Can’t Download From Google Drive, Here’s How To Fix It

by Hashir Zuniga

Can't Download From Google Drive

Google Drive is an online or cloud storage property of Google. Many people choose to use Google Drive to save important files or download them. However, sometimes files from Google Drive cannot be downloaded. For that, the following is the way to do when can’t download from Google Drive.

Reasons Files From Google Drive Cannot Download

Some of the advantages possessed by Google Drive are free capacity provided by 15 GB and the file-sharing feature. 15 GB capacity is certainly enough for standard use, especially with the sharing feature. However, at some point, you may experience problems when you want to download a shared file or re-download a file that you uploaded to Google Drive.

There are two things that cause someone can’t download from Google Drive. The first Google Drive limits the number of downloads of the file. The reason is that in the span of 24 hours, many people access the file. This case usually appears on Google Drive files that have been shared by someone. As a result, you cannot download the file in Google Drive.

Secondly, there is a problem with the internet connection that you are using. Because Google Drive is a cloud-based file repository, you must always be connected to the internet to be able to access your files on Google Drive. That means, your internet connection must be in a stable condition.

How To Fix Can’t Download File From Google Drive

The importance of a file makes people try to be able to download it. As explained earlier that there are several things that cause someone can’t download files from Google Drive. However, the following will explain 3 ways to overcome this.

1. Overcoming the Download Limit on Google Drive

The following will explain how to overcome can’t download from Google Drive which can only be done on a PC or smartphone that has the best browser. The first way is to copy the link address obtained from the file-sharing feature in Google Drive.

Then, enter the link address that has been shared by right-clicking on the address bar in the web browser, then selecting “Paste” or “Paste”. At the link address, delete the “&export=download” section, then replace the “uc” section with the phrase “open” (all written without quotation marks).

Overcoming the Download Limit on Google Drive

Next, you will be directed to a web page that contains a brief view of the file along with the “Download” button. In the upper-right corner of the page, click the “Google Drive +” logo then “My Drive”. The goal is to first add the file to your Google Drive storage. Then, right-click on the file you wish to download, then click “Make Copies”.

Then, open the homepage of your Google Drive. The file has now been saved in your Google Drive with the file name beginning with the name “Copies”.After that, right-click on the file or click the 3 dot icon next to the file name. Then click “Download”.

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Wait for the download process to complete. That way the problem can’t download from Google Drive because download limits have been resolved.

2. Overcome Can’t Download File in Google Drive using IDM

This software is very reliable for downloading all types of files from the internet, including videos, compressed files, documents, and others. Well, sometimes when using IDM, there are problems that make the file can’t be downloaded.

To overcome this you can only do it in Google Drive which is accessed using a web browser. First, open the Google Drive file download link as usual. Next, delete the “drive.google.com/file/d” section and the “/view” section. This will leave the Host File ID of the file you downloaded. Then add the URL address “https://googledrive.com/host/” in front of the Host File ID.

Overcome Can’t Download File in Google Drive using IDM

Then, press the enter key and automatically you will download the file. However, the file name will change and not be the same as the original title. Then, open the Download window in the browser you are using. If you use Google Chrome, click “Show All Downloads”, and click “Cancel”.

After that, right-click on the file name downloaded earlier. Then select “Copy link” or “Copy link address”. Then open IDM software, then click “Add URL”. Paste or paste the link address just now into the address bar in IDM then click OK.

If a window starts popping up explaining the details of the downloaded file, click “Start Download” and finish. Now you can solve the problem of can’t download using IDM.

3. Overcoming Cannot Download due to Internet Connection Problems

As previously explained that one of the causes of the file cannot be downloaded from Google Drive is because of an internet connection. If you can’t download files on Google Drive because of internet connection problems, there are a number of things you need to do.

The following is how to overcome not being able to download files from Google Drive due to an internet connection. First, if you are using a wifi connection, disconnect the router cable from the router and reconnect it later.

Try resetting the router. It is also possible that your router connection is experiencing problems that often occur on wifi networks. Meanwhile, if you use a cellular network connection, check the availability of cellular network signals in your area.

After you perform the steps above it turns out that your internet connection is still in trouble, the reason could be because you have not paid your internet bill or your data plan quota has run out. Pay your internet bill immediately or buy your data plan quota. You can also use an alternative internet connection, can use a cellular network from another operator, or use a Wi-Fi network.

That was the way to overcome can’t download from Google Drive that is easy to do. There are three ways to do this, namely to overcome download limits, with IDM, and because of an internet connection.

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10 comments

Fateme F June 15, 2020 - 1:47 pm

Hey!
Thanks for the tip. It really worked!

Reply
abdul hafiz August 22, 2020 - 10:26 pm

i had the same problem where the extension is ok . all i had to do is enter the file extension that i want to download (in the download manager settings, check if the file type is listed)

Reply
Khalid Alakhras September 23, 2020 - 9:37 am

I have faced the same issue! and find out that this is due to security issues in your google account.

Solutions……..!

1- Sign in to google as a guest, then in google drive sign in with your credentials (user name and password) … it should work!

2 – Sign in with your credentials (user name and password) in another internet browser (Explorer, Edge, Firefox, Opera, etc) It should work!

Reply
Randall October 15, 2020 - 4:48 pm

Thanks Khalid,
I’ve been trying to figure this out for a few days and this is what worked for me finally.

Reply
Helen October 18, 2020 - 11:25 am

Thank you, worked a treat

Reply
Ashok Chandra Singh November 23, 2020 - 8:57 am

Thank You 🙂

this works

Reply
Matti November 29, 2020 - 6:44 pm

Thank You for this.

We have my account and two kids accounts on Chrome – none of us can download any file from the Drive using Chrome on this Windows 10 laptop when using own Chrome profile =)
Upload, viewing etc works fine.

Solution is to use any other browser, than Chrome (no help trying incognito window) or as you said being visitor and logging just to Drive.

Reply
Hardik Rajpal September 29, 2020 - 10:43 am

Hi,
I suppose this is helpful but the problem on my computer was that third party cookies were blocked. In an incognito window, with the third party cookies blocked, downloads of even simple pdf documents were not achievable. I hope this helps.

Reply
Willow November 24, 2020 - 10:06 pm

Thank you so much! That was my problem too — third party cookies blocked. I was pulling my hair out.

Reply
Azure Raptor November 17, 2020 - 10:45 pm

Note that sometimes you will need to turn “enhanced tracking protection” off for drive.google.com in Firefox for downloads to work.

Click on the shield icon, to the immediate left of the URL bar, to access these settings.

Reply

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