Browser Download Errors — Failed, Blocked, and Network Errors During Download

Fix browser download errors including 'Failed - Network error', 'Failed - Virus detected', blocked downloads, and incomplete file downloads. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: Download failures can be caused by network issues, browser security, antivirus, or server problems. Chrome blocks downloads from insecure (HTTP) origins on HTTPS pages (mixed content downloads). 'Failed - Virus detected' means Windows Defender or antivirus flagged the file. Large file downloads may fail due to network interruption without resume support. Browser download location: default is Downloads folder, customizable in browser settings. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Network connection dropped during download (WiFi interruption, server timeout). Antivirus blocking the download as potentially malicious. Browser blocking mixed content download (HTTP file from HTTPS page). Server not supporting range requests, preventing download resume after interruption. Insufficient disk space on the download destination drive. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Retry the download — transient network errors often resolve on retry. Pause and resume: if the download supports it, use the browser's resume feature. Check antivirus quarantine: the file may be in the antivirus quarantine, not deleted. Try right-click > Save Link As to download directly instead of letting the browser handle it. Disable antivirus temporarily for trusted downloads from known sources. Use a download manager (e.g., Free Download Manager, wget, curl) for large files — they support resume. Check free disk space on the destination drive. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Browser Errors collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.