Technology

How to download large files from google drive?

3 answer(s)
Answer # 1 #

Downloading large files from Google Drive can be tricky, but I've found several methods that work reliably. Here are the best approaches:

  • For individual large files (under Google's download limit):
  • Right-click the file and select "Download"
  • If you get a warning about the file being too large, use the "Download anyway" option

  • For very large files, Google might prepare the download, which can take some time

  • For files over Google's download limit (usually 2GB+):

  • Use Google's Backup and Sync desktop application
  • Add the file to your Drive and let it sync to your computer

  • Or use third-party tools like rclone or air-explorer

  • For multiple large files:

  • Create a folder, add all files, then download the entire folder as a ZIP
  • Google will create and prepare the ZIP file for download

Pro tips: - Use a stable internet connection - resume isn't always reliable - Chrome browser tends to work best with Google Drive - Check your storage space before downloading large files

Google's official support page has the most current information about download limits and methods.

[25 Day]
(2)
Answer # 2 #

Hey fellow downloader! I've struggled with this too until I found these tricks:

When the "cannot scan for viruses" error appears: - Click the download anyway option - it's usually in small text below the warning - If that doesn't work, make a copy of the file to your own Google Drive first, then download the copy

For massive files that keep failing: - Use Google Takeout if it's your own files - this is designed for large data exports - Break large files into parts using 7-zip or similar tools before uploading (if you control the source)

Mobile download tip: The Google Drive app on phones actually handles large downloads better than some browsers in my experience. Just make sure you have enough storage space on your device.

Internet connection matters: - Wired Ethernet is more reliable than WiFi for multi-gigabyte downloads - Avoid peak hours - early morning downloads often complete faster - Pause and resume sometimes helps if the download stalls

It's frustrating, but these methods have saved me countless hours of re-downloading failed transfers!

[24 Day]
(0)
Answer # 3 #

As someone who regularly downloads large video files from Google Drive for work, here's my battle-tested method:

The desktop app method is most reliable for files over 2GB: 1. Install Google Drive for desktop (formerly Backup and Sync) 2. Sign in with the same account that has access to the files 3. The files will appear in your File Explorer/Finder 4. Simply copy them to your local drive like any other file

If you prefer browser method: - Make sure you're using Google Chrome - Disable any download managers or extensions that might interfere - Clear your browser cache before starting the download - Don't navigate away from the page until download completes

For extremely large files (10GB+), I sometimes use JDownloader 2 - it handles resuming broken downloads much better than browsers. Just paste the Google Drive link and it manages the download for you.

The key is patience - large downloads can take hours depending on your internet speed and Google's server load at the time.

[25 Day]
(0)

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