I’ve encountered a limitation where the software cannot export files that exceed 4GB in size. This appears to be a technical constraint that prevents large file exports from completing successfully.

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

Topic Description:

I’ve encountered a limitation where the software cannot export files that exceed 4GB in size. This appears to be a technical constraint that prevents large file exports from completing successfully.

Issue Details:

  • Files larger than 4GB fail to export through the standard export function
  • The export process either fails or becomes unresponsive when attempting to handle large files
  • This limitation affects productivity when working with large datasets, media files, or comprehensive project archives
    Recommended Solutions:

  1. Folder Export Method : Instead of exporting individual large files, consider exporting the entire folder structure. This approach can sometimes bypass the single-file size limitation by handling multiple smaller components.

  2. File Splitting : For files that must exceed 4GB, implement a file splitting strategy:

    • Break down large files into smaller segments (each under 4GB)
    • Export each segment separately
    • Provide clear naming conventions for reassembly (e.g., filename_part1.ext, filename_part2.ext)
    • Include instructions for users on how to recombine the split files

  3. Alternative Export Formats : Consider if the data can be exported in a different format that might be more efficient or have different size limitations.
    Request for Development Team: It would be beneficial to either:

  • Increase the export file size limit beyond 4GB
  • Implement automatic file splitting functionality within the export feature
  • Provide clearer error messages when the size limit is reached
  • Add progress indicators for large file operations
2

I assume that you are talking about WAV files …

If so then this is s limitation of the WAV format and not an Audacity limitation - and it’s not something that Audacity can do anything about.

Peter

3

WAV format has a limit of 4GB: WAV - Wikipedia
The workaround is to export in a different format, such as FLAC or any other format that does not have a size limitation.

4

Since the OP does not supply sufficient information, there is another possibility: the file is exported to a device formatted in FAT32. FAT32 has a limitation for the file size around 4 GB.