i cant download or upload files on my computer

emma rodin 20 Reputation points
2026-10-23T09:26:22.8833333+00:00

every time i try to download or upload a file the file explorer freezes and says chrome not responding. it also happens in other browsers, other google accounts and in incognito mode. i have already tried to solve it in cmd and done all the basic steps that google AI suggests. it also happened once before and then cmd helped but this time it does not.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
Answer accepted by question author

AI answer

2026-10-23T09:26:44.62+00:00

Since it happens across Chrome, other browsers, other accounts, and Incognito, the problem is likely Windows/File Explorer or the Downloads folder interaction rather than a browser account issue.

Try these steps in order:

  1. Reset the Downloads folder type
    • Open File Explorer.
    • Right-click Downloads > Properties.
    • Open the Customize tab.
    • Set Optimize this folder for to General items.
    • Turn on Also apply this template to all subfolders.
    • Select Apply > OK.
  2. Restart Windows Explorer
    • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
    • Find Windows Explorer in Processes.
    • Select Restart.
  3. Turn off thumbnails in File Explorer
    • Open File Explorer.
    • Select the three-dot menu … > Options.
    • Open the View tab.
    • Turn on Always show icons, never thumbnails.
    • Select Apply > OK.
    • Restart Windows Explorer again from Task Manager.
  4. Check whether a bad file in Downloads is causing the freeze
    • Open Downloads in File Explorer.
    • Change the view to List or Details.
    • Sort by Date modified.
    • Create a temporary folder on the Desktop.
    • Move files out of Downloads in small batches.
    • After each batch, test upload/download again.
    • If it starts working, one of the moved files is likely causing the hang.
  5. Use a different folder as a workaround
    • Copy the file from Downloads to Documents, Desktop, or another new folder.
    • Try uploading from that folder instead.
  6. Check for Windows updates and restart
    • Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
    • Install available updates.
    • Restart the device even if no restart is requested.
  7. If File Explorer still freezes, run Windows repair steps
    • On Windows 11, if File Explorer will not open or start reliably after updates and restart, the documented next step is to consider Reset this PC.
    • This is more disruptive than the earlier steps, so use it only after testing the folder-specific fixes above.
  8. If the issue is specifically with downloads failing in browsers
    • In Microsoft Edge, go to edge://settings/downloads and reset the download location to the default Downloads folder.
    • Turn off Ask me what to do with each download to test whether the prompt is involved.
    • Clear cache at edge://settings/privacy > Choose what to clear > Cached images and files > All time > Clear now.
    • If needed, reset Edge at edge://settings/reset > Restore settings to their default values.
  9. If downloads fail in every browser, not just uploads
    • Test the same file from a different website.
    • Test on a different network, such as a mobile hotspot.
    • If using a proxy, check edge://settings/system and verify the download URL is not blocked.

Important notes:

  • If the freeze happens only when browsing Downloads, the most relevant fixes are steps 1 through 5.
  • If the problem started recently and affects downloads in any browser, restarting Windows after updates can also help because Microsoft documented a Windows issue that affected browser downloads and noted that a restart can ensure the resolution has propagated.
  • Reset this PC can affect installed apps and settings, so treat it as a last resort.
AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  1. emma rodin 20 Reputation points
    2026-10-23T09:33:24.3466667+00:00

    one of the 1-3 steps worked. what was the problem then or why does it happen?

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