diff --git a/aqt/main.py b/aqt/main.py
index 67e231280..384f7fa3e 100644
--- a/aqt/main.py
+++ b/aqt/main.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import zipfile
 import gc
 import time
 import faulthandler
+from threading import Thread
 
 from send2trash import send2trash
 from aqt.qt import *
@@ -323,12 +324,23 @@ the manual for information on how to restore from an automatic backup."))
     # Backup and auto-optimize
     ##########################################################################
 
+    class BackupThread(Thread):
+        def __init__(self, path, data):
+            Thread.__init__(self)
+            self.path = path
+            self.data = data
+            # create the file in calling thread to ensure the same
+            # file is not created twice
+            open(self.path, "wb").close()
+
+        def run(self):
+            z = zipfile.ZipFile(self.path, "w", zipfile.ZIP_DEFLATED)
+            z.writestr("collection.anki2", self.data)
+            z.writestr("media", "{}")
+            z.close()
+
     def backup(self):
         nbacks = self.pm.profile['numBackups']
-        if self.pm.profile.get('compressBackups', True):
-            zipStorage = zipfile.ZIP_DEFLATED
-        else:
-            zipStorage = zipfile.ZIP_STORED
         if not nbacks or os.getenv("ANKIDEV", 0):
             return
         dir = self.pm.backupFolder()
@@ -349,10 +361,9 @@ the manual for information on how to restore from an automatic backup."))
             n = backups[-1][0] + 1
         # do backup
         newpath = os.path.join(dir, "backup-%d.apkg" % n)
-        z = zipfile.ZipFile(newpath, "w", zipStorage)
-        z.write(path, "collection.anki2")
-        z.writestr("media", "{}")
-        z.close()
+        data = open(path, "rb").read()
+        b = self.BackupThread(newpath, data)
+        b.start()
         # remove if over
         if len(backups) + 1 > nbacks:
             delete = len(backups) + 1 - nbacks
diff --git a/aqt/preferences.py b/aqt/preferences.py
index 90d11a5ec..b79af4a8b 100644
--- a/aqt/preferences.py
+++ b/aqt/preferences.py
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@ Not currently enabled; click the sync button in the main window to enable."""))
 
     def setupBackup(self):
         self.form.numBackups.setValue(self.prof['numBackups'])
-        self.form.compressBackups.setChecked(self.prof.get("compressBackups", True))
         self.form.openBackupFolder.linkActivated.connect(self.onOpenBackup)
 
     def onOpenBackup(self):
@@ -145,18 +144,15 @@ Not currently enabled; click the sync button in the main window to enable."""))
 
     def updateBackup(self):
         self.prof['numBackups'] = self.form.numBackups.value()
-        self.prof['compressBackups'] = self.form.compressBackups.isChecked()
 
     # Basic & Advanced Options
     ######################################################################
 
     def setupOptions(self):
-        self.form.stripHTML.setChecked(self.prof['stripHTML'])
         self.form.pastePNG.setChecked(self.prof.get("pastePNG", False))
         self.form.profilePass.clicked.connect(self.onProfilePass)
 
     def updateOptions(self):
-        self.prof['stripHTML'] = self.form.stripHTML.isChecked()
         self.prof['pastePNG'] = self.form.pastePNG.isChecked()
 
     def onProfilePass(self):
diff --git a/designer/preferences.ui b/designer/preferences.ui
index 2fac561b4..682cab961 100644
--- a/designer/preferences.ui
+++ b/designer/preferences.ui
@@ -65,13 +65,6 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item>
-        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="stripHTML">
-         <property name="text">
-          <string>Strip HTML when pasting text</string>
-         </property>
-        </widget>
-       </item>
        <item>
         <widget class="QCheckBox" name="pastePNG">
          <property name="text">
@@ -370,13 +363,6 @@
          </item>
         </layout>
        </item>
-       <item>
-        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="compressBackups">
-         <property name="text">
-          <string>Compress backups (slower)</string>
-         </property>
-        </widget>
-       </item>
        <item>
         <widget class="QLabel" name="openBackupFolder">
          <property name="text">
@@ -437,7 +423,6 @@
   <tabstop>lang</tabstop>
   <tabstop>showEstimates</tabstop>
   <tabstop>showProgress</tabstop>
-  <tabstop>stripHTML</tabstop>
   <tabstop>pastePNG</tabstop>
   <tabstop>useCurrent</tabstop>
   <tabstop>newSpread</tabstop>
@@ -452,7 +437,6 @@
   <tabstop>buttonBox</tabstop>
   <tabstop>tabWidget</tabstop>
   <tabstop>fullSync</tabstop>
-  <tabstop>compressBackups</tabstop>
  </tabstops>
  <resources/>
  <connections>