In this blog, we’ll learn how to open CRDOWNLOAD file and what is it. You are very likely to have come across a CRDOWNLOAD file in your device once or twice and have probably wondered what to do with it and how it got there.
The first thing you need to know is that this file is associated with the Chrome browser, so if you are seeing it then you are likely using it.
Contents
What is CRDOWNLOAD File?
CRDOWNLOAD file extension is attached to placeholder files which are automatically created by Chrome browsers during a download. The extension indicates that the file is unconfirmed and the download is incomplete which could have occurred due to a variety of reasons.
Download errors could be from an interrupted network signal, an error from the file source, or anything that might have caused a download to not be complete (software or hardware problems).
You’ll notice that when you try to open files like these, it comes with an error message or you are asked to select a program to use to open the files and then you get stuck in a frustrating loop of errors.
Because these files are incomplete downloads, they are not ready to be run by any program, even the program that could have been able to open the complete downloaded file. However, there are manual ways to handle CRDOWNLOAD files and in some cases, you can access the file and get to open it.
How to Open CRDOWNLOAD File
Because CRDOWNLOAD files are placeholders of an incomplete process, they cannot be opened by simply double-clicking on the icon. However, you might be able to manually open some of these types of files by altering the extension name.
This procedure only allows you to access what had already been downloaded Nonetheless, you have the option of finishing the download before you can open it.
Method 1: Manually Alter the File Extension
To open CRDOWNLOAD file manually, you have to know what kind of file was being downloaded and what extension name it was intended to bear.
Usually, the extension is included in the name of the placeholder file, i.e. if you intended to download an mp4 file titled ‘horse race’ for example, you should expect to see ‘horserace.mp4.crdownload’. The mp4 shows that if a file was completely downloaded, it would be an mp4 file.
Have identified the kind of file it is, you need to edit the properties of the file and delete the ‘.crdownload’ extension tag on the file. To do that…
- Right-click on downloaded CRDownload File
- Select Rename option
- Remove .CRDOWNLOAD from last and save it.
This way, it is left as an mp4 file (using the above example). Have altered the extension name, you can try to open the file as you would a normal file which is to right-click and select the appropriate program to open with.
With this method, you should be able to open a file and at the very least, view the already downloaded parts. However, this method can only work for files that have a sequence, i.e. They have a start and finish rather than being a single entity. That means you can try to do this with videos, and audios and not with documents or pictures.
Method 2: Resuming Download with Another Browser
Because incomplete downloads do not always continue the download process with chrome browsers, you might have to resume this download with another browser. This can be done with a Mozilla browser if you have checked and confirmed that Chrome is not successfully resuming your downloads.
This is an option if the cause of the incomplete download was a software problem. What you will need is to identify the incomplete download from your Chrome browser.
- Simply go to the Chrome browser.
- Go to Downloads
- Under download history, scroll through to find your file, right-click on it and copy the download link.
- Now paste the copied link on your Mozilla browser and click to start the download. The download will start afresh.
If your previous download had gone a distance and you want to continue from where it stopped you can go further, otherwise, you can wait for the new download to complete.
When the download starts on Mozilla, it will also create a placeholder file, just like Chrome you can pause the download process and locate this file (it will have a .part extension). From our example above, this will be ‘horserace.part’.
You should copy the name of this file and then go and find the .crdownload file that you intend to resume, correct the name of this file to the copied name from the Mozilla download.
It means there will no longer be a .crdownload file. Afterward, copy this file to the folder where the new Mozilla download had stored its placeholder and replace the file in the destination.
What you will have is a larger sized file with a .part extension name, and now you can go to the Mozilla browser to continue your paused download.
At this point, you will notice that instead of the download progress tab to be starting from the beginning, it would have moved a distance. This is indicative of the progress from the interrupted Chrome download. This way, you are saving time and data.
How to Extract .CRDOWNLOAD File
Normally you do not have to go through any complicated manual process to extract a .crdownload file all you need to do is to go to the folder where Chrome stores all its downloads. In some cases, this folder is subcategorized and arranged according to file types so you might not find your file in the root folder.
You should check subfolders like videos, pictures, programs, etc. according to the type of file you are trying to download.
If you do not yet know where Chrome stores it’s downloaded files, finding it is easy.
- Open your Chrome browser
- Navigate to Download list (This option is listed on the dropdown menu of the three dots at the right-hand side of the interface).
- Find your download from the list and right-click on it to open the file location. This will take you to the folder where the .crdownload file is stored until the download is completed.
Extracting the Download Link
From the .crdownload file, you can extract either the file itself or the download link. Extracting the file is the same process as opening the partially downloaded file (changing the extension). Extracting the download link, on the other hand, can be done either through the browser or through third-party software.
The process of extracting from the browser has been explained above by right-clicking on the download from Chromes downloads list and copying the link.
On the other hand, with software like Ultra File Opener, you will be able to do more; view contents, resume download, copy links, look at file information, etc. For many simple operations, getting the link from the browser would suffice.
F.A.Q
1. What program opens CRDOWNLOAD file?
CRDOWNLOAD files cannot be read because they are incomplete files. Therefore, you can decide to complete the download or to edit the extension manually as mentioned above. Editing the extension does not work for all file types, typically files with a beginning and end.
2. Why can’t I delete CRDOWNLOAD file?
If your CRDOWNLOAD file is refusing to delete, it means that the download is still in progress. You can stop the download from Chrome and proceed to delete it.
3. Can I convert a CRDOWNLOAD file?
You cannot technically convert the CRDOWNLOAD file. You can only convert it by editing the extension to view the part download or by opening with a PDF viewer (for documents) and printing. Remember that if the download is incomplete, you will only view an incomplete file.
4. How can I stop a CRDOWNLOAD file?
If you changed your mind mid-download, you can simply go to the download tab of your chrome browser, find your file and right-click to find the option to stop the download.
5. Do I need an application to open CRDOWNLOAD FILES?
There are applications that open and manage CRDOWNLOAD files, however, you might be able to open them without any. All you need to do is follow the method explained above.
Conclusion
CRDOWNLOAD files are created by Google Chrome browsers to signify that a download is not yet completed. They can be as a result of a download error, in which case, you might be able to open CRDOWNLOAD file and extract information from it manually. With the help of the guide above, you should be able to manage such files the next time you see them on your device.