Why does my download stop before it is finished?

When a user experiences an issue while downloading files, it is usually a problem with the connection to their Internet service. Consequently, the best solution is to contact your ISP for further information. However, there are a few situations where the issues can be cleared up on the user's end. The following sections contain different solutions that may help fix download termination issues.

Download termination and latency

As we mentioned previously, many problems are caused by issues with your Internet Service Provider. Usually, these issues result in high latency or lag, which in turn cause your download to fail. When this occurs, it is problematic in that your Internet cache may "think" the download was completed, thus making the browser not want to resume. One solution is to clear the temporary internet files under the History section in your browser and try the download again.

Antivirus software or firewall

This solution is a bit tricky in that users shouldn't normally download files without some protection active. That being said, if you fully trust the site from which you are downloading the file, you can try disabling the Windows firewall or disabling your antivirus software before attempting again.

Note: Whether or not you're able to complete the download, remember to turn your security back on afterward.

Download manager

For users who commonly encounter intermittent connectivity issues or download failure, a download manager may help. Download managers are a third-party application that can monitor, and if needed, resume a download from where it stopped previously. There are hundreds of download managers including many that are free. Click here to open a search for these programs.

Try the download at a later time

If the file you are attempting to download is popular or has just recently been released, the server could be overloaded with simultaneous user requests. Trying at a later time may remedy this issue.

Try a different server or mirror

Many sites that host hundreds of different files keep them on multiple servers or mirror sites. If you have difficulty downloading the file, try getting it from a different server.