Download errors are common on Google Chrome, and they come in many forms. In this article, we will explore the “Download failed – network error” issue.
This error message usually pops up in the middle of a download. Sometimes it appears right away when you click on the “Download” button. And no matter how many times you try to download your files, the process keeps failing.
Although the error message states that the problem is with “a network”, this is not always the case. So, let’s see what causes the “Chrome download failed network error” problem and explore all the possible solutions.
What Causes the “Download Failed Network Error” Problem on Chrome?
Now, let us see how you can easily deal with all these problems.
1. Check Your Internet Speed and Connection
You need a stable internet connection to download the files. Therefore, you should first make sure that your internet connection is active and stable.
To get started, test your Wi-Fi speed with a trusted speed test tool. If your internet speed is fine, consider resetting your router and refreshing your connection.
2. Modify Your Antivirus Settings
This Chrome download network error can also be caused by your computer’s antivirus program.
For example, most antivirus programs include traffic monitoring features such as HTTPS scanning. These features are supposed to protect your PC from malware hiding behind secure and encrypted websites.
However, such features can sometimes go overboard by blocking all downloads – even if they are harmless. Therefore, disabling HTTPS scanning or temporarily disabling your antivirus program may help. But again, remember to re-enable HTTPS scanning or your antivirus program when you’ve finished downloading.
3. Try Incognito Mode
Chrome plugins or extensions help improve your browsing experience. However, a corrupt or outdated extension can limit Chrome’s functionality. In some cases, an extension may suddenly become incompatible with the Chrome version you’re using.
Enable incognito mode to check if any extension is responsible for this error. This will disable all third-party extensions and allow you to browse privately. From there, try your download again and check if “Failed – Network error while downloading in Chrome” persists.
If this solves your problem, then it is possible that one of your extensions is causing this error. A good way to solve the problem is to disable all extensions and then re-enable them—one at a time. This should help you identify the problematic extension.
4. Update Google Chrome
In some cases, the current problem may be caused by an outdated Google Chrome browser.
Google Chrome should automatically update when you close and reopen it. But if you haven’t closed your browser in a while, there might be an update pending.
5. Reset Chrome or try another browser
To resolve Chrome failed network error, you need to reset Google Chrome and restore its default settings. This will disable all third-party extensions and clear your cache and cookies as well. Fortunately, this won’t affect your browsing history, saved passwords, and bookmarks.
If this doesn’t solve your problem, try using a different web browser to download your files.
6. Update or Reinstall Network Drivers
Are you hitting Chrome failed network error while downloading files on Windows PC? Perhaps the problem is with the Windows network drivers.
Network drivers control the interface between your Windows PC and a given network. But if you are running outdated or corrupted network drivers, it can lead to various network connection issues.
Hence, updating your network drivers can deal with the “Download kept failing network error” issue on Chrome.
7. Configure Windows Attachment Manager Settings
Windows Attachment Manager protects your computer from unsafe files that you download or receive via email. If this tool detects a file as unsafe, it prevents you from downloading it.
Hence, this Windows tool could be the reason why you are facing “Failed download error” issue on Chrome. In this case, you will need to configure the Windows Attachment Manager settings to resolve the issue.