A .crdownload
file is a partially downloaded file created by the Google Chrome browser. It indicates that a download is in progress or was interrupted.
1. Let the Download Finish (If Possible):
- If the download is still active:
- Simply wait for it to complete. Chrome will automatically rename the
.crdownload
file to its intended file extension (e.g.,.zip
,.pdf
,.mp4
) once the download is finished.
- Simply wait for it to complete. Chrome will automatically rename the
- If the download was interrupted:
- Try resuming the download. In Chrome's Downloads page (
chrome://downloads/
), you might see a "Resume" button next to the interrupted download. Click it. - If the "Resume" button doesn't work, try downloading the file again from the original source.
- Try resuming the download. In Chrome's Downloads page (
2. Dealing with Incomplete Downloads:
- If the download cannot be resumed:
- The
.crdownload
file is likely incomplete and potentially unusable. - For small files:
- It's often easiest to just re-download the file.
- For large files:
- Sometimes, a partially downloaded file might still contain usable data, but this is not guaranteed.
- Renaming: Try renaming the
.crdownload
file to its intended file extension (e.g., if you were downloading a video, rename it to.mp4
). Then, try opening it with the appropriate application. However, there is a high chance the file will be corrupt. - Checking File Size: If the file size of the .crdownload file is very small compared to the expected file size, it is almost certain that the file is not usable.
- Using Download Managers: If you frequently download large files, consider using a download manager. They often have better resume capabilities and can handle interrupted downloads more effectively.
- The
3. Deleting the .crdownload
File:
- If you've re-downloaded the file or determined that the
.crdownload
file is unusable, you can safely delete it. It's just a temporary file.
Important Considerations:
- File Corruption: Partially downloaded files are often corrupted and may not function correctly even if you rename them.
- Security: Be cautious when opening partially downloaded files, especially executables (
.exe
), as they could potentially contain malware. Always download files from trusted sources. - Where they are located: Crdownload files are located in the same location that you set your default download location to be.
In summary, the best approach is to let the download finish normally. If that's not possible, re-download the file. If that is also not possible, you can attempt to rename the file, but it will likely be corrupt.