Guides
Guides to damaged and unfinished files
Clear answers for when a download fails and the source may no longer exist.
What is this file?
Browsers leave odd-looking files behind. Here is what they are.
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What is a .crdownload file?
.crdownload is an unfinished Chrome or Edge download. What it holds, when to resume it and what can be done if the source is gone.
.part and .opdownload files
Firefox leaves .part files and Opera .opdownload when a download stops. How to resume it or work with the data that arrived.
Why it is called Crdownload
The name comes from the file a browser leaves when a download stops. What the tool does beyond that extension, and why it runs on your device.
When the file matters
Common situations, what can be done in each and what result to expect.
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The download stopped, and the link no longer works
The download stopped and the link no longer works. The order to try things in, and what can still be obtained from the partial file.
The video that matters will not play
An MP4, MOV, MKV or AVI that no player opens may still hold intact frames. Why it fails and how it is rebuilt without uploading it.
The archive with your work will not open
An archive that gives an error may still hold intact files. Why it fails and how a valid ZIP, RAR, 7z or tar is rebuilt in the browser.
How a file is processed without uploading it
How Crdownload works on files inside the browser with WebAssembly, sending nothing to a server. How to check it, and the limits.