Picture this: You are trying to download something important in your Chrome browser, and just as you’re about to hit the 100% mark, the download gets stuck. Frustrating, isn’t it? Trust me; I’ve been there. I know how it feels to have your heart sink as you watch that spinning wheel spin on forever.
For example, I recently tried to download Windows 11 ISO to install it in VMware, and just as it reached 100%, the Chrome download was stuck. Despite waiting for an extended period, the download wouldn’t continue. I had to find other ways to download the ISO file.
Though the problem sounds complicated at first glance, it is pretty easy to fix. In this article, I will a few tips and tricks you can follow to quickly fix the Chrome download stuck problem and get your downloads moving again.
Table of contents:
Solving the Chrome download stuck issue
I will show a few troubleshooting tips and tricks you can try to fix the problem of downloads getting stuck in Chrome. Try each solution in the order it is presented until the problem is fixed.
1. Restart the computer
Restarting your computer can be a simple yet effective solution to the Chrome download stuck problem. When you restart Windows, it closes all running programs, restarts background services, and clears the memory, which can help to resolve any conflicts or issues that may be causing the problem. This is especially true if you have been running multiple programs or working on your system for an extended period of time.
Keep in mind that when there is a problem, you should always “restart” the computer, not “shut down” and power it on again.
To restart Windows, right-click on the “Start icon” on the taskbar and select the “Shut down or sign out -> Restart” option.
2. Check if you have enough disk space
Another solution to the Chrome download stuck problem is to check if you have enough disk space on your system. When your system runs low on disk space, it can cause various issues, including stuck downloads.
Generally, all downloads are downloaded to the “Downloads” folder in the C drive. So, you need to make sure there is enough space in the C drive. To check the disk space, open File Explorer with the “Windows key + E” keyboard shortcut and go to the “This PC” page on the sidebar. Here, see if the C drive has enough free space. Typically, low disk space is highlighted with red color.
If the disk space is low, delete unnecessary files, empty recycle bin, uninstall unwanted programs, or move personal files to another drive or an external hard drive to free up the disk space. I also recommend running Storage Sense which helps delete temp files, Windows update files, and many more unnecessary space-consuming files.
If necessary, you can also try moving the Downloads folder to another drive.
All in all, ensure the system has enough disk space for the files you are downloading and see if that fixes the problem.
3. Clear Chrome cache
Clearing the cache in Chrome is another effective solution to the Chrome download stuck problem.
If you don’t know, as you use the browser, over time, it accumulates a large amount of data, including cached files and cookies. Under certain circumstances, the cached data and cookies might be corrupted or outdated, causing downloads to get stuck.
So, you may clear the cache in Chrome and try downloading again.
Follow the below steps to clear the cache in Chrome:
- Open the Chrome browser.
- Click on the “Menu” icon.
- Select the “Settings” option.
- Go to the “Privacy and security” page.
- Click on the “Clear browsing data” option.
- Go to the “Advanced” tab.
- Select “All time” from the “Time range” dropdown.
- Select the “Cached images and files” checkbox.
- Uncheck all other checkboxes.
- Press the “Clear data” button.
As soon as you press the button, Chrome will clear the cache. You can now try downloading the files again and see if that fixes the problem.
4. Disable Chrome virus scan
Most don’t know this, but Chrome has a built-in virus scanner that checks downloaded files for malware and other threats. Chrome only saves the downloaded files once it is cleared with the built-in antivirus.
However, in some cases, this feature can cause conflicts with the download process, resulting in stuck downloads.
So, to fix the problem, you can try disabling the Chrome antivirus scan and downloading the file again.
Here’s how to disable Chrome antivirus scan:
- Open the Chrome browser.
- Click on the “Menu” icon.
- Select the “Settings” option.
- Go to the “Privacy and security” page.
- Click on the “Security” option.
- Select the “No protection” option.
- Close the Settings page.
- Restart the Chrome browser.
This will disable the Chrome antivirus scan. Now, try and download the files again. If the virus scan is causing the issue, it should be fixed now, and the file will be downloaded normally.
It’s important to note that disabling the Chrome virus scan feature can leave your system vulnerable to malware and other threats.
So, always re-enable the Chrome virus scan after downloading the files and only treat it as a temporary solution. Additionally, make sure your computer has reliable antivirus and anti-malware software installed. Since Windows 8, 10, and 11 come with built-in antivirus called Windows Defender (Windows Security), it is not a problem in most cases.
5. Whitelist in antivirus
Sometimes, your antivirus software might stop the Chrome browser from completing the download, causing stuck downloads.
To fix it, you must whitelist the downloadable file and/or the Chrome browser. By whitelisting the website or file, you are telling your antivirus software to allow the download to proceed without interruption. The process of whitelisting varies depending on the antivirus software you are using, but it typically involves adding the website or file to a list of trusted sources.
If you are not using any third-party antivirus, you are, by default, using Windows Defender. If that’s the case, follow these steps to whitelist files in Windows Defender.
While whitelisting, ensure that the file or website is trustworthy, safe, and legitimate. If you are unsure or have doubts, I recommend against whitelisting such files.
6. Disable extensions
One of the best things about Chrome is that you can extend the existing capabilities or add new ones using extensions. In fact, there is an extension for everything in Chrome.
Generally, most extensions play nice with the Chrome browser. However, some extensions may be causing conflicts with the download process, resulting in stuck downloads. If that’s the case, you can disable all installed extensions and then download the file.
Here’s how to disable extensions in Chrome:
- Open the Chrome browser.
- Click on the “Menu” icon.
- Select the “More tools -> Extensions” option.
- Turn off all the extensions on this page.
- Close the Settings tab.
- Restart the Chrome browser.
You can also disable all Chrome extensions at once.
After restarting, try to download the file. If extensions are causing the problem, the file should be downloaded normally. Once downloaded, you can enable the extensions. That way, you don’t lose functionality.
If you want to find which extension is causing the problem, enable each extension one by one and try to download the file after enabling each extension. If you encounter the issue, the extension that you enabled right before trying to download the file may be the culprit.
7. Reset Chrome to its default settings
Sometimes, the problems of downloads getting stuck might be due to incorrect settings or corrupted files. In that case, you can reset the Chrome browser to fix the problem.
By resetting Chrome to its default settings, you will remove any changes made to the browser, including extensions, homepage, search engine settings, etc. To put it simply, resetting will restore the browser to its original state.
It’s important to note that resetting Chrome to its default settings will also remove all your browsing history, autofill data, and saved passwords. However, if you are signed into your Google account, all this information is already synced. If you are not signed into your Google account, I recommend you back up the data before resetting Chrome.
As an additional step, you can also reinstall the browser.
After resetting or reinstalling, you may download the file without any hiccups.
Bonus tips to prevent stuck downloads in Chrome
If you want to prevent the problem of Chrome downloads getting stuck, follow the below bonus tips:
Pause and resume: Often, it might be that the download server is slow and not allowing you to download the file to its completion. In that case, pausing the download and then resuming it immediately may solve the problem. This is because resuming the download initiates a new connection from the server. However, you might have to do it multiple times, depending on the download server and file size.
Use a download manager: Third-party download managers can be more reliable at downloading files than Chrome. Additionally, dedicated download managers provide additional features such as multiple connections, pause and resume, scheduling, and more. Some popular options include IDM (Internet Download Manager), JDownloader, and Free Download Manager.
Chrome Download Stuck – Conclusion
All in all, downloads getting stuck in Chrome can be a frustrating problem. But, it can be easily resolved by following the steps and solutions discussed in this article. From restarting your system to clearing the cache and cookies, disabling Chrome virus scanning, disabling conflicting software, and resetting Chrome to its default settings, there are various methods to get your downloads moving again.
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I hope this simple and easy Windows how-to guide helped you.
If you are stuck or need help, send an email, and I will try to help as much as possible.