PC Optimization

File Stops Copying Halfway – Why It Happens & How to Fix It

Have you ever encountered a situation when you are copying a set of files, and the copying status won’t change, and you wonder why the file stops copying halfway through? Some believe that the issue lies in the source or the destination folder of the file, while others think it is because of the slow processing speed of the PC. 

Sure, copying majorly depends on the drive’s memory, writing, and reading speeds. However, that is not the only crucial factor; other reasons also cause the issue. You are at the right place if you have waited hours for the copying file status to change. 

In this post, let us look at some of the core reasons why files stop copying halfway and the possible ways to fix it. Let’s get started!

Why do Files Stop Copying Halfway on Your Windows PC

Before we move towards that fix, it is important to identify potential issues that may be causing the error. One must narrow down the involved elements in the process to simplify the solution. When you copy a file, there are a lot of factors that come into play. For instance – 

  • The source drive from where the file is being copied.
  • The destination drive to where the files are being copied.
  • Nature of the files in use.
  • Copy functionality offered by Windows.
  • Memory speed (Read & Write) offered by your PC.

If the file transfer suddenly stops, something as listed above might not be working properly. Some of the core reasons include –  

  • The drive might not be working at its full potential.
  • The file that you are moving is too heavy or corrupt.
  • The Windows Copy Utility has system errors.
  • PC drivers may not be in the perfect shape.
  • Disk drives are not properly optimized.

So there you have it, the answer to why file transfer freezes. Now, the core question is how to identify and fix the exact causes. If you have been an active computer user, you already know where things may go wrong. However, even if you do not know, there’s no worry; we will discuss it all in the next section!

How to Fix Files Stop Copying Halfway? The Ultimate Fixes!

There are a series of fixes that you can try to resolve this issue. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ones. 

Fix 1 – Reduce the Number of Files in an Operation

Simplifying the task at hand might help you out well. If you are trying to carry out a heavy operation by copying multiple heavy files simultaneously, try breaking it down. You see, not all PCs are built to handle multi-tasking properly, especially when it comes to memory and disk drives. Hence, if you are moving 100 GB of files, break it into 4 or 5 groups to simplify the process. 

Fix 2 – Perform a Clean Boot

Performing a clean bot helps reduce the PC’s memory consumption. The background processes that may be unnecessary are closed, keeping the system raw and available. 

Step 1 – Press Win+R to open the Run search
Step 2 – Use the command msconfig and hit enter.

Step 3 – Go to the Services tab and enable the Hide Microsoft services option.
Step 4 – Click on Stop all to reduce the number of active services.
Step 5 – After you have done the same, restart your PC.

After restart, try running the copy operation. Only this time, the process should work fine. In case it doesn’t refer to the next fix. 

Fix 3 – Ensure that the Drivers of Your PC are Updated

Keeping your PC drivers updated helps your system work faster and better. When you perform any operation on your PC, multiple factors affect its overall performance, with drivers at the top of the list. If the files keep stopping halfway while copying, there are chances that it is due to outdated or corrupt drivers on your PC. 

You can easily rely on a driver updater tool to update your PC drivers. However, what if you could get something more than just a driver updater? Advanced System Optimizer is an all-in-one PC optimizer that offers a built-in driver updater. You can not only optimize your PC’s performance (which can be vital in such situations) but can also update all the outdated drivers on your PC. 

The driver updater module can be found in the left pane section of the tool and can be launched instantly by clicking on the Start Scan Now button.

Fix 4 – Optimize the Hard Drives in Use

Another crucial thing that can help you overcome the file stop-copying situation on your PC is optimizing your hard drives, which are involved in the process that is not moving through.

You can optimize the drives using the internal tools offered by Windows. 

Step 1 – Go to the drive you want to optimize > right-click on it and select Properties.
Step 2 – Navigate to the Tools tab in the properties window.
Step 3 – Click on Optimize to open the Windows Optimize Utility.


Step 4 – Select the drive you want to optimize and click on Optimize again to initiate the process. 

This way, you can get the results; however, this process is not always effective. You need a third-party disk optimizer for better results. Fortunately, the Advanced System Optimizer that you downloaded in the previous fix also offers a Disk Cleaner and Optimizer module. 

Simply launch the app and find the module in the left pane to initiate the optimization process. You have a dedicated Disk Optimizer that can help you optimize the unresponsiveness with a single scan.

Fix 5 – Format Your Drive to NTFS

Lastly, if nothing works, you might want to try formatting the drive causing the issue. Possibly, there is a file on it causing the error. Formatting the drive to NTFS might help you retrieve all the data from the file. 

Step 1 – Go to the drive you want to format.
Step 2 – Right-click to find the Format option, and click on it to open.

Step 3 – Choose the NTFS file system and start the format by clicking Start. 

Having all these fixes up your sleeve might help you fix the files stop copying halfway issue. In case these fixes fail to resolve the issue, you might have to reset the system or reinstall the OS. Ensure the PC is updated with the latest OS and has no malware causing the errors. 

Advanced System Optimizer makes it easy to fix the error as it offers multiple solutions in a single tool. Make sure you download it and use the tools as shared. With that being said, we have reached the end of this blog. Hope you find it helpful. Thanks for reading. Good luck!

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Dishank Sharma

A creative tech-writer who loves to explore latest tech-trends & convey them to his readers in the simplest way possible. He loves to blend the crispness of technology with a pinch of creativity while curating best practices for the readers. In his free time, he likes to scribble poetry, listen to rap & travel.

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