How to Fix Network Error When Downloading with Chrome

Last update: 04/10/2024
How to Fix Network Error When Downloading with Chrome
How to Fix Network Error When Downloading with Chrome

There are many web browsers today, but Chrome is probably the most favored of all. Google It has more than half of the market with its offering, and competitors cannot catch up.

This is mainly due to its good performance and the numerous features it offers. But although Google Chrome Overall it's a pretty stable browser, has its drawbacks.

And as you may have noticed, sometimes things don't work as they should. In these links, we'll focus on the errors we sometimes encounter when downloading files in Chrome.

It must be recognized that this action, so common in this type of software, It sometimes fails with somewhat complicated errors, at least in appearance. So in these lines we will focus on the most common Chrome download errors, and at the same time we will see how they can be solved.

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What is the cause of the “Upload Failed: Network Error” message?

Casi todas las downloads Chrome fails because your antivirus needs to be replaced, especially if you are using the free version. Another option is to disable port scanning or HTTP in your antivirus to allow downloads.

Sometimes another program or service blocks access to the default downloads folder and it is necessary to change it to a different folder. Outdated network drivers can also be the cause of this recurring problem.

The most common causes of failed downloads:

There are many reasons why downloads in Google Chrome may fail. The most common problems are the following:

  • Problems with the remote server (file not found, very slow speed and connection problems).
  • The antivirus detects a threat and blocks the download.
  • SmartScreen classifies the file as suspicious.
  • Unauthorized downloads are blocked by the browser itself.
  • The permissions are set incorrectly, so the browser cannot write to the folder we specified.
  • Errors or problems with available memory in Windows.
  • Protocols not supported by Chrome (e.g. Magnet).

Whatever problem you encounter, we'll see how to fix it so you can download files without any problems.

How to Fix Network Error When Downloading with Chrome

Google Chrome sometimes presents common errors related to browsing, installing extensions, crashes…. But there is also a fairly common error that indicates a network error. This occurs when you need to download a file and the browser itself blocks it.

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This could be for security reasons, although there really is no reason, and it becomes a problem for users. When we try to download files, they are automatically rejected. Fortunately, We can use several methods to solve this problem. This situation is quite common, although, as we will see, the solution is not always the same.

The problem does not affect the normal operation of the browser or the use of extensions and add-ons. The error occurs when downloading a file using the Chrome browser. A message will appear informing you that this is not possible. This is an error that can be frustrating for users.

1. Change security settings when downloading files

The first thing to do is to change the security settings when downloading. This is one of the most common problems when this error occurs. To do this, press Windows+R and run the inetcpl.cpl program.

This will open a new window where you need to click on Security. Check the Internet box and Click on Set Level. We need to go to Downloads and activate the “Enable” option under Downloads, if it has not been done already.

This may be the first solution. It is possible that there has been a configuration error on our system and this is causing Chrome to give a network error when downloading. However, this may fix the problem and require us to take further action. This happens sometimes and we have found that there is a simple solution if this error occurs.

2. Restart your browser and your computer

A simple solution is to restart the browser and the computer. This is something we should do whenever we have this problem, because in many cases the solution is very simple.

First of all, we need to restart the browser. Simply close it and open it again. This is how to resolve a conflict when a tab is blocked or an extension causes a conflict.

If this doesn't work, restart your computerThis will also help rule out other connectivity issues that might be preventing files from downloading as intended.

3. Clear cache and cookies

After taking basic steps like restarting your browser and computer, clearing your browser's cache and cookies can also be a solution. Sometimes this causes glitches, which can result in errors when downloading files. It is very simple and only requires a few steps.

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For that:

Open Chrome, go to the menu in the top right corner, select “Other tools” and click on “Clear browser data”. There you have to check some boxes to clear the cache and cookies. It will tell you the time range we can use, from one hour to all There that we use the browser.

This step can be very useful when troubleshooting common browser issues. We should keep this in mind when we notice that Chrome is not working properly. It is a simple procedure that It also allows you to delete stored content.

4. Update your computer and browser

It is also very important that your system and browser are properly updated. Sometimes there are security vulnerabilities that can lead to errors. All patches and updates must be installed to troubleshoot the issues. This could be another reason for the website loading error message in the Chrome browser.

An outdated browser can also cause conflicts with the operating system itself. This can lead to errors when using the software. Using an outdated version will also prevent you from taking full advantage of the performance improvements available.

To check if your Google Chrome browser is up to date, go to the menu at the top right and Click on Help and Browser Information. It will show us the installed version and start searching for updates. Browsers usually update automatically, so we should check if this is the case.

5. Possible conflict with antivirus software

Is there a problem with your antivirus software? It is possible that our security software is blocking the download. These programs are very important, but it is true that sometimes they give false results and may interfere with our browser and block websites and downloads.

We can check our antivirus or firewall settings to see if this is causing the problem. Security tools are very useful and should be present on our devices.

However, can sometimes cause errors. Especially when using a browser, downloading or accessing content can be blocked. It could be a firewall that prevents the browser from connecting properly or even blocks downloads.

6. Check if the plugin is incorrect

Browser add-ons are very useful in our daily life. We have a wide range of options. We can install them from the online store and they give us added value.But they can also cause a lot of problems. They can affect functionality, cause security breaches, and even cause Chrome downloads to not work properly.

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That's why it's important to check if browser extensions conflict with the system, cause problems or are dangerous. An interesting tip is not to install more extensions than you really need. We should always keep the browser as clean as possible without overloading it.

7. Change the loading location

Another solution could be to change the location from which the files are downloaded. This will allow us to ensure the fluidity of the downloads. This is something that we can easily set. To do this we have to Go to Settings in the top right menu, scroll down to Downloads and click Edit. We can also check the box that asks where we can download the files from.

Generally, if you get a network error when trying to download something on Chrome, the solution can be very simple. Just follow the steps we have provided. This is not the only problem, so you will have to keep trying until it is resolved and the download is successful. This is the most common browser and is very popular among users.

Other common solutions

Finally, you can try some simpler solutions that don't always work, but may work for you:

  • Use incognito mode in Google Chrome.
  • Reset Chrome settings.
  • Remove the Chrome extensions
  • Install the latest network drivers.
  • Make sure Chrome is up to date.
  • Reinstall the Google Chrome browser.

We hope that one of these solutions helped you overcome the “Network Error – Failed” message and successfully download the files you need. If you have any other questions or solutions to this problem, feel free to post them in the comments section below.

You can also read: Error “A Network Change Has Been Detected” | Solutions