How to Solve File Stops Copying Halfway (5 Ways)

Top 5 Ways to Solve the "Copying files stops halfway" Error

If you've been waiting for a long time but the file copy process still hangs, don't worry! To fix the issue, you can try five effective solutions, which can be adapted to your specific needs, to resolve the "file stops copying halfway" error.

Workable Solutions	Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Wait Patiently	Do nothing and just wait for the system to complete the file transfer process...Full steps
Fix 2. Update All Drivers	Right-click on the Windows icon and select Device Manager. Expand Device Manager...Full steps
Fix 3. Format the Drive to NTFS	Launch Qiling Partition Master, right-click the partition on your external hard drive/USB/SD card...Full steps
Fix 4. Optimize Hard Drives	Hit the Windows Key, and type defragment and click "Defragment and Optimize Drives"...Full steps
Fix 5. Perform Clean Boot	Type msconfig To open the System Configuration Utility, start your search and hit Enter. This will open the System Configuration Utility where you can make changes to your system settings. You can also use the Windows key + X and select System to open it. Alternatively, you can search for System Configuration Utility in the Start menu and select it from the results.Full steps

File Transfer of Large Files Suddenly Stops

"When copying or moving large files on your Windows 8 computer, the process stops halfway, and you can't pause or cancel it. This issue may be caused by a problem with the external hard drive or a conflict with other system processes. To resolve this, try checking the external hard drive for errors, updating the Windows operating system, or using a different external hard drive to rule out any issues with the current one. If the problem persists, you may want to consider seeking further assistance from a technical expert or the manufacturer's support team."

external hard drive stops copying files halfway

If your computer gets stuck at halfway while copying, don't panic! Qiling has compiled some helpful tips and methods to help you resolve the "file copy stuck" error and get back to work quickly.

Fix 1. Wait for the File Copying Process to Complete

If you have time and patience, you can try waiting for the file copying process to complete, but be prepared to wait potentially a very long time.

wait patiently until the file copying process completes

If you're short on time or patience, there are alternative methods to fix the error.

Fix 2. Update All Drivers to Fix "File stops copying halfway"

If the computer or external hard drive drivers are outdated, basic functions like file copying may not work properly. Updating the drivers might fix the issue. To update drivers, you can follow the steps:

Step 1. Right-click on the Windows icon and select Device Manager.

Step 2. In the Device Manager, expand the section and right-click the WD My Passport Ultra drive, selecting the appropriate action from the context menu.

Step 3. Select "Update driver".

Step 4. To update your graphics driver, select "Search automatically for updated driver software", and wait for the process to complete.

update all drivers to fix external hard drive transfer stops after few files

Fix 3. Format the Drive to Which You Are Transfering Data in NTFS

Sometimes, file copying stops halfway due to a device not being formatted properly. To resolve this issue, formatting your USB drives or external hard drives in a proper way may be the solution.

Qiling partition software is a popular tool for managing disk partitions, allowing users to format, extend, and resolve low disk space issues, as well as convert between MBR and GPT partition styles, all without data loss. It can be used to properly format a device.

 Tip: Before formatting your USB drive or other devices to fix the "file transfer speed 0 bytes" issue, back up your data first to avoid any potential data loss.

Right-To format an external drive or USB, click on it and select the "Format" option.
Set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size.
Click the "Proceed" button to format the hard drive partition.
Click "Yes" to continue.

Fix 4. Optimize Hard Drives to Fix "File stops copying halfway"

To fix the Windows 10 stops copying files error, optimize the hard drives by using Windows' built-in defragmentation feature. This can be done by following these steps:

Step 1. To defragment your Windows computer, hit the Windows Key, and type "defragment" and click "Defragment and Optimize Drives" when you see the option.

Step 2. Select your hard drive, external hard drive or SD card, and click "Optimize".

optimize hard drive to fix file stops copying halfway

Also read: How to Optimize SSD

Fix 5. Run a Clean Boot to Fix "File stops copying halfway"

If the hard drive stops transferring data due to software conflicts, you can resolve the issue by running a clean boot. This process can help reduce software-related conflicts and get your computer running smoothly again. To start a clean boot, follow the necessary steps.

Step 1. To open the System Configuration Utility, type msconfig in the Start search bar and press Enter.

Step 2. To enable selective startup, go to the "General" tab and click on "Selective startup". Then, check the boxes next to "Load System Services" and "Use Original boot configuration" to apply the changes.

perform a clean boot to fix windows stops copying files -1

Step 3. To disable all Microsoft services, click the Services tab, select the "Hide All Microsoft Services" check box, and then click "Disable all".

perform a clean boot to fix hard drive transfer stops after few files -2

Step 4. To resolve the error, first, click "Apply/OK" and restart the computer to put Windows into a Clean Boot State. If this resolves the issue, great! If not, in the General tab, clear the Load System Services check box, click "Apply/OK" and restart the computer.

Conclusion

When faced with the "file stops copying halfway" or "external hard drive stops copying" error, try these five solutions. Alternatively, you can use Qiling Partition Master to manage your disk more efficiently, allowing you to clone the whole disk instead of easy copying, and also extend, shrink, or delete partitions with simple steps.

File Stops Copying Halfway FAQs

there are some hot topics on the internet. We have gathered together to give you additional help.

Why does copying files start fast then slow down so dramatically?

When you start a copy operation, the copy buffer is initially empty, allowing plenty of room to move files into it. However, as the files are copied into the buffer, it fills up quickly, because the files don't move out of the buffer at the same rate, causing a backlog.

How can I increase my copy speed?

To increase copying speed in Windows 10:

Update All Drivers
Format the Drive to NTFS
Optimize Hard Drives
Get an SSD Drive
Increase RAM
Turn on Better Performance for USB Drives

How do I stop Windows 10 from copying files?

If your Windows 10 gets stuck after starting the copying process, you can stop the process and retry. To do this, click "Cancel" on the file copying taskbar or the close button at the top right corner.