6 Ways to Fix Google Chrome Crashes When Downloading Files on Windows

Quick Tips

• If the download folder is restricted, the download will fail.
• Some Chrome extensions, especially download managers and speed checkers, can disrupt the download process.
• Creating a new profile is the best way to test if the current user account has issues.

Fix 1. Change the Default Download Location

Step 1: In Google Chrome, click the three-dot menu icon at the top right and select Settings from the list.

Step 2: Select Downloads from the left sidebar and click the Change button on your right.

Step 3: In the File Explorer window, navigate to the folder where you want to save your downloads. Then, click the Select Folder button.

Fix 2. Disable Chrome Extensions

Step 1: In Chrome, type chrome://extensions in the address bar and press Enter. Then, use the toggles to disable all your extensions.

Step 2: Restart Chrome and try to download a file again. If this method works, it’s a third-party extension causing trouble.

Step 3: To find the culprit, enable your extensions one at a time and download a file after enabling each extension.

Fix 3. Clear Browser Cache

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open Chrome’s Clear browsing data panel.

Step 2: Click the drop-down menu next to the Time range and select All time. Check the box for Cached images and files and click Clear data.

Step 3: Restart Chrome and try to download a file again.

Fix 4. Create a New User Profile

Step 1: Open Chrome and click on your profile picture at the top right.

Step 2: Under Other profiles, click on Add.

Step 3: Select Continue without an account.

Step 4: Enter a suitable name and pick a color scheme for your profile. Then, click on Done to proceed.

Chrome will relaunch with your new profile. Then, check if you can download files using the new profile.

Fix 5. Reset or Reinstall Google Chrome

Step 1: To reset Chrome, type chrome://settings/reset in the address bar and press Enter.

Step 2: Under Reset and clean up, click on Restore settings to their original defaults.

Step 3: Click Reset settings to confirm the action on the pop-up box.