5 Ways to Fix Microsoft Edge Not Downloading Files

Quick Tips

• Try changing the default download location in Microsoft Edge and see if that helps.
• Ensure your extensions or antivirus programs are not interrupting downloads in Edge.
• If the problem persists, consider repairing or resetting Microsoft Edge.

Try Basic Fixes

• Check antivirus settings: Third-party antivirus programs can sometimes block downloads from the internet to protect your PC from suspicious files. So, if you can’t download files on Edge, review your antivirus program’s settings and disable any option that might be blocking downloads.
• Restart your PC: Restarting your PC should close the Edge browser completely along with your other apps, potentially fixing any temporary issues that may be causing the problem.

Fix 1: Change the Download Path

If you’ve recently changed the downloads folder path in your Edge, or if that path isn’t available anymore, Edge might encounter errors while looking for it. Try changing the download path in Edge to something else to see if that works.

Step 1: Launch Microsoft Edge. Click the three-dot menu icon at the top right and select Settings from the list.

Step 2: Use the left pane to navigate to the Downloads tab > click Change next to Location.

Step 3: Choose a different location to save your downloads and check if the issue occurs after that.

Fix 2: Configure Edge to Download Office Files

Are you having trouble downloading Office files in Microsoft Edge? That could happen if you have configured Edge to open Office files in the browser instead of downloading them.

To change that, open Microsoft Edge, type edge://settings/downloads in the address bar at the top, and press Enter. Then, turn off the toggle for Open Office files in the browser.

Fix 3: Disable Extensions

Another thing to do is try downloading files in an InPrivate window in Edge and see if it works. If it does, it’s likely that one of your extensions is blocking downloads on Microsoft Edge. To identify the culprit, disable all the extensions and re-enable them one at a time.

Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge, type edge://extensions in the address bar, and hit Enter.

Step 2: Toggle off all the extensions.

After this, restart Edge and enable your extensions one at a time. Try downloading a file after enabling each extension until the issue occurs again. Once you find the problematic extension, consider removing it.

Fix 4: Repair Microsoft Edge

Repairing an app on Windows effectively fixes issues that may be affecting its functioning. Also, it’s completely safe, as you won’t lose any data while doing so. To repair Microsoft Edge on Windows:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app > head to Apps > Installed apps.

Step 2: Scroll down to locate Microsoft Edge. Click the three-dot menu next to it and select Modify.

Step 3: Click the Repair button to initiate the process.

As this process involves downloading Microsoft Edge again, ensure you are connected to the internet. Once the process is complete, Windows should automatically launch Edge.

Fix 5: Reset Microsoft Edge

If you still can’t download anything on Edge, consider resetting it on your PC. Doing so will revert the browser to its default configuration, resolving any issues.

Step 1: Launch Microsoft Edge > type edge://settings/reset in the URL box > press Enter > click on Reset settings to their default values.

Step 2: Choose Reset when prompted.