How To Fix Gmail Failed To Download Attachments

Are you unable to download attachments on your Gmail app? Whenever you tap on the file to download it you receive the error message “Failed to download the attachment. Please try again.” If so, don’t fret; this guide will provide easy methods to fix Gmail failed or download attachments.

But before jumping to the solutions let’s first look at the causes why you can’t download attachments from Gmail.

Why Gmail Failed To Downloading Attachments?

There could be several reasons why your email attachments not downloading on your Android phone. Some of the common reasons are listed below:

Poor internet connection is the main reason for this error.
If you are using an outdated version of the OS and Gmail app.
When the temporary cache and data get corrupted.
If your smartphone doesn’t have enough storage space to store the download file.
When the Gmail app or account itself goes through a problem.
If there are wrong configurations in the Gmail app’s settings then also you will not be able to download the attached file.

So, these are the common causes, now we will move to the solutions to fix Gmail not downloading attachments.

How To Fix “Failed to download attachments” Error On Gmail

Before discussing the main solutions, you should try the basic tips as they also hold the power to solve the issue.

Here are some of the basic tips:

Basic Tips:

Check Internet Connection: Make sure the internet connection that you are using is stable.

Restart Gmail App: Close and restart the Gmail app to clear temporary glitches.

Check Storage Space: Make sure your phone has sufficient storage space to accommodate new downloads.

Update Gmail App: If there is a pending update for Gmail then update it. For this, open the Play Store/App Store on your phone. Then search for Gmail and hit on Update button.

If you tried these basic tips but the problem is not solved then follow the below discussed solutions.

Solution 1: Save The Gmail Attachments

When you tap on a Gmail attachment to download it then it doesn’t automatically download it to the device, it open the file on your phone itself. You need to save the file manually.

Here are the steps to do the same:

Open the Gmail app.
Then open the particular email.
After this, hit on the download icon to save the file.
Now, open the attachment and tap on 3 dots in the top right corner.
At last, tap on Download.

Solution 2: Allow Background Data Usage For Gmail

If you have disabled background data usage for the Gmail app then also you will not be able to download attachments. So, check it and remove the restrictions.

Here are the steps to do so:

Touch and hold the Gmail app and then hit on info icon.
Next, hit on Mobile data.
Then turn on Allow background data usage and Allow data usage while Data saver is on.

Now, try to download the file and check “Failed to download attachment” error message on Gmail is solved or not.

Solution 3: Check If Attachment Is Password Protected

Attachments like your bank statements, credit card bills, or phone bills come protected with a password to prevent them from unauthorized access. To download this attachment, you need to provide the password.

All you need to do is read the mail, look for the relevant password, and use it to open and save the file.

Solution 4: Check Gmail Server Status

you should also check the Gmail app server status. If there is an outage then you can’t download the Gmail attachment.

To check the status of the Gmail app, open the downdetector site and search for the Gmail app. If you find the server down then you can’t do anything except wait for some time until Google fixes the Gmail outage.

Solution 5: Clear Cache & Data Of Gmail App

Another way to fix attachment issues in Gmail is by clearing the cache of the Gmail app. Doing this will remove the junk files and allow Gmail to download attachments.

Below, learn how to clear the cache and data of the Gmail app:

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your phone.

Step 2: Then go to Apps/Applications/App Manager.

Step 3: Now, find the Gmail app and tap on it to open its info page.

Step 4: Next, tap on Storage usage.

Step 5: At last, hit on the Clear data and Clear cache buttons.

Solution 6: Remove & Re-Add Your Gmail Account

If you can’t download a pdf from Gmail on an Android phone then you can remove the Gmail account from the Gmail app and add it back. This should solve the downloading issue.

Here are the steps to do the same:

Open the Gmail app on your phone.
Then tap on your Profile photo in the top right corner of the screen.
Next, tap on Manage Accounts on this device.
Choose your Gmail account and hit Remove account.
Now, restart the phone and then open the Gmail app.
Tap on your profile photo.
Next, hit on Add account.
Select Google and then enter your Gmail account details.

Solution 7: Create A Guest Account & Download Again

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Then tap on Users and Accounts.
Select Multiple users and then hit on Guest.
Next, hit on Create/Open Guest Account.
Open Gmail in your Guest account and add any email address.
Now, download any attached file from Gmail, it should work.
Go back to your main account (same as step 1) to download files from Gmail.

Wrap Up

When you depend on Gmail for work, facing Gmail attachment downloads can be frustrating. Hopefully, the above-discussed basic tips and solutions will help you to fix Gmail failed to download attachment and you can easily access your important files.

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Max Field

Max Field is a founder of Recover Android Data. He is an Android lover and loves to write tips, tricks, fixes for errors, data recovery solutions and more related to Android.