need to download a report or document, but can’t download gmail attachments?
Emails have been one of the main modes of communication for businesses, schools and families. Through emails, we can share small documents, follow up on proposals and even promote our businesses.
One of the most widely used email services in the world is Gmail. It is a platform developed by Google with advanced features that promotes convenience and reliability.
Although gmail works 99% of the time, it does not mean that it is flawless and that unexpected problems can happen at some point. One of the most common problems faced by users in Gmail is attachments that refuse to download.
this can be a problem especially if you need to get a document from your gmail account.
Most of the time, this issue is caused by server-related issues. however, it can also be caused by slow network connections, firewalls, third-party software, or incorrect device settings.
Today, we’re going to show you what to do if you can’t download attachments from your gmail account.
Let’s get started!
1. check gmail servers.
Before changing your device settings, we suggest you check the gmail servers first if you are unable to download attachments. Since the files you want to download are coming from the servers, they must be working properly.
To do this, visit google’s dedicated status page and see if there are any issues with gmail.
If the platform is currently down, you can’t do anything but wait. on the other hand, you can head over to the next solution below to start troubleshooting if the gmail servers are up and running.
2. restart your device.
One of the easiest ways to fix most issues on any platform is to reboot the device. this should clear your system cache and remove temporary errors and crashes that may have occurred during use.
for windows users, follow the steps below to reboot your system:
- first, open the start menu on your taskbar.
- then click the power icon to access the power options tab.
- lastly, choose reboot to reboot your device.
if you are using a mac computer, this is how you can restart it:
- On your home screen, access the apple menu.
- after that choose reboot option.
- finally, confirm your action by clicking the restart button in the dialog box.
After your device reboots, go back to gmail and see if you can download the attachments.
3. use a different email client.
In addition to the built-in gmail website, you can also access your gmail account using third-party clients. For example, Windows and Macos offer a dedicated Mail app that you can use to view emails from your email addresses.
If you are unable to download attachments from the gmail website, try using the dedicated mail app on your windows or mac computer.
4. turn off gmail labs.
If you don’t want to use third party email clients, you can try disabling gmail labs. This is a beta feature in Gmail, which allows you to access previously unreleased features. however, they are still under development and could cause issues with your account.
To avoid problems, we suggest you disable gmail labs on your account. this is what you should do:
- First, click the gear icon in the top right corner of your page and choose view all settings.
- now, go to the advanced tab.
- lastly, disable all the features below.
go back to your feed and check if you can now download email attachments.
5. check your network connection.
When downloading a file over the internet, you will need a stable connection to avoid problems. If you are unable to download gmail attachments, it may indicate that your network is slow or unstable.
To confirm this, run a test with fast.com to measure your network’s upload and download bandwidth.
If the output indicates that your network is the problem, restart your modem to re-establish connection with your service provider. Unplug the router from the electrical outlet and wait 5-10 seconds before plugging it back in.
Once this is done, run another test to see if the issue is resolved. If not, contact your isp and ask them to fix the problem.
6. disable your antivirus.
Antiviruses are third-party tools that help protect your system from viruses and malware. however, some of them can become too protective and restrict your browser from downloading even legitimate files.
If you can’t download gmail attachments, first turn off your vpn.
Now, don’t forget to re-enable your antivirus after downloading your files to keep your system safe.
7. report the problem to google.
At this point, the last thing you can do if you still can’t download gmail attachments is to let the experts take over.
go to the google support page and contact their team for help regarding the issue you’ve been experiencing. Please provide all necessary details in your report to make it easier for your team to resolve the issue.
That concludes our guide on what to do if you can’t download gmail attachments. If you have any clarification on the steps, please let us know in the comment section and we will be here to help you.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂