The local download option in Google Chrome is quite convenient. We can download anything from the internet without any hassle. However, Chrome or other browsers have trouble downloading files from time to time. Are you facing the same issue on your Android phone? Learn how to fix downloads not working in Google Chrome on Android.
Many users get a download paused error when they try to save something using Chrome. Resuming the download doesn’t seem to help as the download keeps getting stuck while paused or waiting for download status errors.
In this post, we will tell you how to fix Chrome not downloading files on Android.
1. Reboot Phone
Sometimes a simple full reboot can do wonders. Restart your phone before trying the next solutions.
2. Check Storage Capacity
If your phone doesn’t have enough storage, you’ll run into download issues in Chrome and other apps like the Google Play Store. So, check the available storage. For this, go to Settings > Storage. If it’s full, learn how to free up space on Android phones.
3. Check Data Saver Settings
If you are using data saver mode on your phone, you need to whitelist Chrome so it can have unlimited access to data. To do this, follow these steps:
Stage 1: Open Settings on your phone and tap Apps.
Step 2: Tap on Chrome and then Mobile data or Data usage.
Stage 3: Enable the toggle ‘Allow data usage in the background’ and ‘Allow app when data saver is on’. Your phone may have a different name for these two settings. But the main idea is the same, i.e. let Chrome use data in the background and whitelist it with data saver turned on.
Step 4: Restart the phone. Now try downloading files from Chrome.
Pro Tip: If you are not using data saver, disable it. To do this, go to Settings > Connections > Data usage.
4. Check for Battery Restrictions
Battery saver modes can also be responsible for interrupting downloads in Chrome. To fix the problem, you need to remove the battery restrictions from Chrome.
To do this, follow these steps:
Stage 1: Launch Settings on your phone and go to Apps.
Step 2: Tap Chrome and then Battery.
Stage 3: Enable the toggle next to Allow background activity. On some phones, you will have a Background restriction option. Tap on it and select Uninstall. Restart the phone and see if the downloads continue in Chrome.
Step 4: Repeat steps 1 and 2. Tap on Optimize battery usage.
Step 5: Tap the dropdown box at the top and select All.
Step 6: Scroll down and disable the battery optimization toggle for Chrome. If you have more than one option, you should select ‘Don’t optimize for Chrome’.
Step 7: Restart the phone.
Pro Tip: Samsung’s smartphones have special battery saving modes. You can find it under Settings > Device Care > Battery > Sleeping apps. Uninstall Chrome from it.
5. Clean Up Download Folder
Some Chrome users have suggested that clearing existing Downloads folders should resume the normal functioning of downloads in Chrome. You need to move the old files from the Downloads folder to a different folder. Once the Downloads folder is empty, try downloading files from Chrome.
Pro Tip: You can also try renaming your current Downloads folder to a different name, such as Old downloads.
6. Change Download Location
If your phone supports a microSD card then you should try changing the download location from phone to card and vice versa. For this, open Chrome and tap on the three-dot icon at the top. Select Downloads.
Then tap the settings icon at the top of the Downloads screen. Tap on Download location and change the location.
Pro Tip: Sometimes the problem can also be with the memory card. Before trying to download a file, remove it. Check if you are responsible.
7. Clear Cache for Chrome
For Google Chrome, you need to clear cache and data. While clearing the cache will not delete any of your personal files, clear data will remove bookmarks if they are not synced with your Google account. You will also lose any customizations you have made in the app.
To clear cache and data for Chrome, follow these steps:
Stage 1: Open Settings on your phone and go to Apps.
Step 2: Under All apps, tap on Chrome.
Stage 3: You will be directed to the application information screen. Tap on Storage. Next, tap on Clear cache first. Restart your phone and try to download a file. If the problem persists, tap on Clear data or Clear storage depending on the option available on your phone instead of clear cache. On Samsung phones, you can find this option in Manage storage. Then restart your phone.
Pro Tip: On phones running Android 7.1 Nougat and above, you can long press the Chrome icon on the home screen and select App info to go directly to step 3.
8. Update App
Updating the app is known to fix many issues that can be caused by bugs in the app. You should also update Google Chrome to fix download problems. To do this, open Play Store and search for Chrome. Tap on Update. Learn how to find out if apps need updating on Android.
9. Reinstall Chrome
If nothing works, you should uninstall Chrome from your phone. You may not be able to uninstall Chrome if it’s a system app. But you can uninstall its updates and restore it to the factory version. When this happens, reinstall or update the app.
To uninstall Chrome, open Play Store and search for Chrome. Tap Uninstall for Chrome.
Alternatively, open Settings on your phone and go to Apps. Tap Chrome. Next, tap on the three-dot icon at the top. Select Uninstall updates. Restart the phone and then reinstall from Play Store.
Use Alternative Methods
We hope that one of the methods mentioned above will fix the Chrome downloads pausing issue on Android. If the problem persists, you can try using other browsers like Samsung Internet or Opera. If you want to stay on Chrome, install a third-party download manager like Advanced Download Manager, which will work with all browsers including Chrome.
Next: Want to download web pages as PDF files on your Android phones? Learn how to do this in Chrome at the next link.
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