5 Ways to Fix Google Docs Not Downloading Issues

Basic Fixes

• Disable Extension: There can be a few extensions in your browser that are actually preventing downloads from Google Docs.
• Try Incognito Mode: Use this method to sign in to your Google Docs account.
• Sign out of other Google accounts: If you are using multiple Google accounts on your browser, we suggest signing out of your other accounts and keep the primary one active.
• Try Removing Emojis or Symbols: Sometime such special characters might not be supported by Google Docs.
• Use a different web browser: Switch to a different browser and then check if the problem gets solved.

Fix 1: Enable Multiple File Downloads

As a security measure, Chrome prevents sites from downloading files one after another. To check if this is the case, load Google Docs in a new tab > click the padlock-shaped icon next to the address bar > Select Site settings > Allow Automatic downloads.

Reload Google Docs, and then try initiating a download. It should likely work.

Fix 2: Clear Google Docs Cache

An outdated web cache can also cause various issues with websites and web apps, and Google Docs is no exception. To rule that out, you must clear cached data related to the web app.

Thankfully, you do not have to clear the entire Chrome cache—check out this guide for detailed instructions on how to clear the Google Docs cache only.

Fix 3: Disable Hardware Acceleration

Forum chatter indicates Chrome’s hardware acceleration functionality as a likely reason for failed downloads.

Open Chrome > Settings > System > Disable Use hardware acceleration when available.

Suppose Google Docs begins downloading documents normally afterward. In that case, you must look into updating Chrome (as a means to resolve any known issues) since keeping hardware acceleration disabled can adversely impact browser performance.

Fix 4: Use Print to PDF

If splitting files into multiple parts sound like a hassle, you can ‘print’ them to PDF instead. Open the File menu in Google Docs > select Print, and then select the Save as PDF option on the Print dialog box. The resulting files would be rather large, however.

You can also select PDF printers such as Adobe PDF or Microsoft Print to PDF as opposed to Chrome’s built-in Save as PDF option.

Fix 5: Download Google Docs Using Google Drive

Visit your Google Drive account and then download your Google Doc file. You can do this on both mobile and desktop if none of the solutions have worked for you so far.