Steps:

1. Open File Explorer (Windows + E).
2. Navigate to the source folder containing the files you want to copy.
3. Press Ctrl + A to select all files.
4. Press Ctrl + C to copy or right-click and choose Copy.
5. Navigate to the destination folder where you want to copy the files.
6. Press Ctrl + V or right-click and select Paste.

PROS	CONS
+ Simple and easy to use.	– Not optimized for speed; can slow down when dealing with very large files.
+No additional software needed.	– Interruptions (e.g., network drops, power loss) may cause file corruption or incomplete transfers.

2. Using Robocopy (Command-Line Tool)

Robocopy (Robust File Copy) is a powerful command-line tool that comes pre-installed with Windows. It is designed for high-performance file copying, particularly for large datasets, and it can handle network interruptions and resume transfers.

Steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator (Windows + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) or Terminal).
2. Type the following command:

robocopy “C:\SourceFolder” “D:\DestinationFolder” /E /Z /J /MT:16

Explanation:

2. “C:\SourceFolder”: The source folder path.
3. “D:\DestinationFolder”: The destination folder path.
4. /E: Copies all subdirectories, including empty ones.
5. /Z: Enables restartable mode (helpful for network transfers).
6. /J: Uses unbuffered I/O for large files (improves speed).
7. /MT:16: Uses multithreading with 16 threads for faster copying (adjust this based on system performance; higher numbers may be faster).

PROS	CONS
+ Highly efficient for copying large datasets.	– Requires use of the command line, which can be intimidating for some users.
+ Can resume after interruptions.	– Overuse of multi-threading (/MT) may slow down your PC if the number is set too high.
+ Can copy file permissions and attributes.

3. Using TeraCopy (Third-Party Tool)

TeraCopy is a popular third-party tool that focuses on fast and secure file copying. It offers features such as file verification after copying and the ability to pause/resume transfers.

Steps:

1. Download and install TeraCopy from the official website.
2. After installation, right-click the folder or files you want to copy and select TeraCopy from the context menu.
3. Choose the destination folder where you want the files to be copied.
4. Click Copy to begin the transfer.

PROS	CONS
+ Easy to use with a graphical interface.	– Requires installation of third-party software.
+ Faster than File Explorer due to file transfer optimization.	– Free version has fewer features compared to the paid version.
+ Supports verification of file integrity after copying.
+ Handles errors better and allows skipping problematic files.

4. Using FastCopy (Third-Party Tool)

FastCopy is another lightweight tool optimized for fast file transfers. It provides a simple interface but is very powerful under the hood.

Steps:

1. Download and install FastCopy.
2. Open FastCopy and specify the source directory and the destination directory.
3. Choose the appropriate transfer mode (e.g., Diff (Size/Date) to skip already existing files).
4. Click Execute to start copying.

PROS	CONS
+ Extremely fast for large file operations.	– User interface is less intuitive than TeraCopy.
+ Highly customizable (can set buffer size, sync mode, etc.).	– May require some learning to take full advantage of the advanced features.
+ Detailed logging and error handling.

5. Using Xcopy (Command-Line Tool)

Xcopy is another built-in command-line utility in Windows. While not as powerful as Robocopy, it’s simpler and faster than using File Explorer for basic copying tasks.

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type the following command:

xcopy “C:\SourceFolder” “D:\DestinationFolder” /E /H /C /I

Explanation:

2. /E: Copies all subdirectories, including empty ones.
3. /H: Copies hidden and system files as well.
4. /C: Continues copying even if errors occur.
5. /I: Assumes destination is a directory if not specified.

PROS	CONS
+ Simpler than Robocopy for basic use cases.	– Doesn’t support advanced features like multi-threading or resuming after interruptions.
+ Faster than File Explorer

6. Using Windows PowerShell with Copy-Item

If you prefer scripting or need more control over the copying process, PowerShell’s Copy-Item cmdlet is a powerful alternative.

Steps:

1. Open PowerShell as an administrator.
2. Use the following command to copy files:

Copy-Item -Path “C:\SourceFolder\*” -Destination “D:\DestinationFolder” -Recurse

PROS	CONS
+ Integrated with PowerShell for easy automation.	– Slower than Robocopy for large files.
+ Can be customized with scripting logic.	– Requires knowledge of PowerShell.
+ Built-in to Windows.

7. Using 7-Zip (Compression Tool)

If you’re copying files over a network or external drive, compressing the files before transferring them may speed things up. You can use tools like 7-Zip to compress the files and then copy the compressed archive.

Steps:

1. Download and install 7-Zip.
2. Right-click the folder you want to compress and select 7-Zip → Add to archive.
3. Once compressed, move the archive file to the destination folder.
4. Unzip the file at the destination using 7-Zip.

PROS	CONS
+ Reduces file size, which can significantly speed up transfer over slow networks.	– Adds an extra step (compressing and decompressing).
+ Free and open-source.	– Not suitable for all file types (some files don’t compress well, like media files).

8. Using Network File Transfer Protocols (e.g., FTP, SMB)

For network file transfers, using optimized protocols like FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or SMB (Server Message Block) can help move large files efficiently.

Steps:

1. Set up an FTP server or use an existing SMB share on your network.
2. Use an FTP client like FileZilla or simply map the SMB network drive in File Explorer.
3. Transfer the files over the network connection.

PROS	CONS
+ Faster for network transfers compared to standard file sharing.	– Requires setting up an FTP server or SMB share.
+ Can be automated with scripts or scheduled tasks.	– More technical knowledge required.

Conclusion

Choosing the right method depends on your specific use case. For simple, one-off transfers, using File Explorer or TeraCopy may be sufficient. For more advanced needs, especially when handling large datasets or network transfers, tools like Robocopy or FastCopy offer better performance and reliability. Finally, methods like compressing files with 7-Zip or setting up an FTP server provide more control for complex scenarios.