Solve Chrome Blocking Downloads Issues on Different Devices

how to stop Chrome from blocking downloads

Chrome’s built-in security tools defend you against dangerous websites and malicious downloads online. Unfortunately, Chrome is sometimes overly cautious and sensitive and may block perfectly safe files that it thinks may be dangerous. This article will show how to stop Chrome from blocking downloads on different devices.

How to Stop Chrome from Blocking Downloads?

We’ll introduce a guide on stopping Chrome from blocking downloads on different devices, including PCs, Macs, Android, and iOS. Here is a step-by-step guide to reset Chrome and help download safely.

On PCs

  • The first step is disabling safe browsing. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu on the top-right corner. Click the “Setting”, “Privacy and Security”, and “Security” one by one. Under Safe Browsing, select No Protection (not recommended).
  • Then when downloading, if Chrome blocks downloading, click the three dots next to the message “File blocked”, and choose “Keep” and “Keep anyway”.
  • The last step is to set the whitelist. Open your blocked sites, click the lock icon in the address bar, and “Site settings”. Under permissions, set “Automatic downloads” to “Allow”.

On Mac

  • On a Mac, setting Chrome from blocking downloads is simpler. The first step is to turn off your Safe Browsing feature, open Chrome, and go to “Settings”, “Privacy and Security”, and “Security”. Under it select No protection (not recommended).
  • To make sure your files safely downloading, go to “System Preferences” and select “Security and Privacy” to allow files in macOS security.
  • However, if a file is still blocked, an option will pop up under the “General” tab, just clicking “Allow Anyway” next to the blocked file is okay.

On Android

Solution 1:

  • The step of stopping Chrome from blocking downloads is similar to PCs. Launch the Google Chrome app on your Android device. Go to “Settings”. Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner. Select “Settings”.
  • Under the “Privacy and Security” section, tap on “Site settings”. Scroll down and tap on “Download”. Make sure “Allow Chrome to download files” is turned on. If it’s off, toggle the switch to turn it on.

Solution 2:

  • Chrome stops your downloads because of your heavy data and cache. Fixed the question by clearing the cache and cookies on Chrome. Navigate to “Settings”, select “Apps & Notifications”, and select “Chrome”.
  • Then click “Storage & Cache” to access the settings, select “Clear data” and “Clear cache” and try downloading again after reopening Chrome.

Solution 3:

  • If the issue still exists, please change to a different browser or IP address. Browsers like Firefox or Microsoft Edge might have less restrictions on downloading files.
  • Using a VPN to change your IP address can reduce the risk of Chrome blocking downloads too. LightningX VPN encrypts your real online information and enhances your security to stop Chrome from blocking downloads.

Tip:

LightningX VPN offers a strong encryption algorithm to protect you including AES-256-GCM, ChaCha20-Poly1305, and others. It’s compatible with different devices like Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Apple TV, and Android TV.

On iPhone/iPad

  • Check your content restrictions on iOS. Open “Setting”, and go to “Screen Time” and “Content & Privacy Restrictions”. Under the Web Content section, ensure it’s set to “Unrestricted Access”.
  • Check the Chrome websites’ restrictions and permissions. Open Chrome and visit the site from which you’re downloading. Tap the lock icon or info icon in the address bar. Select “Site Settings”. Ensure permissions like “Automatic Downloads” are enabled.

Why Chrome Blocks Downloads?

Chrome stops some blocked content to protect users from potentially harmful and suspicious files. It’s Chrome’s built-in security measure, here are some common reasons to explain why Chrome blocks downloads in detail.

To reduce potential Malware or Viruses:

Chrome scans content and compares it to a database of known harmful files. Chrome may block a file if it contains patterns or comes from an unreliable source to protect your device.

Suspicious Website:

Some unsafe or unreliable websites downloads will be marked and blocked by Chrome. Unknown websites that provide harmful files or lack a valid SSL certificate are usually blocked. These suspicious websites may harm your device’s security.

Unsafe File Type:

Some file types that are not used frequently are more prone to harboring malware, such as exe, bat, and zip. When you download these file types, Chrome will block them even if their source is legitimate.

Incomplete or interrupted downloads process:

During the downloading process, if your Internet interrupts and your download content is incomplete. Chrome blocks the download file as it might become corrupted or unstable.

Reset your browser:

Sometimes, your browser’s settings may affect the downloading process. Chrome may restrict downloads under these conditions: set the “Safe Browsing” mode, set a child account, or downloads restricted in managed.

Firewall or antivirus interference:

The setting of network firewall security affects Chrome’s blocking of downloads. Your antivirus or firewall software works alongside Chrome and blocks downloads flagged as suspicious.

FAQs of How to Stop Chrome from Blocking Downloads

Why Did Chrome Stop My Downloading?

Google Chrome’s built-in security measures automatically block the download of malicious files to prevent situations such as your computer being infected, private information such as passwords being shared, and so on. To prevent this from happening, Google automatically blocks these files.

How Can I Judge Whether the Content is Harmful?

You can download the file again. Keep in mind some of the parameters of downloading a file from a reputable site, in a file format that matches the file you are downloading.

Is There a Risk If I Use a Third-Party Download Manager?

We recommend not to use third-party download tools on Chrome. You are better off using Chrome’s downloader, which will help you scan for files that are a security risk.

Bottom Line

Although Chrome blocks your downloads and makes you sad, this post teaches you how to stop Chrome from blocking downloads. After trying these methods, you’ll download files without prevention.

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