10 Fixes for Download Failed Network Error in Chrome

Download errors on Google Chrome come in many forms. Sometimes, downloads keep pausing intermittently for an unknown reason. Other times, downloading files fails outrightly, no matter how many times you try. In this guide, we’ll show you some effective fixes for the download failed issue caused by network errors on Google Chrome.

Seeing a network error when downloading a file is surely a bummer. And the worst part is you can experience it even if your internet connection is working perfectly well. Don’t worry, though, as some troubleshooting can quickly fix the issue. Let’s look at some ways.

1. Check Your Internet Connection and Speed

The simplest way to check if your internet connection is working is by heading to your browser and opening up any website of your choice. Preferably Guiding Tech’s site. If the website loads fine, the next step is to check your connection speed.

If your internet is too slow, your download may get interrupted, or Chrome might throttle your download speeds. Here’s how to check your internet speeds.

Step 1: Head over to the Speedtest website.

Visit Speedtest

Step 2: Hit the large GO button to run the test.

If your download speed is low, contact your ISP for a resolution. Don’t see any issues with the speed? Carry on with the subsequent solutions.

2. Modify Antivirus Settings

Your PC’s antivirus configurations could block Chrome downloads. If you have an antivirus installed on your computer, go to the security settings menu and check that Chrome is whitelisted or permitted to download new files to your computer from the internet.

You can also temporarily disable your PC’s antivirus or modify its network security settings. After doing that, try downloading the file(s) again. This method is mostly applicable when downloading exe files.

3. Try Incognito Mode

Chrome extensions offer different features that help elevate your internet browsing experience. However, these extensions are sometimes the bedrock of the abnormalities you encounter while using Chrome. An extension could be corrupt, outdated, or suddenly become incompatible with the Chrome version you’re running on your PC.

An excellent way to determine if an extension(s) is responsible for the download failed error is to try downloading the file in a new incognito window. This disables all third-party, non-Google extensions installed on the browser. To use incognito mode, tap the three-dotted menu icon and select ‘New Incognito Window.’

Now, enter the file download URL into the address bar and hit Enter/Return on your keyboard. If the download goes through, your browser probably has a rogue extension. To know the extension causing the issue, launch the Chrome extension management page (Menu > More Tools > Extensions) and disable all extensions.

Afterward, enable the extensions you need one at a time and note the one causing downloads to fail due to a network error. Once you discover the erring extension, we recommend removing it permanently.

4. Change the Download Location

Weirdly, changing the download folder on Chrome has helped several users facing the files not downloading on Chrome issue. You can give it a shot to see if it works for you.

Step 1: Head over to the Chrome Settings page by pasting chrome://settings/ in your address bar and hitting the Enter key.

Step 2: Navigate to the Downloads section. You can find it in the left pane.

Step 3: Next to the Location option, hit the Change button.

Step 4: Choose a different location and click on Select.

Try downloading your file now to see if it works.

5. Clear Chrome Browser Data

Often, deleting temporary data that Chrome accumulates over time could help fix persistent issues affecting the browser’s performance and certain activities like file downloads. Follow the steps below to get it done. Before you proceed, read what happens when you clear browsing data in Chrome.

Step 1: Open Chrome, tap the three-dotted menu, and select Settings.

Step 2: Scroll to the ‘Privacy and security’ section. Click on ‘Clear browsing data’.

Step 3: Go to the Basic tab and click the Clear data button.

Retry the download and check if it goes through.

6. Reset Chrome

Still getting the ‘Failed. Network error’ when you download files? You might have to reset the browser and restore Chrome to its default settings. When you reset Google Chrome, third-party extensions are disabled (but not deleted), temporary files (cache and cookies) are deleted, and synchronization service will be paused, among other things.

Resetting Chrome will not affect vital data like browsing history, download history, saved passwords, and bookmarks. Here’s how to reset Google Chrome.

Step 1: Go to the Chrome Settings page by pasting chrome://settings/ in your address bar and hitting the Enter key.

Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the settings menu and click on the Advanced drop-down button.

Step 3: Next, click the ‘Restore settings to their original defaults’ option.

Step 4: Tap Reset settings on the prompt to proceed.

7. Update Google Chrome

An older version of Google Chrome may have bugs or issues causing downloads to fail. You can address this issue by updating Chrome to the latest version. In general, newer versions of any software fix bugs present in older versions. Here’s how to update Chrome on your PC.

Step 1: Head over to the Chrome Settings page by pasting chrome://settings/ in your address bar and hitting the Enter key.

Step 2: Navigate to the About Chrome section. You can find it in the left pane.

Step 3: If any update is available, Chrome will automatically download and install it.

Once updated, close the browser and reopen it to download files without issues.

8. Try Another Browser

For all you know, the issue you’re facing might be related to Chrome and not your network. The best way to verify this is to use a different browser to download the file.

If you can download the file via a different browser, you know the issue is with Chrome. At this point, we suggest uninstalling Chrome on your computer and reinstalling it to see if the issue gets fixed.

9. Disable VPN

An active VPN connection can sometimes hinder internet access. This, in turn, can result in downloads not working. So, if you’re connected to a VPN, try disabling it before you attempt to download a file. This could also help fix the failure due to a forbidden download error if you’re trying to download a file unavailable in your region.

10. Don’t Let Your Computer Go to Sleep

Closing your laptop’s lid or allowing your PC to sleep when downloading a file can interrupt the download. This is because your computer temporarily disconnects from the internet when you put it to sleep.

A good practice is to ensure your laptop or PC doesn’t sleep until the download is complete. Keep the laptop’s lid open to prevent any disturbance during the download.

FAQs on Failed Downloads on Chrome

Download Successful

Chrome is prone to bugs that affect in-app functionalities like page scrolling, file downloads, etc. Keeping Chrome updated will squash these bugs and eliminate download failure due to network error issues. If you still face issues after updating, try the above methods to bid adieu to the problem.