{"video_id":"N6PGnNBpIPM","title":"Progress Bars Are Lying To You","channel":"Linus Tech Tips","show":"Linus Tech Tips","published_at":"2026-05-06T22:35:33+00:00","duration_s":51,"segments":[{"start_s":0.0,"end_s":4.28,"text":"Why are progress bars lying to you? When","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":2.12,"end_s":6.2,"text":"you copy files, your system knows how","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":4.28,"end_s":7.84,"text":"many files there are and how much data","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":6.2,"end_s":9.88,"text":"you're moving, so they should be","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":7.84,"end_s":11.719999999999999,"text":"accurate, shouldn't they? If a process","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":9.88,"end_s":13.24,"text":"or an update starts in the background,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":11.72,"end_s":15.360000000000001,"text":"that can cause your transfer speed to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":13.24,"end_s":17.52,"text":"drop dramatically, and a progress bar","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":15.36,"end_s":18.919999999999998,"text":"has no way to predict that. Even with","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":17.52,"end_s":20.56,"text":"nothing going on in the background, you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":18.92,"end_s":23.44,"text":"can still run into trouble when you're","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":20.56,"end_s":25.479999999999997,"text":"copying a combination of large files and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":23.44,"end_s":27.040000000000003,"text":"teeny-weeny files. Program installs tend","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":25.48,"end_s":29.68,"text":"to be a little bit better, but they're","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":27.04,"end_s":32.4,"text":"still flawed because many installers run","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":29.68,"end_s":33.68,"text":"on a checklist. In reality, each step","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":32.4,"end_s":35.8,"text":"can take a different amount of time.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":33.68,"end_s":37.92,"text":"Decompressing a massive game file, for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":35.8,"end_s":39.8,"text":"instance, takes way longer than changing","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":37.92,"end_s":42.800000000000004,"text":"a couple of registry entries, but many","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":39.8,"end_s":44.959999999999994,"text":"installers treat both as equal progress.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":42.8,"end_s":47.04,"text":"As it turns out, their main purpose is","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":44.96,"end_s":48.52,"text":"to reduce your anxiety, giving you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":47.04,"end_s":51.519999999999996,"text":"visual feedback that your system [music]","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":48.52,"end_s":51.52,"text":"hasn't crashed.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0}],"full_text":"Why are progress bars lying to you? When you copy files, your system knows how many files there are and how much data you're moving, so they should be accurate, shouldn't they? If a process or an update starts in the background, that can cause your transfer speed to drop dramatically, and a progress bar has no way to predict that. Even with nothing going on in the background, you can still run into trouble when you're copying a combination of large files and teeny-weeny files. Program installs tend to be a little bit better, but they're still flawed because many installers run on a checklist. In reality, each step can take a different amount of time. Decompressing a massive game file, for instance, takes way longer than changing a couple of registry entries, but many installers treat both as equal progress. As it turns out, their main purpose is to reduce your anxiety, giving you visual feedback that your system [music] hasn't crashed."}