Chrome Download Failed on Windows? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• Your computer’s security settings, such as Windows Attachment Manager, blocking the file
• Chrome blocking a file it flags as dangerous, suspicious or insecure
• A file downloaded while Safe Browsing is turned off
• Virus scanning software blocking the download
• Not enough space on your computer
• Chrome being unable to save the file to your computer
• No permission to download the file from the server
• A file that no longer exists on the site or has been moved

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with the first step, then go to the step that matches the error message Chrome shows for your download.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check your connection and resume the download

   Make sure your internet connection is working normally, then resume the download or try it later.

   Make sure your internet connection is working normally. Chrome will automatically resume the downloads.

   You can also resume a download yourself. Click Download in progress, point to the paused filename, and click Resume.

   If that doesn’t work, try to download the file later, or contact the website owner.

   Good to know

   If your internet connection is unstable, Google points you to its fixes for connection and loading errors in Chrome.

2. 2

   Step 2: Leave a download Chrome blocked as dangerous

   Chrome automatically blocks dangerous downloads, and when it does, you’re protected and don’t need to take further action.

   Chrome automatically blocks dangerous downloads and protects your device and accounts from malware or viruses. Google lists these reasons a download may be blocked:

   • Dangerous: malware, or deceptive software that could make unwanted changes to your device or computer
   • Suspicious: an uncommon or unfamiliar file, or a file that may try to evade detection, such as by hiding malware or viruses inside archive files like .zip or .rar
   • Unverified: files that are downloaded while Safe Browsing is turned off
   • Insecure: the download might have been provided insecurely, even if the page you were on when it started was secure

   Good to know

   To remove the warning from your download history, select Delete from history. If you take no action, Chrome removes it from your history in one hour.

3. 3

   Step 3: Check a password-protected file for malware

   With Standard protection in Safe Browsing, you can check some password-protected .zip, .7z or .rar files for malware.

   If you try to download a password-protected file that may be dangerous, you might see a “This file may be dangerous” notification. Enter the password for the file, not your Google Account, then select Check for malware.

   Both the file and the password stay on your device and aren’t sent to Google. Then follow the result:

   • Dangerous download blocked: the check detects malware and blocks the download.
   • This file may be dangerous: if the scan takes longer, Google recommends Cancel download.
   • Scan complete: no malware was found, and you can download the file.

   Good to know

   With Enhanced protection on, you can instead send a suspicious file to Google Safe Browsing for further security checks.

4. 4

   Step 4: Check why Windows blocked the file

   The “Download blocked” error means your computer’s security settings blocked the file.

   On Windows, Windows Attachment Manager could have removed the file you tried to download.

   To check which files you can download or why your file was blocked, check your Windows internet security settings.

5. 5

   Step 5: Check your virus-scanning software

   “Virus scan failed” or “Virus detected” means your virus scanning software might have blocked the download.

   Check your virus-scanning software for details about why the file was blocked.

   On Windows, Windows Attachment Manager could also have removed the file. Check your Windows internet security settings to see why it was blocked.

6. 6

   Step 6: Save to a folder you can access

   “Insufficient permissions” or “System busy” means Chrome couldn’t save the file to your computer.

   Cancel the download and try again.

   Instead of clicking the file to download, right-click the link and select Save link as. Be sure to download files to a place on your computer you can access, like your Desktop or Documents folder.

   To change where Chrome saves downloads, click More at the top right, then Settings, then Downloads. Click Change to pick a new default location, or turn on Ask where to save each file before downloading.

   Good to know

   If you haven’t changed it, Chrome on Windows 10 and up saves files to the Downloads folder in your user folder under \Users.

7. 7

   Step 7: Check your access for “Forbidden” or “Needs authorization”

   Both errors mean you don’t have permission to download the file.

   For “Forbidden” or “Failed - Forbidden”, go to the website where the file is hosted and check if you need to sign in or provide some other authentication.

   If you can’t sign in, or you see “Needs authorization”, contact the website or server owner, or try to find the file on a different site.

8. 8

   Step 8: Find the file elsewhere for “No file”

   “No file” or “File missing” means the file doesn’t exist on the site or has been moved to another area of the site.

   Contact the website owner, or try to find the file on a different site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related guides

• Crashes & FreezesChrome Not Loading Pages on Windows? Try These FixesFix Chrome on a Windows PC when pages won’t load or show connection errors: check the connection, update, try Incognito, turn off extensions, clear cookies, reset.