How to fix the error can't download files from Google Drive on Windows

Even so, sometimes Google Drive can go wrong, just like any other cloud service. You may find that Google Drive won't let you download files. Usually, this is a browser issue that has little to do with your operating system or machine.

Here are some fixes you can do if you are facing the same problem.

1. Check Internet Connection

Make sure that your device is correctly connected to the Internet before making important adjustments. Sometimes the Internet can't establish a connection with Google Drive's storage server, so you might not be able to download anything.

Server failure can also lead to the same problem, but in this case it is not possible, as Google uses a backup server. Therefore, the Internet is not connected properly or the connection is unstable which is preventing you from downloading your necessary files. Therefore, it is important to rule out Internet connection problems.

Look at the Internet icon at the bottom left of the taskbar to check your Internet connection. If the Internet appears to be connected, consider downloading other content on the same computer.

When your Internet connection doesn't work, try restarting the router and test it on other devices. If no devices are connecting to the Internet, contact your ISP to rule out hardware or connectivity issues.

However, if everything else works fine on the same device or another device connected to the same Internet network, then another problem may need to be examined in more detail.

2. Sign out of all other accounts

Another reason why Google Drive downloads might fail is when multiple accounts are signed in on the same device. You may be trying to access files in another Google Drive account while signed in to another account.

This type of conflict prevents you from downloading your files. Therefore, you should sign out of all your other accounts except the one you will use to download the file.

To sign out of your Google account, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Google Chrome.

Step 2: At the top right of the page, click your profile icon.

Step 3: Click Sign out or Sign out of all accounts in case of multiple accounts.

Step 4: Sign in again and try downloading the file from your Google Drive.

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If signing out of Chrome doesn't solve the problem, restart Chrome once.

3. Restart Chrome

In some cases, this error is not related to multiple user account logins or server delays, but simply arises from a browser bug, which can be easily remedied by restarting the application.

Close and reopen Drive/Chrome, then test by downloading the file from Google Drive. Continue with the other fixes below if the error persists.

4. Disable Extensions

Add browser extensions to enhance the user experience. This provides access to additional features that would otherwise be limited or unavailable in the browser itself.

While these extension functions are often useful, they can sometimes affect your browser's performance. Since you access Google Drive with the same browser, this can also create problems in its operation.

To eliminate this possibility, disable each browser extension, especially those that directly interfere with its scripts, such as ad blockers, website blockers, etc.

To disable extensions in Chrome, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Google Chrome and click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner.

Step 2: Go to More tools > Extensions.

Step 3: In the extensions window, disable specific extensions by turning the switch to the left or clicking Remove to remove them completely.

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Disable all installed extensions if you have too many. Next, try downloading your files. Then re-enable the extension. However, if that doesn't work, consider clearing your browser's cache.

5. Clear cache

Too much data in the browser cache can cause Google Drive download errors due to overlapping and resource allocation. Clearing the cache in Chrome can help.

6. Reset Chrome to default settings

When Chrome is reset to default settings, Chrome automatically removes any browser-related obstacles that could prevent Drive from downloading files. This may not solve the problem under discussion but does improve browser performance for a while.

7. Reinstall Chrome Browser

Reinstalling Chrome gives your browser a fresh start. This can help solve any hidden problems that have appeared before.

To reinstall Chrome, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Windows Settings.

Step 2: Click Apps.

Step 3: Find and click on Google Chrome from the menu and click the Uninstall button.

Step 4: Next, download the Chrome app from another browser and install it.

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If reinstalling Chrome doesn't solve the download problem, trying to download the same files in a different browser is a last resort.

8. Switch to another browser

Chrome may have problems preventing files from downloading when Google Drive is accessed through this browser. You may have tried to fix the problem but it seems that the problem still hasn't resolved itself.

So switching to another browser, such as Microsoft Edge or Firefox, can help you access and download files from Google Drive.

Even if you can't download files from any other browser, chances are your Google Drive account is complicating things. The only thing you can do here is wait for the file to download later.

David Pac

Update 14 February 2022