OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix Slow OneDrive Multi-File Downloads

Guest Writer Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing extremely slow download speeds when attempting to download multiple files simultaneously from OneDrive compared to single-file downloads.

Why Are OneDrive Multi-File Downloads So Slow and How to Fix It

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Downloading multiple files or large folders simultaneously from the OneDrive web interface.
Observed behavior: OneDrive packages multiple files into a ZIP archive, resulting in prolonged server processing times, drastically slower download speeds, missing completion percentages, and the need for double the disk space upon extraction.

Before you start

Verify that your local hard drive has sufficient free space to accommodate both the downloaded ZIP archive and the fully extracted uncompressed files.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Concurrent Single-File Downloads as a Workaround

Downloading files individually bypasses OneDrive's ZIP compression process, allowing you to utilize your full bandwidth immediately.

Because OneDrive spends significant time compressing multi-file requests into a ZIP archive on the server side, bypassing this process is currently the most effective workaround for bandwidth issues.

Deselect Parent Folders

Instead of selecting a parent folder or checking the box for multiple files at once, navigate into the folder containing your files.

Download Files Individually

Click on each file individually and select 'Download' from the top menu or context menu to initiate separate download streams.

Allow Concurrent Streams

Initiate multiple individual downloads at the same time. Your web browser will process these concurrently, bypassing server-side compression and drastically improving overall speed.

Use Concurrent Single-File Downloads as a Workaround

Real-Time Tracking: Unlike the multi-file ZIP method, concurrent single-file downloads provide accurate, real-time completion percentages in your browser.

Solution 2

Test Alternative Browsers or Computers

Determine if the slow ZIP download behavior is being artificially limited by your current browser cache, extensions, or local network configuration.

Solution 3

Submit a OneDrive Support Request

If the problem is severely impacting your workflow and persists across multiple devices, the issue may require Microsoft's backend investigation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive package my files into a ZIP folder?

When you select multiple files or entire folders to download from the OneDrive web interface, Microsoft automatically compresses them into a single ZIP archive to reduce the total number of file requests sent to the server and manage overall download integrity.

Why is downloading a ZIP file from OneDrive slower than individual files?

The delay is primarily caused by server-side processing. OneDrive must gather all selected files, compress them, and finalize the ZIP archive before the actual download transfer to your computer begins. This compression overhead often creates a bottleneck that prevents you from utilizing your full internet bandwidth.

Do I need extra storage space for multi-file OneDrive downloads?

Yes. When downloading multiple files as a ZIP archive, you must temporarily have enough local disk space to store both the downloaded compressed ZIP file and the uncompressed extracted files until you delete the original ZIP folder.

Document & File Issues