<p>The blockchain is available via Torrent now. You can download bootstrap.dat (14GB) this way and then process it locally, which in my case was much faster than syncing with network using Bitcoin-Qt.</p>

<p>Have a look at the <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=145386.0" rel="nofollow">announcement</a> and you can grab torrent file from <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/bitcoin/files/Bitcoin/blockchain/" rel="nofollow">sourceforge</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-13T16:01:50.677Z
hi @Tomasz thank you. Yes I saw this method on [bitcoin.org](http://bitcoin.org/en/download). The thing I couldn't understand was "If you know how to download a torrent file, you can speed up this process by putting bootstrap.dat (a previous copy of the block chain) in the Bitcoin-Qt data directory before starting the software." I have BitTorrent software but couldn't find the Bitcoin-Qt data directory. Is it possible this data directory has another name? Here's an image of the Bitcoin-Qt package contents: http://imgur.com/Y8j8Ssw
tim peterson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-13T16:52:24.093Z
ok I downloaded the bootstrap.dat file and put it in the "Data" directory which in the case of Mac's is here: `~/Library/Application\ Support/Bitcoin`. https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory
tim peterson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-13T16:57:43.447Z
...then when I opened Bitcoin-Qt, the progress bar said "Importing blocks from disk" instead of "Syncing with the network". The progress bar still starts where I left off, 25-33% complete. I will update everyone how long this torrent download method takes to complete. Also by the way, `bootstrap.dat` is supposedly the same thing as `blockchain.dat`. *This information is just for others who come across this thread.*
tim peterson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-20T11:18:05.307Z
Since `Bitcoin Core 0.10.x`, synchronization will employ "headers first" synchronization, improving the speed vastly and obsoleting the bootstrap approach.
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-13T13:55:40.040Z
2014-10-22T01:15:47.130Z
2014-10-22T01:15:47.130Z
Tomasz Blachowicz
<p>Using a general purpose machine that's not online 24/7, you'll be much happier using the Multibit client. It does not download the full blockchain.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-14T10:20:59.820Z
2014-01-14T10:20:59.820Z
mirimir
<p>I'm very new to Bitcoin so I apologize if this question is naive. I just downloaded the Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin Qt clients and opened each of these apps. Consistent with their coin's valuation, the Dogecoin client syncing was fastest, taking 3 hours, Litecoin took 20hrs, and Bitcoin is still trying to sync for 3 days now (progress bar shows only 25% synced).</p>

<p>I'm using a 2012 MacBook Pro (10.7.5) and have a good internet connection in a major city.  Some questions:</p>

<ol>
<li>Is there a faster way to sync my Bitcoin wallet than what I described or is the Bitcoin Network just too popular now and one should expect a new wallet to take +10 days to establish?</li>
<li>To begin with, is putting your own wallet on your computer not advised? </li>
</ol>

<bitcoin-core><litecoin><mac><synchronization><dogecoin>
Faster way to sync my new Bitcoin wallet?
tim peterson
# Faster way to sync my new Bitcoin wallet?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-13)

I'm very new to Bitcoin so I apologize if this question is naive. I just downloaded the Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin Qt clients and opened each of these apps. Consistent with their coin's valuation, the Dogecoin client syncing was fastest, taking 3 hours, Litecoin took 20hrs, and Bitcoin is still trying to sync for 3 days now (progress bar shows only 25% synced).

I'm using a 2012 MacBook Pro (10.7.5) and have a good internet connection in a major city. Some questions:

1. Is there a faster way to sync my Bitcoin wallet than what I described or is the Bitcoin Network just too popular now and one should expect a new wallet to take +10 days to establish?
2. To begin with, is putting your own wallet on your computer not advised?

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, litecoin, mac, synchronization, dogecoin


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-13. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The blockchain is available via Torrent now. You can download bootstrap.dat (14GB) this way and then process it locally, which in my case was much faster than syncing with network using Bitcoin-Qt.

Have a look at the [announcement](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=145386.0) and you can grab torrent file from [sourceforge](http://sourceforge.net/projects/bitcoin/files/Bitcoin/blockchain/).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: hi @username_1 thank you. Yes I saw this method on [bitcoin.org](http://bitcoin.org/en/download). The thing I couldn't understand was "If you know how to download a torrent file, you can speed up this process by putting bootstrap.dat (a previous copy of the block chain) in the Bitcoin-Qt data directory before starting the software." I have BitTorrent software but couldn't find the Bitcoin-Qt data directory. Is it possible this data directory has another name? Here's an image of the Bitcoin-Qt package contents: http://imgur.com/Y8j8Ssw  
> **username_0**: ok I downloaded the bootstrap.dat file and put it in the "Data" directory which in the case of Mac's is here: `~/Library/Application\ Support/Bitcoin`. https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory  
> **username_0**: ...then when I opened Bitcoin-Qt, the progress bar said "Importing blocks from disk" instead of "Syncing with the network". The progress bar still starts where I left off, 25-33% complete. I will update everyone how long this torrent download method takes to complete. Also by the way, `bootstrap.dat` is supposedly the same thing as `blockchain.dat`. *This information is just for others who come across this thread.*  
> **username_2**: Since `Bitcoin Core 0.10.x`, synchronization will employ "headers first" synchronization, improving the speed vastly and obsoleting the bootstrap approach.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-01-14. Score: 1

Using a general purpose machine that's not online 24/7, you'll be much happier using the Multibit client. It does not download the full blockchain.


---

