Why can't I delete my .crdownload file?

Chrome still has the file open — the download is paused, interrupted, or running in the background. The OS blocks deletion of an open file. Cancel it in Chrome's Downloads (Ctrl+J → ×) or fully close Chrome, then delete.

How do I force delete a stuck .crdownload file?

Close Chrome completely (end its processes in Task Manager / Force Quit), then delete the file. On Windows use Shift+Delete; on Mac use Terminal: rm ~/Downloads/name.crdownload. A reboot also releases the lock.

Can I finish the download instead of deleting it?

Sometimes. Open Chrome's Downloads (Ctrl+J); if the stuck item shows a Resume link, click it and Chrome continues the same .crdownload until it completes. Resume only works when the server supports it — if the link is dead or Resume is greyed out, the partial data can't be saved.

It won't delete even with Chrome closed — what now?

Another program is holding it. Cloud sync (OneDrive/Dropbox) or antivirus commonly lock a half-downloaded file. Pause sync or wait for the scan, then delete. On Windows, Resource Monitor → Associated Handles shows exactly which process has the file open.

Will deleting a .crdownload file harm anything?

No. It's only a partial, incomplete download — deleting it just discards the unfinished data. You'll need to download the file again from scratch if you still want it.

Can't Delete a .crdownload File

A <code>.crdownload</code> file is Chrome's partial download. If it won't delete, Chrome is still holding it open — even if the download looks finished. Cancel or clear it inside Chrome, or close Chrome first, and the file will delete normally. Here's the exact fix.

Remove it (fastest first)

Cancel it in Chrome: press Ctrl+J (Cmd+J on Mac) to open Downloads, find the stuck item and click the × to cancel. Chrome releases and usually deletes the .crdownload itself.
Close Chrome, then delete: fully quit Chrome (check the system tray / Activity Monitor), then delete the .crdownload from the Downloads folder.
Still locked? End the process: Windows — Task Manager → end all Google Chrome processes, then delete. Mac — Force Quit Chrome, or relaunch Finder (⌥⌘Esc).

Before you delete: can the download be saved?

If you still want the file, don't delete blindly — a .crdownload is the real data downloaded so far. In Chrome's Downloads (Ctrl+J), a paused item shows a Resume link; click it and Chrome continues writing into the same .crdownload until it finishes and drops the extension. Resume only works if the server supports range requests (most big-file hosts do; many dynamic links don't). If Resume is greyed out or the link is dead, the partial data is unusable and deleting it loses nothing.

If it still won't delete

A file 'open in another program' means a Chrome process is alive in the background. On Windows, Shift+Delete after closing Chrome, or reboot and delete on a fresh start. On Mac, Terminal: rm ~/Downloads/name.crdownload (add sudo only if permissions block it).

When Chrome isn't the one holding it

If the file won't delete even after Chrome is fully closed, something else has it open:

Cloud sync (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive): if your Downloads folder syncs, the client can lock the .crdownload mid-upload. Pause syncing, then delete.
Antivirus scan: real-time protection sometimes quarantines or scans a half-downloaded file and holds a handle. Wait for the scan to finish, or exclude the Downloads folder briefly.
Which process has it: on Windows, open Resource Monitor → CPU tab → Associated Handles, search the file name to see exactly which app is locking it.

Why it got stuck

Chrome keeps the .crdownload locked while a download is paused, failed, or interrupted. If the download will never finish (dead link, server doesn't support resume), cancelling in Chrome is the clean way to release and remove it rather than fighting the file lock. Edge and Firefox use a .partial file instead of .crdownload, but the fix is the same.

Stop it happening again

Leftover .crdownload files usually pile up from downloads that silently failed. Keep Chrome updated (old builds leak stuck partials), and if a specific site always leaves them, download with a stable connection or try the site's own download manager. Periodically search your Downloads folder for *.crdownload and clear the stale ones — they're safe to remove in bulk.