How to Open a File That Is Too Big for Notepad (Notepad++)

Notepad++ developers have created an award-winning open-source text and code editor, which has now been downloaded over 28 million times.

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. 

However, in this post, you’ll learn how to open a large file in Notepad and Notepad++. 

Also, we’ll take you through a list of other exciting text-reader applications that you can try.

Let’s begin.

What Is the Maximum File Size Notepad++ Can Open?

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 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 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++.

How to Open a Large File in Notepad or Notepad++

Below are some simple tricks you can use to open large files in Notepad or Notepad++:

Option 1: Break the text file into smaller parts

If 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++.

However, this approach may negatively affect your PC’s performance, resulting in delays.

To circumvent the issue, disable the following:

• plugins involved in scanning and analyzing text,
• syntax highlighting, and
• clickable links.

Here is how:

• Launch the Notepad++ application.
• On the right end of the screen, right-click on the Plugins tab and choose Plugins Admin.
• Then, under the Installed tab, checkmark each plugin.
• Use the Remove button to delete them.
• To stop syntax highlighting from slowing Notepad++, select the Language tab.
• Now, right-click the N option.
• From the pop-up menu, select the Normal text configuration. After that, syntax highlighting is disabled.
• To disable hyperlinks, go to the Preferences option under the Settings tab.
• On the left side, select the MISC tab.
• Finally, under the Clickable Links section, uncheck Enable.

Option 2: Use a browser App

Opening a large text file via powerful browser software is another brilliant solution to the “file too big for Notepad” issue.

You don’t have to install anything. All you need to do is drag and drop the text onto the browser and let it load.

However, there are not many browser apps with rich text viewing features, such as auto-navigation, code folding, etc.

Also Read: Ultimate Guide: How to Change Default Browser in Windows 11

Option 3: Disable extra plugins and remove clickable link settings

On occasion, additional plugins and clickable links embedded within a text file can occupy substantial space and significantly slow down the loading process of the text document. 

Therefore, we recommend deactivating plugins and clickable link settings within your computer’s Notepad++ application.

Here’s what to do:

• Press the Win key and type Notepad++.
• Choose the Notepad++ app from the search results.
• In the Notepad++ app window opens, go to Plugins.
• Select Plugins admin from the dropdown list.
• In the Plugins Admin window, go to the Installed tab and select all the extra plugins (for instance, Mime tools)
• Click Remove. 
• Next, navigate to Settings and select Preferences.
• Under Preferences, go to Cloud & link.
• Unselect the Enable checkbox for Clickable Links Settings.
• Close Settings and restart the app.

Apps You Can Use to Avoid the “File Too Large for Notepad” Error on Windows 10

Below are some alternatives you can use:

1. Large Text Viewer

The Large Text Viewer app allows you to read large text files of up to 10GB and has a simple interface that is easy to navigate.

However, it is a view-only application and is not suitable for text editing.

2. EditPad Lite

EditPad Lite is another program for viewing large text files. But unlike Large Text Reader, it comes with an in-built text editor, so you can easily modify any data.

There are many other exciting features you’ll find in the EditPad Lite software.

For example, the clipboard function makes it easy to access pasted content if you wish to make alterations. The search feature also allows you to quickly search for and edit any entry.

3. Universal Viewer

In addition to opening large text files, the Universal Viewer allows you to toggle between different modes: binary, Hex, Text, and Unicode.

Though very simple to use, this tool is suitable for advanced users, such as those working in the data science industry.

4. Glogg

The software’s developer describes it as a multi-platform application for searching and browsing through complicated log files. That makes it suitable for programmers and system admins.

Another outstanding feature of Glogg is its ability to open text files as large as 16GB.

Conclusion

If you are in the big data or machine learning industry, you might have encountered the “file too big for Notepad” problem while working with large text files.

In this article, we’ve outlined different ways to fix the issue. If you find the solutions useful, we’d like to hear from you in the comments section below.

Feel free to comment below and share the article with your friends. You can also check our blog for other Windows 10 guides.

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