This error message usually pops up in the middle of a download. Sometimes, it appears immediately when you click the “download” button. And no matter how many times you try downloading your files, the process keeps failing.
Although the error message suggests that the issue is with “a network,” this is not always the case. So, let’s check out what causes the “Chrome download failed network error” and explore all possible solutions.
1. Check Your Internet Speed and Connection
You need a stable internet connection for downloading files. So, you should first ensure that your internet connection is active and stable.
To get started, test your Wi-Fi speed with a reliable speed test tool. If your internet speed is okay, then you could consider resetting your router and refreshing your connection.
2. Modify Your Antivirus Settings
It’s highly likely that this Chrome download network error is caused by your computer’s antivirus program. That’s because most antivirus programs include traffic monitoring features such as HTTPS scanning. These features help protect your PC against malware hidden behind secured and encrypted websites.
However, such features can sometimes go overboard by blocking all downloads—even if they aren’t harmful. So, disabling HTTPS scanning or temporarily disabling your antivirus program could help. But then, remember to re-enable HTTPS scanning or your antivirus program when you finish downloading.
3. Try Incognito Mode
Chrome plugins or extensions help improve your browsing experience. However, a corrupt or outdated extension could limit Chrome’s functionality. In some cases, an extension could suddenly become incompatible with the Chrome version you’re using.
To check if an extension is responsible for this error, enable incognito mode. This will disable all third-party extensions and allow you to browse privately. From there, retry your download and check if the “failed - network error when downloading in chrome” issue persists.
If this resolves your issue, then it’s likely that one of your extensions is causing this error. A good way to resolve the issue is to disable all extensions and then re-enable them—one at a time. This will help you identify the problematic extension.
4. Reset Chrome or Try Another Browser
To resolve the Chrome failed network error, you might have to reset Chrome and restore it to its default settings. This will disable all third-party extensions and will delete your cache and cookies. Fortunately, this will not affect your browsing history, saved passwords, and bookmarks.
Now, here’s how you can reset Google Chrome:
Click the menu button (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings. Select the Advanced dropdown menu in the next window. Next, select the Reset and clean up option. Select the Restore settings to their original defaults option. Finally, click the Reset settings button on the next screen.
If this doesn’t resolve your issue, you could try downloading your files using another web browser.
5. Update Your Network Drivers
Are you bumping into the Chrome failed network error when downloading files on a Windows PC? Perhaps the issue lies with the Windows network drivers.
The network drivers control the interface between your Windows PC and a given network. But if you’re running outdated or corrupted network drivers, this could cause various network connection issues.
So, updating your network drivers could tackle the “downloads keep failing network error” on Chrome.
To get started, type Device Manager in the Windows Start Menu and select Device Manager when it appears. Select the Network adapters option. Right-click on your PC’s network driver and select Update driver. In the next window, select Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software. Finally, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
6. Configure the Windows Attachment Manager Settings
The Windows Attachment Manager helps protect your computer from unsafe files that you download or receive via email. If it considers a file unsafe, it blocks you from downloading it.
So, this Windows tool might be the reason you’re encountering the “failed download error” on Chrome. In this case, you’ll need to configure the Windows Attachment Manager settings to resolve the issue.
To get started, press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type inetcpl. cpl and press Enter. Navigate to the Security tab on the Internet Properties window. Click the Custom level button. In the Security Settings window, scroll down and locate the Downloads option. From there, check the Enable button under the File download option. Scroll further down and locate the Miscellaneous option. Next, check the Prompt (recommended) option under the Launching applications and unsafe files option. Click OK to continue. Next, click Apply and then click OK on the Internet Properties window. Finally, restart your PC to apply the changes.
“Download Failed - Network Error” Solved
Chrome is prone to several issues that affect functionalities such as downloading files. As we’ve indicated, this error could also stem from your computer. Hopefully, you should be able to resolve this issue using the tips we’ve provided.
