13 Ways to Fix Failed Download Error on Chrome

With billions of daily users using Google Chrome to search the internet, it is only obvious that sometimes Google Chrome runs into various issues. One of the common issues is failed network error download on Chrome. This issue can cause download interruptions and errors when you attempt to download any file from the internet. Keep reading to know the methods to fix this error.

Table of Contents

Ways to Fix Failed Download Error on Chrome

Chrome offers a seamless browsing experience across various devices and operating systems. It remains to be a go-to choice for internet users worldwide due to its regular updates and customization. We have explained the solutions to failed network error download on Chrome in detail in this article.

Quick Answer

Follow the below steps to fix downloading error on Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots.

2. Choose Settings > Downloads.

3. Click on Change next to the download location.

4. Choose a desired location.

Reasons for Failed Download Error Chrome

There can be several reasons for this issue on Google Chrome; some of the more common reasons are mentioned here.

Chrome bugs are a general reason for this issue.
Sometimes, various website issues can also cause this issue.
Various browser IP address issues can also cause this issue on Google Chrome.
Often, the issue can be browser specific and another browser may work fine.
A bad internet connection is also regarded as a possible reason for this error.
Issues with the Downloads folder can also cause this error.
A corrupt Chrome extension can also cause this error.
Corrupt cache and cookie data can also cause this issue.
An outdated or corrupt network adaptor driver can also cause this issue.
Improper antivirus settings can also cause download error issues with Chrome.
Improper configuration with Windows Attachment Manager can also cause this issue.
Improper host files can also cause this issue on Google Chrome.
An outdated Chrome program can also cause this error.
Improper Chrome settings can also cause this issue.
Various other Chrome program issues can also cause this error while downloading.

Method 1: Basic Troubleshooting Methods

Often, what causes failed network error on Chrome are some simple bugs and booting issues. Generally, the issue with Chrome is not serious and can be resolved by using a few simple and basic troubleshooting methods. The following are some basic troubleshooting methods that you can apply to quickly figure out a failed network error download Chrome fix.

1A. Restart Chrome

One of the first things that you can do to figure out fix this error is to simply restart Chrome from the Task Manager. Often, what causes a failed network error on Chrome is improper loading of the browser or minor browser bugs. You can avoid these issues by simply restarting Chrome. You can use the End Task option in the task manager to close the app and then relaunch it. If you are not sure how to end a task on your computer, you can check out the How to End Task in Windows 10 guide.

1B. Ensure Website is Working Properly

A common reason for this error is website-related issues. If a website server is not working properly or is facing an outage internationally, you may not be able to access the content on the website or download the content from the website. If the issue is caused by server problems, you will have to wait around until the issue is fixed.

1C. Use Incognito Mode

A common solution to download error issues is to use the incognito mode on Google Chrome. Chrome allows users to search the web privately and hides their IP addresses. If the content is restricted on your network, using incognito mode can help you download it. If you are not sure how to enable incognito mode, you can check out the How to Enable Incognito Mode in Chrome guide to enable the private window on your Google Chrome to figure out a failed network error download Chrome fix.

1D. Try Different Browser

If your attempts do not help and you don’t know what causes failed network error on Chrome, you can try to switch browsers. Sometimes, content on various websites is not compatible with specific browsers. If Chrome is having trouble loading the content from one specific website, it is a good idea to use a different web browser to access the website. There are plenty of web browsers that you can use instead of Chrome. For example, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Brave Browser, etc.

Method 2: Troubleshoot Internet Issues

If you are using an unstable internet connection, you may face various issues while trying to download files on Chrome. Therefore, it is important to fix the internet issues on your system to resolve this error.

If you use a WiFi connection to surf the internet, you should check if the WiFi connection is proper and working fine. Sometimes, a faulty WiFi cable or router may easily go unnoticed until they start causing issues. Therefore, carefully examine the condition of your WiFi router. If you locate any faulty or damaged cables, replace them as soon as possible. You can check out the How to Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Problems on Windows 10 guide to resolve connection issues.

Also Read: Fix Err Proxy Connection Failed Chrome Error

Method 3: Change Download Location

When you download a file with Google Chrome, it is automatically stored in the Downloads folder of your C drive. If there is an issue with your Downloads folder, you may receive issues while downloading data from Google. You can avoid these downloading errors on Chrome by changing the download location on your browser.

1. Open Google Chrome from the start menu.

2. Click on the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

3. Here, select Settings.

4. From the left-side panel, click on Downloads.

5. Locate the download location, and click on the Change next to it.

6. Select the desired location.

Method 4: Remove Chrome Extensions

If you use too many extensions on your Google Chrome browser, it can sometimes lead to various browser issues. A corrupt or outdated extension can cause download issues with Google Chrome. Therefore, you can remove Chrome extensions to fix the network download issues on your browser.

1. Open Google Chrome from the start menu.

2. Click on the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

3. Here, locate and click on More tools… and then Extensions.

4. Locate the problematic extension and click on Remove.

5. Click on Remove on the extension pop-up to confirm the action.

Also Read: Fix Google Chrome Server Sent No Data Error

Method 5: Clear Chrome Cookies and Cache Data

Cookies and cache data are temporary data stored on your computer. Generally, this data causes no problem with the browser, and you can easily use the internet side-by-side. However, if cache or cookie data gets corrupt or overwritten, it can slow down your browsing experience and even cause download issues. Therefore, you should keep clearing this data from your browser from time to time. If you are not sure how to clear cookies and cache data from Google Chrome, you can check out the How to Clear Cache & Cookies in Google Chrome guide.

Method 6: Update Network Adaptor Driver

Network adapter drivers on your Windows computer are an essential part of browsing and downloading files on your computer. These drivers allow you to search the internet and download content from different websites. However, if this driver malfunctions, you can receive various issues while using the internet. A corrupt network adaptor driver can prevent your internet access. Therefore, you should consider updating the network adaptor driver on your computer. Read our guide on How to Update Network Adapter Drivers on Windows 10 and implement the same.

Also Read: Fix Chrome Errors While Searching for Harmful Software

Method 7: Reinstall Network Adaptor Driver

If updating the driver does not help and you still don’t know what causes the failed network error on Chrome, you should consider reinstalling the driver on your computer. If you don’t know how to manually reinstall the network adaptor driver on your computer, you can check out the How to Uninstall and Reinstall Drivers on Windows 10 guide.

Method 8: Disable Antivirus Temporarily (If Applicable)

If you are using an antivirus program to keep yourself secure from online threats such as viruses and malware attacks, there is a good chance that your antivirus uses the HTTPS scanning feature to scan online content. Although the HTTPS feature is a standard and normally doesn’t cause any problems, sometimes it can unnecessarily block your downloads. Therefore, if you use an antivirus program, you should consider disabling the HTTPS scanning in your program. If you can’t find HTTPS scanning in your antivirus program, you can disable the program for the time being. You can check out the How to Disable Antivirus Temporarily on Windows 10 guide for the same.

Also Read: 28 Best Chrome Extensions for Students

Method 9: Configure Windows Attachment Manager

Attachment Manager is a Windows utility that regulates downloads from your browser. If this utility is misconfigured on your computer, you can come across various download issues. Therefore, you should try to configure Windows Attachment Manager on your computer to fix the Google Chrome download error.

1. Press the Windows + R keys together to open the Run dialog box.

2. Here, type inetcpl.cpl and press the Enter key to open Internet Properties.

3. Here, locate and navigate to the Security tab.

4. Now, click on Custom level….

5. Now, scroll down and locate the Downloads option, and select the Enable radio button for File download and Font download.

6. Scroll down further and locate Launching applications and unsafe files and select the Prompt (recommended) radio button.

7. Finally, click OK.

8. Finally, reboot the PC.

Method 10: Edit Host File

Sometimes, when your computer is infected with malware or a virus attack, it can change the host file settings on your computer. This can restrict your access to various websites and then, in turn, cause download errors. If you are experiencing unreasonable download errors, you should try to edit the host file on your computer.

1. Press Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer and navigate to the following location.

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

2. Here, locate the hosts file and right-click on it.

3. Now, click on Open with and select Notepad.

4. In the Notepad text, locate 127.0.0.1 clients2.google.com and remove it from the file.

5. Save the changes.

Also Read: Fix Google Chrome Status Invalid Image Hash Error

Method 11: Update Google Chrome

A common reason why you may not be able to download files on your Google Chrome can be an outdated browser. In general, Chrome is automatically updated. However, sometimes you will have to manually check for browser updates. Read our guide on How to Update Google Chrome Browser and implement the same.

Method 12: Reset Chrome

Sometimes, when you have made changes to Chrome settings and can’t revert them, it can cause various issues while surfing the internet and downloading files from the internet. If this is the case, you can try to reset Chrome to resolve these issues.

1. Open Google Chrome from the Start Menu.

2. Click on the Menu options and choose Settings.

3. Now, navigate to Reset and clean up.

4. Now, click on Restore settings to their original defaults.

5. Finally, click on Reset settings to reset Google Chrome to default settings.

Also Read: Fix Google Chrome Disk Full Download Error

Method 13: Reinstall Chrome

If none of the previously mentioned methods works, and you can’t figure out how to fix this issue on Google Chrome. You can try to reinstall Chrome on your computer.

1. Press the Windows + I keys together to open Settings.

2. Here, click on Apps.

3. Now, navigate to and click on Google Chrome, and click Uninstall.

4. Click on Uninstall to confirm the process.

5. Click Yes in the confirmation pop-up.

6. Finally, click Uninstall to confirm the uninstallation of Google Chrome.

7. Now, press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.

8. In the Run prompt, type %localappdata% and press the Enter key.

9. Here, double-click on the Google folder to open it.

10. Locate and right-click on the Chrome folder, and click Delete.

11. Now, open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys.

12. Here, type %appdata% and hit the Enter key to open the AppData folder.

13. Follow Steps 9 and 10 to delete the Chrome folder if there is any.

14. Restart your computer.

15. Open the computer browser, and visit the official Chrome website.

16. Click the Download Chrome button to download Chrome.

17. Run the setup file from the downloaded location and follow the on-screen instructions to install Chrome.

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We hope this guide was helpful to you and you were able to figure out a fix for failed download error Chrome. Let us know which method worked for you. If you have any suggestions or queries for us, please let us know in the comment section.

13 Ways to Fix Failed Download Error on Chrome