Fix Why “Gmail Won’t Download Attachments”
Did you try to download the attachments but fail to do so? It is a frustrating yet frequent issue that can disrupt the workflow. Whenever such issues occur, like “Gmail won’t download attachments”, it affects crucial documents, such as photos or vital spreadsheets.
Gmail is known for its features; there could be other reasons why this might cause issues with downloading attached documents. As the issue is one of the most common and thus, we can fix it instantly. In this article, we will find out the approaches to fix the issue, along with an ultimate method to extract all attachments from Gmail to safeguard against any such issue from occurring again.
Why Can’t Gmail Download Attachments?
Before we go into the solutions, let’s understand the basic reasons why Google is not downloading the attachments.
- Internet access: Slow or unstable internet may cause delays in downloading attachments; therefore, ensure you have a stable internet connection.
- Browser issues: Some browser extensions or settings can block attachment downloads. Try to disable extensions or use another browser to check if the issue persists.
- Gmail Settings: Check your Gmail settings. The attachment download feature may be blocked or limited there. Spam filters and a limit on downloading attachment size can also cause this problem.
- Security issues: Gmail may block attachments due to their possible threatening nature or suspicious appearance. If you are sure that an attached file is harmless, contact the Gmail help desk for further assistance.
- Attachment File Size: If the attachment is too large, it could give rise to a download limit by the Gmail service or exceed your internet bandwidth. Reduce the file size or use cloud storage to share the link.
- File type: Gmail doesn’t always support all types of files. So if you have any uncommon file extension, you may not be able to download such a file directly from Gmail.
- Corrupted Files: If the file is corrupted, Gmail won’t download attachments or even open them. Request a reattachment of the file from the sender.
Instant Solution: If you’re facing issues downloading attachments, try the advanced Email Attachment Extractor tool. It efficiently extracts all types of attachments from various webmail or cloud-based email accounts. With powerful filter options and user-defined settings, this tool allows you to download multiple attachments from different Gmail accounts at once with ease.
How to Work on the “Gmail Won’t Download Attachments”?
Let’s troubleshoot it now. We will cover from the basic to the rarest causes of the issue with Attachment extraction. Let’s troubleshoot step by step—starting from the basics and working toward the more advanced or uncommon causes.
Basic Methods to Fix “Can’t Download Gmail Attachments”
- Refresh the page: Yes, a simple refresh can overcome any issues related Gmail account. Use the key F5 or Clrl+R/Cmd+R can resolve any temporary glitches.
- Restart the Device: A full system reboot can resolve any software conflicts that are affecting the browser or the internet connection.
- Restart the Browser: Once you close and reopen the browser to check whether the attachment can be downloaded.
- Check the Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection. Check by visiting other websites, and if the internet connection is the issue, restart the Wi-Fi router or do the needful.
The above are some common fixes for the error “Gmail can’t download Attachments”. Most of the cases can be
Browser-Specific Troubleshooting
Since a large number of users use Gmail via a web browser, it can often be the source of attachment download issues.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies: All the accumulated cache and cookies can sometimes interfere with the website’s functionality. Since this saves data can become corrupt.
- For Chrome: Go to Settings>Privacy and security> Clear browsing data. Select “Cookies and other site data” and Caches images and files” Choose all and click “Clear data”.
- Firefox: Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site data > Clear Data… and click “Clear”.
- Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, search and services? Choose what to clear. Select “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files. Click “Clear Now”. Ensure to choose “All time”.
Now, restart the browser and check if the issue persists.
Try using a Different Browser: Sometimes the issue lies within the browser; therefore, try using another browser to access Gmail and try downloading again.
Disable Browser Extension/Add-ons: Some extensions, such as ad-blockers, security extensions, can interfere with Gmail’s functionality.
- For Chrome: Go to chrome://extensions. Toggle off the extensions one by one and test each of the extensions.
- Firefox: Go to about: addons > Extensions. Disable extensions.
- Edge: Go to edge://extension. Toggle off extension.
If you find a conflicting extension, you can keep it disabled or find an alternative.
Update the Browser: Any outdated browser can also have compatibility issues with the latest Gmail features. Ensuring the browser is up to date could resolve “Gmail won’t Download Attachments”. Most browsers update automatically, but you can usually check for the update in the “About”.
Reset Browser Settings: If all else fails, resetting the browser to its default settings can resolve deep-seated configuration problems. When you reset the browser, will it disable extensions and clear
- For Chrome: Go to Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to their original default.
- For Firefox: Go to Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
- Edge: Go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to the original default.
Security Software and Firewall
Sometimes, the antivirus or firewall can incorrectly flag the safe file and block it from downloading. This mainly happens when the software is too strict in its effort to protect the system.
Therefore, once disable the Antivirus/Firewall and then try to download the attachments. If it works, ensure to add an exception for the gmail or the browser in the security software.
Note: Remember to re-enable the security software immediately after testing.
Account-Specific Solution to Fix Gmail Won’t Download Attachments
After working with the browser, now we need to move to the Gmail account-centred solutions. At times, the problem could lie within Gmail itself.
- Check the Gmail Storage Limit: If the storage space is full within the Google Drive, then the attachments won’t get downloaded. Go to drive.google.com/settings/storage to check the current storage usage. If it is full, you need to delete Gmail emails or unnecessary files or buy more storage.
- Check Gmail’s Attachment Settings: Ensure there aren’t any experimental features or lab settings enabled in Gmail that might be interfering.
Gmail Attachment File Specific Troubleshooting Methods
- Corrupted Attachments: Sometimes, the issue might not be with Gmail or the browser but with the received attachments. If the attachments were uploaded incorrectly or the file itself is corrupted, it won’t download properly.
- Size of Attachments: Gmail allows attachments up to 25 MB. When downloading large files can sometimes cause download issues, especially on slower connections. For large files of 25 MB, Gmail automatically converts them to Google Drive links.
- Virus Detected: If Gmail detects a virus in the attachment, it will not download. If you are certain of the file, then contact the sender and ask to scan it and resend. Never download files that are flagged as a virus.
- Unsupported File Type: Gmail restricts some file types due to security reasons.
Conclusion
Not being able to download Gmail attachments is a frustrating problem we all face at some point. This could happen due to various simple to complex reasons. Moreover, it can be resolved easily as mentioned in the above write-up. We you are unable to download attachments from Gmail, ensure to perform the basic approaches such as checking the internet connection, restarting the device, or restarting the browser.