How to Merge Multiple Text Files in Command Prompt, Notepad, & More

PDF download Download Article
Combine .txt files into one file with simple commands
PDF download Download Article

If you want to merge multiple text *(.txt) files into a single new file in Windows 10 or 11, you can easily do so in Command Prompt using the "copy" command. You can also merge text files using PowerShell commands, or by copying and pasting in Notepad. Before you get started, place all the files that need to be joined into a single folder.

Quick Steps

  1. Open the folder containing the files you want to combine.
  2. Hold down Shift and right-click in the folder.
  3. Click Open command window here or Open Terminal here .
  4. If using Terminal, click the down-arrow and select Command Prompt .
  5. Type copy *.txt newfile.txt and press Enter to merge.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Command Prompt

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The Start menu is usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
    • You'll want the files to be in the same folder to make things easier from the command prompt. If the files are scattered in multiple locations, copy them to a single folder first.

    Make sure all of your text files end with a blank line (or the dividing text of your choice) to make it clear where each section begins.

  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-2-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-2-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-2-Version-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-2-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Open the folder in which the text files are saved. Start by opening the This PC or Computer directory in the right panel, and then browse to the folder where you've saved your files. Once you open the folder, you should see your text files in the right panel.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-3-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-3-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-3-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-3-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A context menu will expand.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-4-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-4-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-4-Version-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-4-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This opens a command prompt window that's already set to the current directory.
    • If you're using Windows 11 and don't see the option to open the command window, select Open in Terminal instead. Then, once the Terminal is open, click the down-arrow at the top of the window and select Command Prompt .
    • If the option isn't available in Windows 10, right-click the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and select Taskbar settings . Toggle off the option that says "Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the start button or press Windows key + x", then try again.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This command combines all files ending in .txt into a single file called newfile.txt . You can replace newfile.txt with the name of the file you want to create (e.g., mergedfiles.txt ).
    • If you just want to combine two or more text files into a single file but not all text files in the directory, use the command copy file1.txt + file2.txt + file3.txt newfile.txt . Replace file1 , etc., with the names of the files you want to combine. [1]
    • Once you've verified that your output file looks how you'd like, you can delete the files you no longer need.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using PowerShell

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you prefer using PowerShell to Command Prompt, merging text files into one is similar, but the commands are slightly different.
    • You'll want the files to be in the same folder to make things easier from the command prompt. If the files are scattered in multiple locations, copy them to a single folder first.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Start by opening the This PC or Computer directory in the right panel, and then browse to the folder where you've saved your files. Once you open the folder, you should see your text files in the right panel.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A context menu will expand.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This opens a new PowerShell window to the directory that contains your text files.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Replace file1.txt, etc., with the file names you want to merge. You can also replace newfile.txt with the name you want to give to the final merged file.
    • If you want to merge all text files in the current directory into a single text file, use the command Get-Content *.txt .
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Notepad

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-11.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you just want to combine 2 or 3 text files into a single text file, you can do it easily with Notepad.
    • Open Notepad by typing notepad into the Windows search bar and clicking Notepad .
    • Click File > Open , select the first text file, then click Open .
    • Repeat for other text files you want to combine.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-12.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you're using Windows 11, go to File > New tab to create the file in a new tab. On Windows 10, just open another new instance of Notepad.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-13.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    An easy way to do this is to click anywhere in the text, press Ctrl + A on the keyboard to select all, then press Ctrl + C to copy.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-14.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":341,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":539,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    In your new blank Notepad file, click anywhere in the file, then press Ctrl + V to paste the copied text.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-15.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-15.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1b\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-15.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-15.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Go to your next text file, press Ctrl + A to select all, then press Ctrl + C to copy. In your new blank file, click where you want to paste the copied text, then press Ctrl + V to paste.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-16.jpg\/v4-460px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-16.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-16.jpg\/v4-728px-Merge-Text-%28.Txt%29-Files-in-Command-Prompt-Step-16.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    In the new file that contains your merged text, go to File > Save as , give the file a name, and click Save .
    7. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Why am I getting extra copies of every file?
    Matt McCombs
    Community Answer
    You may have your output set to the same file type as your inputs.This would cause the program to read the output file after its initial creation and add in copies of the previously merged documents.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 26
  • Question
    I have merged text files into one, but the prompt included the files in random order. Can it also merge files in an ordered fashion?
    Community Answer
    If you have three files, A.TXT, B.TXT and C.TXT and you want to combine them in the order CAB in the file CAB.TXT, you can use the copy command as follows: copy C.TXT+A.TXT+B.TXT CAB.TXT.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 43 Helpful 74
  • Question
    How do I separate the content of text files from one another?
    Community Answer
    You can take the text from the other ones, cut them and paste them into another text editing program, or you could just leave it alone and let them stay.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 77 Helpful 22
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Delete a File Using Command Prompt
      How to
      Copy Files in Command Prompt
      How to
      Change Colours in Command Prompt
      How to Navigate to a Different Folder in the Command Prompt
      How to Change a Windows Password Using Command Prompt
      How to Format a USB Using CMD (Command Prompt)
      How to
      Add Users from CMD
      How to Run a Windows Batch File from the Command Line (CMD)
      How to
      Reboot from Command Prompt on Windows
      How to
      Use Windows Command Prompt to Run a Python File
      How to Open a Folder in Command Prompt (CMD)
      How to
      Use Net Send
      How to Run an EXE File at the Windows Command Prompt
      3 Ways to Open Command Prompt with Keyboard on Windows
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/copy

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open File Explorer.
      2. Open the folder that contains the text files.
      3. Press Shift and right-click in the folder.
      4. Click Open command window here .
      5. Type copy *.txt newfile.txt .
      6. Press Enter .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 791,123 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Maggie Fogarty

        Feb 24, 2017

        "Easy, simple, straightforward instructions that worked the very first time! Thanks for being extremely helpful."
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement