Ever wanted to download a file using Google Chrome browser but receive a prompt telling you Chrome has detected a malicious file and blocked it? In this situation, it will be useful to know how to stop chrome from blocking downloads.
Part of Chrome protective measures is to scan every file before the download begins. This security measure helps protect your computer from files that might contain a virus, malware, or other types of infections by blocking them.
Files deem as unsafe by Chrome might however be “clean.” But it can be frustrating when Chrome keeps blocking a download you know originates from a trusted source.
For this reason, let me show you how to prevent chrome from blocking downloads. Also, I will explain how to fix a situation where Chrome blocks automatic downloads originating from the same source.
How to Stop Chrome from Blocking Downloads?
- Open Chrome.
- Click the three dots icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Click “Settings.”
- Under the “You and Google” section, click “Privacy and security.”
Locate the switch next to “Safe Browsing” and turn it off. The button is blue when turned on and gray when it’s off.
From now on, Chrome will not block downloads anymore. Note that the Safe Browsing feature also protects you from “phishing or malware sites. Therefore, turning it off means missing out on other important security features, which when not in place may expose your computer to virus infections and other attacks.
For this reason, I recommend you turn on “Safe Browsing” after downloading the file in order not to expose your computer to malicious files coming from potentially dangerous sites.
And that leads us to another situation where Chrome blocks multiple downloads originating from the same source, especially from file conversion sites.
How to Unblock Automatic Downloads?
Click the three dots icon at the top right corner.
Scroll down and click “Advanced.”
Underneath the “Privacy and security” section, click the “Content settings.”
While in the Content settings panel, scroll down and click “Automatic downloads.”
Toggle on the button to the right of “Do not allow any site to download multiple files automatically.”
After turning on the button, it will display “Ask when a site tries to download files automatically after the first file (recommended).” With this setting in place, chrome would allow automatic downloads but still prompts for permission whenever a site initiates a download.
If the confirmation becomes a hassle, then add to a whitelist the site you wish to accept automatic downloads from. To do this, click the “Add” button next to “Allow” in the browser.
This allows the browser to allow downloads directly without interruption. But always make sure you make this setting for a website you trust.
I hope this post on how to stop chrome from blocking downloads has helped with circumventing Chrome’s restrictions on potentially unsafe websites and downloads.