How to Restore ‘Can’t be Downloaded Securely’ Error Message on Google Chrome

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The error message is displayed when you try to download a file from the web. You are trying to open it with your browser. However, there’s something wrong with the file or its protection. In some cases, it might be because of the file type or extension. For instance, if you’re trying to download an a.zip archive, you’ll see this error.

In most cases, however, the problem isn’t related to the file type or extension; instead, it’s due to a browser compatibility issue. If you’ve tried downloading files from different sites and gotten this error, you probably just need to update your browser.

If you think a malicious site causes the problem, you can use anti-malware software to scan the downloaded file. If the malware is still present, you can delete it manually. Otherwise, contact the site owner directly.

What causes the ‘can’t be downloaded securely’ error?

When downloading files, Chrome may prompt you to choose whether it wants to download the file securely. If you don’t want to download something insecurely, you’ll see a warning like this: “This file can’t be downloaded securely.”

Some websites may fail to pass a security test. For example, some sites may trick you into thinking you’ve clicked through to another site, such as a banking site, when you’ve just been redirected to a fake version of the site.

You should always check if the site you’re downloading from passes a security test before downloading. Most browsers let you do this automatically when you download a file, but it’s still worth checking.

How to troubleshoot the ‘can’t be downloaded securely’ issue?

Reset Chrome to its default settings

Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers out there. But it seems like you are having trouble getting rid of some extensions or resetting your browser settings. If you want to make sure everything works properly again, here are some tips on how to do just that.

Reset Your Browser Settings

If you want to start over completely, go into your browser settings and delete everything. This includes cookies, browsing history, passwords, etc. You might even want to clear your cache.

Delete Extensions

You can find your extensions under the ‘Extensions’ tab. Simply select each extension and click on ‘Remove’.

Remove Cookies

Go to your browser settings and look for the option ‘Cookies & Site data.’ There you’ll see a list of things stored locally on your device. To remove those, click on ‘Clear now and wait for the process to complete.



Updated: February 2025

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Turn off the option to use hardware acceleration

Chrome offers several settings that allow you to control how it uses graphics processing units (GPU). One such setting is called “Hardware Acceleration.” When enabled, Chrome automatically switches to GPU rendering whenever possible. However, there are times when this isn’t necessary, like when you’re browsing the web. To turn off this feature, follow these steps:

1. Open the Chrome menu.

2. Click Settings.

3. Scroll down to the bottom of the window and select Show Advanced Settings.

4. In the section labeled Content, scroll down to the bottom of that list and uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available.

5. If you want to switch back to the default setting, repeat Steps 2–4.

6. Close the window.

Install Google Chrome again

Google Chrome is one of the best browsers you can use. However, it does come with some problems. Sometimes, it stops working due to system conflicts, malware infections, etc. In such cases, you might want to reinstall Google Chrome. Here are the steps to do just that.

Remove Google Chrome From Your Computer

First, open up your browser and go to www.google.com/chrome. Once there, select “Settings.” Then, scroll down and look for “Clear Browsing Data.” Click on Clear browsing data. Now, restart your computer.

Reinstall Google Chrome

You’ll see a link called Download Chrome. Click on that. After downloading, run the installer file. Follow the instructions given during installation.

That’s it! You’re done. Enjoy using Google Chrome again.

Unnecessary extensions should be disabled

The extensions added to google chrome might be broken, faulty, or malicious, and that might make the trail for the error to happen. To find out whether the problem lies within the extensions installed in your browser, follow the steps given below –

1. Open google chrome and click the three vertical dots on the top right corner of the screen.

2. From the bunch of options, select More Tools, and from the sub-options select Extensions.

3. Disable all the extensions you already have added in google chrome.

4. Try to download a file and enable one extension at a time to find out which extension is causing trouble.

Turn off the safe browsing

Google recently added a feature called “safe browsing,” which warns users if they’re about to download malware or phishing sites. But it turns out there are ways around the warning. Here’s how to disable it.

First, open up Chrome’s settings menu. You’ll see a blue bar across the top of the window. To access the options, tap the three dots icon in the upper left corner. Tap More Settings. Now scroll down to Privacy & Security. Under the section labeled “Safety,” select “No protection.” This disables Google’s safe browsing features. However, it doesn’t prevent malicious downloads altogether—only those downloaded via Chrome itself.

If you don’t like having to turn off the feature every time you restart your computer, you can also add a shortcut to the browser’s toolbar. Open the browser’s settings again. Go to the bottom of the screen and click on Show Advanced Settings. Find the section labeled Toolbars and Extensions. Add the code to the end of the list, then press save and restart.

Changing your browser is a good idea

Chrome will soon start warning web users about potentially harmful apps. If you see a red flag next to an app, it could mean that the developer hasn’t been appropriately vetted. You might want to look at another browser, like Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

The feature is being tested and will roll out to everyone over the coming weeks. Here’s how it works:

When you open an app, Chrome will check whether there’s anything suspicious about the app. For example, it checks whether the URL looks legitimate, whether the app appears to be malicious, and whether it uses the latest version of the software. If the app doesn’t pass muster, Chrome will display a warning icon next to the app.

If you see a red flag, you can still install the app, but you’ll know that it’s not safe. This way, you won’t accidentally download malware onto your computer.

Disallow the unsafe downloads feature

Google announced today it is rolling out a new setting called “Disallow unsafe downloads.” This option prevents Chrome from downloading anything unless the file is marked safe.

The new setting works alongside another one called “Show dangerous sites,” which warns users about potentially harmful webpages. If both options are disabled, Chrome won’t allow downloads.

This is a security feature meant to block downloads of unsafe files. For example, if someone tries to trick you into opening a document that contains a virus, the browser will warn you and stop the process. Make sure your antivirus is up to date if you want to download things safely.



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