Are you trying to figure out why your Gmail attachments aren’t downloading? Whether Gmail inhibits you from attaching files to your emails or refuses to download multimedia attachments? Try these ways to solve the problem. The most widely used email platform for sending and receiving emails is Gmail.
The instrument, on the other hand, is not without flaws. Customers of Gmail, for example, have lately claimed that they are unable to download attachments to their emails on Windows 10. If this happens, you won’t be able to drag and drop files into Gmail or respond to the attachment button.
Instead, most of the time, a popup error notification displays that states “There was a difficulty attaching your file” or “Attachment failed.” So, if you’ve ever encountered this issue, here’s how to repair Gmail Failed to Download Attachments.
What Causes Gmail Attachment Download to Fail?
The most common cause of this error message is a firewall or proxy server. There are, however, other factors to consider, such as:
- For security reasons, Gmail will not send or receive executable files or attachments that it suspects are contaminated.
- It could be due to a browser plugin that limits Gmail’s functionality.
- You’re using a browser that can’t be used. To avoid such problems, the best browsers to use are Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.
Now that we know what’s causing the failure to download attachments in Gmail, let’s figure out how to fix it.
Gmail Attachments Won’t Download? Here Are 5 Easy Ways To Fix It
The firewall must be turned off. One of the tried and tested strategies for getting past this error notification is to disable a firewall. To do so, follow the instructions below:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type firewall in the command prompt. OK > CPL
3. In the left pane, click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
4. This will create a new tab in your browser window. Under Private network settings, choose the radio button next to Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended), then the same item under Public network settings.
5. To save your changes and dismiss the window, click OK.
6. We recommend temporarily disabling any third-party security software you’re using.
The attachment should now be able to be emailed or downloaded. Make sure the Firewall is switched on after that.
2. Turn off the proxy server
Another way to address failed multimedia attachment downloads is to disable the proxy server. To do so, take the following steps:
1. In the Windows search box, type Internet options. Choose the most favourable outcome.
2. From the Connections tab, choose LAN settings.
3. Click OK after unchecking the option that says “Use a proxy server for your LAN.”
4. To save your changes, click Apply > OK.
5. To close the Internet Properties window, click the OK button.
Now you may download the attachment via Gmail; it should work. Proceed to the following step if this is not the case.
3. Install the latest version of your browser
When you close and reopen a web browser, it is immediately updated.
However, if you haven’t closed it in a long time, it might be out of date.
As a result, we recommend that you check for and download a browser update (if one is available) using the instructions below:
Installing Google Chrome is simple.
1. To get started, open Google Chrome.
2. Next, click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. From the drop-down menu, choose Help > About Google Chrome.
4. Wait for Chrome to check for updates.
5. If any are available, you will be notified. After obtaining the updates, install them.
Then, to implement the changes, select the Relaunch option.
To Update Firefox, Follow These Steps:
1. Launch the Firefox internet browser.
2. Now, click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. From the drop-down menu, select Help > About Firefox.
4. Wait for Firefox to check for updates.
5. If they’re available, download and install them. Click Restart to restart Firefox.
Instructions for updating Edge:
1. To begin, open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. From the drop-down menu, select Help and Feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
4. Wait for the update check to finish.
5. If any are accessible, they will be instantly downloaded.
6. Restart the Microsoft Edge browser to make the changes.
Now try to download the attachment that you couldn’t get to via Gmail.
4. Delete the Cache and Cookies in your browser
Attempting to download Gmail attachments due to a browser issue? Try clearing cookies and cache first. Cookies make surfing more enjoyable, but if your browser’s cookies get out of date, you may face issues. Cache, a feature that preserves information about certain portions of a page or image, can also cause issues.
In order to avoid this, clear the browser’s cache and cookies. In order to clear Cache and Cookies from every browser at once, use Advanced System Optimizer. Additionally, the Privacy Protector module of our highly recommended PC Optimization tool may identify and erase Cache and cookies from all browsers at the same time.
To utilise it, simply follow the instructions listed below:
1. Computer and install an Advanced System Optimizer on your download.
2. Open the program’s window.
3. Select Security & Privacy from the menu on the left.
4. Use the privacy guardian to scan for threats and then begin
5. Wait for the scan to finish before looking at the results.
6. Click Clean to resolve issues.
7. Clearing the browser’s cache and cookies is made easier using this method.
5. Switch to incognito mode
If you use browser extensions and add-ons, it’s possible that one of them is preventing Gmail from downloading files. Try using the browser in Incognito or Private mode to determine whether this is the case.
If you pick the private option, you’ll have to re-login to your Gmail account.
Now is the time to try to attach or download attachments from or to Gmail. If this solves the problem, you’ll need to disable each extension one by one until you locate the one that’s causing it. Then, after you’ve located the problematic attachment, delete it.
This will help you avoid the Gmail attachment not downloading problem. Try a different browser if none of the previous procedures work.
Gmail Attachment Failed to Download
The Best and Easiest Ways to Fix Gmail Attachment Download Failed The procedures outlined above will allow you to easily attach files to Gmail and download them. Simply ensure that you’re using the right browser and that the files you’re downloading are secure. If you are unable to resolve the issue, we recommend that you move to a different email service.
Click here to discover more about the possibilities. Also, see our post on the Best and Most Popular Email Services in 2021. We hope you found the information useful and that you will share it with others who are experiencing a problem similar to Fix Gmail Failed to Download Attachments. Could you please share your thoughts in the comments section?