<p>There are two factors to the time to catch up with the network:</p>

<ul>
<li>The sheer size of the blockchain</li>
<li>The time to verify the blocks</li>
</ul>

<p>As Tom mentioned the blockchain is currently about 7GB in size, so no matter what it'll take some time to download it. On the other side you have to verify each block, hence each transaction in the block, which requires random access to the blockchain downloaded so far. Depending on your setup the bandwidth may not be the main issue. Random lookups on spinning disks are not the fastest thing to do, and using an SSD might actually result in a speedup of the synchronization.</p>

<p>So don't worry if your bandwidth is not fully utilized, it just might be that the disk is the bottleneck (especially for later block >180'000 with lots of transactions in them).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-01T01:46:30.200Z
This seems like a problem!
Robert Christian
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-18T15:02:47.583Z
2013-05-18T15:02:47.583Z
cdecker
<p>It downloads roughly 7GB of data, so it will take a very long time via mobile internet. For desktop computers via normal internet it usually takes roughly a day.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-18T14:45:23.657Z
2013-05-18T14:45:23.657Z
Tom van der Woerdt
<p>Alternatives to downloading the whole blockchain:</p>

<p>Electrum (<a href="https://electrum.org/" rel="nofollow">https://electrum.org/</a>) is a client/wallet that does not download the whole blockchain.  I think Multibit is another.</p>

<p>You can also get most of the blockchain via DVD.  Here's one place that offers the DVD:  <a href="http://startbitcoin.com/blockchain-on-dvd/" rel="nofollow">http://startbitcoin.com/blockchain-on-dvd/</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-23T04:03:06.273Z
2014-01-23T04:03:06.273Z
Donn Lee
<p>Hours! As long as more than a day.</p>

<p>And, and as Bitcoin use increases this will take more time.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-22T18:12:37.313Z
2013-11-22T18:12:37.313Z
JasonN
<p>Interestingly there is a torrent to download a file called "bootstrap.dat", but: "As of Bitcoin Core version 0.10.0 or later, this torrent is slower than a direct download using the bitcoin P2P protocol &amp; client."</p>

<p><a href="https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=145386.0" rel="nofollow">https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=145386.0</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-12T10:11:02.710Z
In regard to the question "How long does first synchronization take?", I don't find this answer useful. Also, as you did mention, the `bootstrap.dat` is outdated.
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T00:19:33.380Z
I created the answer as information for people like me, who were searching for the torrent, because in the past it was the fastest way to get the blockchain.  I thought it might be handy for some people.
kristianp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-12T00:30:56.837Z
2015-11-24T00:11:44.293Z
2015-11-24T00:11:44.293Z
kristianp
<p>You can use adsl to sync your client, and use the 4G connection later.</p>

<p>Or get the <code>~/.bitcoin/</code> folder from a sync client.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-20T05:08:28.080Z
Do you mean ~/.bitcoin/ ?
Highly Irregular
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-21T20:04:41.517Z
2013-08-20T08:36:17.397Z
2013-08-20T08:36:17.397Z
alpha_one_x86
<p>What is the normal synchronzing time for your wallet when you first start? I am using 4G on a wireless and it seems to be taking forever to count down the number of blocks left until it is properly synchronized.</p>

<synchronization>
How long should synchronizing your wallet for the first time take?
john
# How long should synchronizing your wallet for the first time take?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-18)

What is the normal synchronzing time for your wallet when you first start? I am using 4G on a wireless and it seems to be taking forever to count down the number of blocks left until it is properly synchronized.

**Tags:** synchronization


---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-05-18. Score: 6

There are two factors to the time to catch up with the network:

* The sheer size of the blockchain
* The time to verify the blocks

As Tom mentioned the blockchain is currently about 7GB in size, so no matter what it'll take some time to download it. On the other side you have to verify each block, hence each transaction in the block, which requires random access to the blockchain downloaded so far. Depending on your setup the bandwidth may not be the main issue. Random lookups on spinning disks are not the fastest thing to do, and using an SSD might actually result in a speedup of the synchronization.

So don't worry if your bandwidth is not fully utilized, it just might be that the disk is the bottleneck (especially for later block >180'000 with lots of transactions in them).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This seems like a problem!  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-05-18. Score: 1

It downloads roughly 7GB of data, so it will take a very long time via mobile internet. For desktop computers via normal internet it usually takes roughly a day.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-01-23. Score: 0

Alternatives to downloading the whole blockchain:

Electrum (<https://electrum.org/>) is a client/wallet that does not download the whole blockchain. I think Multibit is another.

You can also get most of the blockchain via DVD. Here's one place that offers the DVD: <http://startbitcoin.com/blockchain-on-dvd/>


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2013-11-22. Score: 0

Hours! As long as more than a day.

And, and as Bitcoin use increases this will take more time.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2015-11-12. Score: -1

Interestingly there is a torrent to download a file called "bootstrap.dat", but: "As of Bitcoin Core version 0.10.0 or later, this torrent is slower than a direct download using the bitcoin P2P protocol & client."

<https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=145386.0>

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: In regard to the question "How long does first synchronization take?", I don't find this answer useful. Also, as you did mention, the `bootstrap.dat` is outdated.  
> **username_6**: I created the answer as information for people like me, who were searching for the torrent, because in the past it was the fastest way to get the blockchain.  I thought it might be handy for some people.  

---

### Answer by username_8 on 2013-05-21. Score: -1

You can use adsl to sync your client, and use the 4G connection later.

Or get the `~/.bitcoin/` folder from a sync client.

> **Comments:**
> **username_9**: Do you mean ~/.bitcoin/ ?  

---

