Trouble downloading large files. 'check internet connection' or 'connection interrupted"

[Alan3000]

I'm having trouble downloading large files (over 5gb) from another dropbox, downloads keep failing, giving 'check internet connection' or 'connection interrupted' errors. I have enough space, emptied cache, tried different browsers, reset router and mac. Can anyone help?

Thanks

[Megan]

Hey there, @Alan3000, welcome to our Community! 

Are the files you're trying to download sent to you via a shared link, by any chance? Do you happen to have a screenshot of the error you keep receiving? 

Have you tried -provided that you have the available space & that you use our desktop app- to add the content directly to your account, and have it sync locally? 

Keep me posted!

[Alan3000]

Hey there!

I don't have the space in my Dropbox sadly, some of the files I need to download are over 40gb.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks

[Megan]

Hi @Alan3000, can you confirm if the content is part of a shared link? 

Approximately, how many files are there? Have you tried downloading them in batches to see if anything changes? 

[Alan3000]

Here is the link: removed

I've tried downloading one at a time but I can't even download the smallest file from this Dropbox link.

Usually I have no problem downloading Dropbox files from which are under about 2gb, anything bigger and it keeps failing.

Thanks

[Megan]

Would you mind sending me a screenshot of the error message you get when you try to download some of the content @Alan3000? 

Have you also tried an incognito tab on one of your browsers? 

Does this happen when you specifically try to download content from said shared link, or do you notice the same behavior when you try to download content from your account directly? 

[Alan3000]

Please see screenshots below when attempting to download incognito.

It's not just this link, its any file larger then about 3gb.

Thanks 

[Megan]

As a last resort, can you try using a different connection to try an download your files @Alan3000?

Either WiFi or cellular would work, just to rule out this issue being connected to your internet. 

[gthomascraig]

I had the same problem.  Client is sending me large 4k video files from a shared link - about 50GB each.  They get to about 12GB and then fail every time. Each time I get the  "check internet connection" and then "site unavailable" errors. 

I am on ethernet, fiber connection. No problem downloading large files from Drive. I tried other browsers and the usual fixes. Restarting everything, clearing cache... The files playback fine inside the Dropbox media player. 

Next, I try to sync these files to a local folder using the Dropbox windows app.   Even weirder, when I connected the folder inside the dropbox app, it started syncing and one of the files downloaded properly, so I thought "great it works now!"/........nope.

After the first file downloaded fully, the other 2 files suddenly switched to "download complete status" - which they definitely were not. Tried reinstalling dropbox again, same result.  Instantly it says they are "complete" or they are stuck at the "waiting to sync" phase.  Dropbox has literally one job. I have editor access on these files, I have enough space on my local drive, and I've reinstalled Dropbox twice. 

The solution?  Completely shut down the computer, restart, and download the files.  Fixed.

[gthomascraig]

Just Kidding.  I got one file, but the second failed again.  So apparently the only way to fix this is shutdown your computer everytime you want to download a big file.  And this is not a new problem either.  There are dozens of posts all over here and reddit from people having the exact same or similar issues.