Google Drive "Failed - Network error": what it means and how to fix it
"Failed - Network error" means your browser lost its connection to Google's download server before the file finished. This happens most often with large files or folder zips. The most common fix is to allow third-party cookies for drive.google.com, since Drive uses them to reach its download server. Then retry the download in an Incognito window, or in another browser.
What this message means
When you download from Google Drive in a browser, the file doesn't come from drive.google.com itself. It is served from a separate Google download server (googleusercontent.com). "Failed - Network error" is the browser's message for a transfer that started and then broke off, or that the download server refused to finish. The file in Drive is not damaged. The cause is almost always something between you and that server: blocked cookies, an extension, antivirus software scanning the connection, an unstable network, or a very large zip download that timed out. Chrome, Edge and Brave show this exact wording in the downloads bar and on the chrome://downloads page.
Common causes
| Cause | How to tell |
|---|---|
| Third-party cookies are blocked for Drive | Every Drive download fails almost immediately, even small files, while downloads from other websites work normally. It often starts after you change privacy settings or install a privacy-focused browser. |
| A browser extension is interfering with the download | The same file downloads fine in an Incognito or private window, where extensions are off by default. Ad blockers, VPN extensions and download manager extensions are the usual culprits. |
| Antivirus or firewall is scanning or cutting the connection | The download reaches a certain size or near 100% and then fails. Your security software (for example Avast, AVG, ESET, Kaspersky or Bitdefender) has a feature called HTTPS scanning, Web Shield or encrypted connection scanning turned on. |
| The download is a large file or a large folder zip | Single small files download fine, but downloading a whole folder or many files at once fails. Drive shows "Preparing download" or "Zipping" for a long time before the download starts. |
| Unstable or interrupted internet connection | Downloads from other sites also stall or fail, the Wi-Fi drops, or the failure happens after your computer goes to sleep or switches networks (VPN reconnect, Wi-Fi to Ethernet). |
| The file is getting too much traffic | It is a publicly shared file, and you may also see "Too many users have viewed or downloaded this file recently". Google says this limit is temporary and usually resets within 24 hours. |
How to fix it
1. Resume or retry the download
- Open the downloads page: press Ctrl+J on Windows or Cmd+Shift+J on Mac in Chrome (in Edge, press Ctrl+J on Windows or Cmd+Shift+J on Mac as well).
- Find the failed file and click Resume or Retry if the button is shown.
- If there is no Resume button, go back to Google Drive and download the file again.
- Keep the computer awake and on the same network until the download finishes.
2. Allow third-party cookies for Google Drive
Google Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS. Edge has similar settings under edge://settings/content/cookies.
- Type chrome://settings/cookies in the address bar and press Enter.
- Scroll to "Sites allowed to use third-party cookies" and click Add.
- Enter drive.google.com, tick "Including third-party cookies on this site" if shown, and click Add.
- If you see a "Sites that can never use cookies" list, remove any entries for googleusercontent.com, drive.google.com or google.com.
- Reload Google Drive and download the file again.
3. Test in an Incognito window, then find the extension
- Open an Incognito window with Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac (InPrivate in Edge: Ctrl+Shift+N).
- Sign in to drive.google.com and download the same file.
- If it works, go to chrome://extensions and turn off all extensions.
- Turn them back on one at a time, retrying the download each time, until the failure comes back. Remove or keep disabled the extension that causes it.
- If Incognito also fails, try a different browser such as Firefox, Edge or Safari to rule out the browser itself.
4. Turn off antivirus HTTPS scanning while downloading
Mainly Windows PCs with third-party antivirus. Setting names differ by product.
- Open your antivirus program and go to its settings, usually under Protection, Web Shield or Web Protection.
- Find the option called HTTPS scanning, Enable HTTPS scanning, Scan encrypted connections or SSL scanning, and turn it off.
- Retry the Drive download.
- Turn the setting back on once the download has finished.
- If you manage a company device, ask IT to allow drive.google.com and *.googleusercontent.com in the web filter or proxy instead.
5. Split up large folder downloads
- Open the folder in Google Drive instead of downloading the whole folder at once.
- Select a smaller group of files (hold Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on Mac and click each one), right-click and choose Download.
- For very large single files, use a wired connection or a stable network and avoid VPNs during the download.
- If Drive creates several .zip files for one folder, make sure every part finishes downloading, and retry only the parts that failed.
6. Download through Google Drive for desktop instead of the browser
Windows 10 and 11, and macOS. Requires installing the free Google Drive for desktop app.
- Download and install Google Drive for desktop from google.com/drive/download and sign in with the same Google account.
- Open the Google Drive location it creates (a G: drive in File Explorer on Windows, or Google Drive under Locations in the Finder sidebar on Mac).
- Find the file or folder, then copy and paste it onto your Desktop or another local folder.
- Wait for the copy to finish. The app resumes by itself if the connection drops, which the browser often cannot do for large zips.
- For a file shared with you, right-click it in drive.google.com and choose Organize, then Add shortcut, so it appears in Drive for desktop.
Next time, skip the search
Crade is an AI assistant for Mac and Windows that sees your screen. When a message like this pops up, ask “what does this mean?” and it explains the exact error in front of you, step by step.
Download CradeStill not fixed?
If the download fails in every browser and on a different network (for example a phone hotspot), check whether the owner has disabled downloading for viewers, and if the file is public and popular, make a copy with File, Make a copy (or right-click, Make a copy) and download the copy, or wait up to 24 hours. On a school or work account, the Google Workspace admin may have restricted downloads or your network may block googleusercontent.com, so contact your IT department. Otherwise, post the browser, operating system and file size in the Google Drive Help Community.
Questions people ask
Why does Google Drive say "Failed - Network error" when my internet works fine?
Drive downloads come from a separate Google server that relies on third-party cookies. Blocked cookies, an extension or antivirus HTTPS scanning can break that connection even when normal browsing works. Allowing cookies for drive.google.com and testing in Incognito finds the cause in most cases.
Why do big Google Drive zip downloads fail at the end?
Drive has to build the zip on its servers before sending it, and large downloads take long enough that any short connection drop, sleep mode or antivirus scan can interrupt them. Download fewer files at a time, or copy them through Google Drive for desktop, which resumes automatically.
Can I resume a failed Google Drive download?
Sometimes. Open the browser's downloads page (Ctrl+J on Windows, Cmd+Shift+J on Mac in Chrome) and click Resume if it is shown. Drive zip downloads often can't be resumed, so you need to start them again.
Is my file in Google Drive damaged or deleted?
No. The error only affects the copy being downloaded to your computer. The original stays unchanged in Drive, and you should delete any partial .crdownload file it left behind.
Does the network error fix work in Edge and Brave too?
Yes. Both are based on Chromium and show the same message. The same fixes apply: allow cookies for drive.google.com, test in a private window and disable extensions. Brave Shields can also block Drive downloads, so turn Shields off for drive.google.com.