Files take time to open due to several factors involving hardware, software, and the file's nature. First, the file must be physically read from its storage device (like a hard drive or SSD) and loaded into your computer's RAM for access, a process constrained by the speed of those components. Second, complex files require significant processing: applications must interpret the file format, decode compressed data, render images or text, load linked resources, and build the display. The specific app, its efficiency, available memory, and background processes also impact speed. Simple files open almost instantly, while complex ones need much more work.

Large or intricate files demonstrate this delay clearly. Opening a massive Adobe Photoshop project involving numerous high-resolution layers and filters strains both disk read speed and CPU/GPU processing for rendering. Similarly, opening a complex Excel workbook with intricate formulas and external data links forces the application to perform calculations and validate connections before display. Slow network drives accessing remote files or older hardware with traditional hard drives exacerbate these delays compared to fast SSDs in modern machines.

The delay acts as a safeguard against crashes by preventing incomplete loading. While frustrating, faster storage (SSDs), increased RAM, modern CPUs, and optimized application software significantly reduce open times. However, extremely large datasets or complex simulations inherently require substantial processing time. Future improvements rely on continued hardware advancements and increasingly efficient software algorithms, pushing towards near-instantaneous access for more file types. Balancing complexity and user expectations remains an ongoing development focus.