---
id: external-drives.does-a-hard-disk-spin-down-delay-opening-files
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/does-a-hard-disk-spin-down-delay-opening-files
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Speed, cables and hardware"
question: "Why does it take a few seconds to open something from my external hard disk?"
alt_questions:
  - "External HDD slow to wake up"
  - "Delay opening moved folder on hard drive"
  - "Put hard disks to sleep when possible"
  - "spinning drive spin up delay mac"
  - "Moved files open slowly sometimes"
  - "external drive takes time to respond"
short_answer: "Hard disks spin down when idle and take a few seconds to spin up again on first access. SSDs don't. You can change macOS's hard-disk sleep setting in System Settings, or use an SSD for frequently opened items."
tags: ["hdd", "sleep", "delay"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/does-my-mac-sleep-affect-the-fast-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/should-i-plug-the-drive-into-a-hub-or-directly", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/does-the-cable-matter-for-an-external-ssd"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why does it take a few seconds to open something from my external hard disk?

A spinning hard disk powers down its motor when idle, and spinning back up takes a few seconds the first time something asks for a file. That's normal for hard disks and doesn't happen with SSDs.

If the delay bothers you, you can turn off **Put hard disks to sleep when possible** in System Settings (under Energy or Battery options, depending on your Mac), at the cost of a little more power use. For apps and folders you open often, an SSD avoids the delay entirely.