Quick Overview
- Unzipping can be slow if the hard drive or storage used is slow
- SSDs are usually faster than normal hard drives
- CPU affects how fast data can be uncompressed
- Big files or certain file formats take more time to extract
- Antivirus software might scan files while unzipping
- Not enough RAM can also slow things down
- Low disk space can reduce performance
- Too many background tasks may affect speed
- Some unzip tools are faster than others
- Upgrading hardware or using a better unzip tool may help
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When you unzip a file and it feels slow, there are a few reasons why that might happen. Some people shared their experiences in a reddit thread, and here are the most common things that came up.
The storage you use makes a difference
If you unzip files on a slow hard drive, the process will take more time. Old drives are usually slower. SSDs can unzip much faster than those older spinning hard drives.
If you are unzipping to an external drive or a network folder, that can also slow things down. These types of drives often have lower speeds, especially if they are connected over USB or Wi-Fi.
CPU can affect unzip speed
Unzipping is not just about reading files. The CPU needs to process and decompress the data. If the CPU is weak or already doing many other tasks, unzipping will slow down.
Newer CPUs are usually good enough for this. But older computers may take longer.
File size and format also matter
Bigger files take longer to unzip. That is expected because there is more data to process.
The type of compression also matters. For example, .zipx and .rar files use stronger compression, so they are smaller in size, but they take more time to extract.
Antivirus might slow it down
Some antivirus software scans files while you are unzipping them. This adds extra steps in the background, so it might cause delays, especially on older systems.
Low RAM can also be a problem
If your computer does not have enough RAM, it has to use the hard drive more. This slows everything down. More RAM lets the system handle unzipping in memory, which is faster.
Low disk space might affect speed
If the storage drive is almost full, unzipping can become slower. File extraction needs some free space to work smoothly. Try to leave some room on the drive you are using.
Background activity makes things worse
If your computer is busy doing other things—like downloading, copying files, or running heavy apps—that can slow down unzipping. Try closing some apps first.
Not all unzip tools perform the same
Some unzipping programs work faster than others. Tools like 7-Zip or WinRAR might unzip faster than the default extractor in Windows. It depends on the file type and your system.
So what can you do?
If unzipping is too slow, try using an SSD, close other apps to free up the CPU, or add more RAM. You can also try other unzip tools that might work faster than the built-in one.
In short, unzipping speed depends on several things. Sometimes it is the hardware. Sometimes it is the software. A few small upgrades can make a big difference.
Source: Reddit