Can't download a file from Google Drive? Here's how to fix that
Can't download a file from Google Drive? Here's how to fix that
‘ZDNET Recommends’: What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET’s recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET’s editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
Can’t download a file from Google Drive? Here’s how to fix that
Westend61/Getty Images
Have you ever gone to download a file from Google Drive, only to be prevented from doing so? Every so often I’ll make a change to my browser privacy settings, only to find it can no longer download the files I need. It’s frustrating because I know it’s going to happen when I make the change; I just forget how sensitive Google Drive is to such issues.
You’d think, by now, I’d have learned my lesson. And yet, it happened to me again today. Out of nowhere, I go to download a file from Drive (forgetting I made a change to my browser’s privacy settings yesterday) and, lo and behold, Drive refuses to allow me to download the file (a file I created, nonetheless).
Also: How to find files faster in Google Drive
What’s the problem? Cookies.
Argh! It’s always cookies.
How to fix the Google Drive download issue
How do you fix the problem? It’s easy. I’ll demonstrate on a Chromium-based browser, which is based on Chrome, because Chrome is the most widely-used browser on the planet.
Also: How to automatically convert Google Drive uploads into to Docs format
If you use a browser that is not based on Chrome, the basic idea will apply and you shouldn’t have any problem translating the fix to your browser of choice.
Requirements
In order to solve this issue, the only things you’ll need are a valid Google account and a Chrome-based browser (such as Sidekick, Opera, Vivaldi, and Edge). That’s it. Let’s fix this problem.
1. Open your browser
The first thing to do is open your browser of choice. Of course, if you’re reading this, your browser is already open — so you’re already one step ahead of the game.
2. Open Settings
Click the three-dot menu button in the upper right corner and select Settings from the resulting menu.
Accessing Settings from within a Chromium-based browser.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
3. Go to Privacy & Security
Chances are, if you suddenly can’t download files from Google Drive, something was changed in your Privacy & Security settings. For me, I configured my browser to block third-party cookies.
Also: How to organize your Google Drive with these 5 tips
If you did the same thing, you can (and should) keep blocking those third-party cookies. However, what you need to do is add an exception for Google Drive.
You should block third-party cookies on your browser, even if it causes problems like this.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
4. Add an exception for Google Drive
Under Customized behaviors, click Add. In the resulting popup, type drive.google.com in the Site field, click the checkbox for Including third-party cookies on this site, and click Add. Once you’ve taken care of that, close the Settings tab.
Adding an exception to the third-party cookie blocking policy.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
If you find any other sites that are not behaving as expected (after you’ve set your browser to block third-party cookies), add an exception for that address and it should go back to functioning as normal.
Also: How to disconnect apps from Google Drive
Although this can be a hassle, it’s better to block third-party cookies and make exceptions as needed in order to better protect your privacy.
See also
About The Author
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.