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Yeij's avatar
Yeij
Helpful | Level 5
3 years ago
Solved

Failed download when trying to download large file

Hi, I've been trying to download an 84.2 GB mp4 file for the past two weeks, but every time it fails. I've got an ethernet cable, tried different browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Edge), tried a VPN, tried closing everything but the download tab, and used a download manager, but I haven't been able to download the file fully. What usually happens is that it downloads at my usual download rate, and once it gets to around 40-60 GB it'll abruptly stop, and Firefox will say that it failed. When I tried using FreeDownloadManager, it gave me an HTTP 403 error, so I'm stuck wondering if Dropbox isn't letting me download the file or if it's my ISP (that is if my understanding of what an HTTP 403 error is correct). Thanks in advance for any help.

  • I'll close this thread now since I've found a solution. I downloaded the desktop app and synced the shared folder onto my computer. I also upgraded to Dropbox Plus but I'm not sure if that's required. Anyways, thanks for the suggestions, Jay.

9 Replies

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  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    3 years ago

    Hi Yeij, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

     

    Is this file on your Dropbox account, or is it via a shared link on the site?

     

    This will help me to assist further!

  • Yeij's avatar
    Yeij
    Helpful | Level 5
    3 years ago

    It's a file from a shared link, I did not upload the file to Dropbox.

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    3 years ago

    Currently, the limit is 20 GB maximum when downloading from the site, which could be why you're experiencing this behavior.

     

    Do you have enough quota on your Dropbox account to add the shared link to your account, for it to sync normally to your machine?

  • Yeij's avatar
    Yeij
    Helpful | Level 5
    3 years ago

    I currently have a free account. I assume I have to upgrade my account to download the file I need, then? I'm sorry if I interpreted that wrong, I'm confused by what you meant by "enough quota." Are you referring to space on my Dropbox account? That solution sounds odd to me since I have a colleague who also has access to this shared link and a free account but can download the file just fine. It seems that I'm the only one having issues.

  • Yeij's avatar
    Yeij
    Helpful | Level 5
    3 years ago

    I'll close this thread now since I've found a solution. I downloaded the desktop app and synced the shared folder onto my computer. I also upgraded to Dropbox Plus but I'm not sure if that's required. Anyways, thanks for the suggestions, Jay.

  • kenact's avatar
    kenact
    New member | Level 2
    3 years ago

    Your response implies that I have to have a paid account in order to download a large file that was uploaded by someone with a paid account.

    Someone uploaded a 76GB file and shared it with me. I have been wasting my time trying to download this file for 2 days. I get about 30-36GB downloaded, and the download fails, WITHOUT A MESSAGE STATING WHY IT FAILED.

    It seems to me, DropBox is just wasting my time. If someone has a paid account, they should be able to share their files with anyone they choose. At minimum DropBox should warn them if the person they chose to share their file with, won't be able to download the file because of DropBox limitations.

    Based on what I've read here, I will not be spending a dime on DropBox.

  • davekatague's avatar
    davekatague
    New member | Level 2
    2 years ago

    this is happening to me right now, I have about 20 folders ranging from 5-120GB, and over night they've failed randomly. I can't sync this to my dropbox or I'd instantly use all my quota, this is insane.

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