How to Resume an Interrupted Download (Chrome & Firefox)

How to Resume an Interrupted Download

When a download stops partway it leaves a <code>.crdownload</code> (Chrome) or <code>.part</code> (Firefox) file holding what you already got. In most cases you can resume from there instead of restarting. Open your browser's download list and hit Resume. Here's how, and what to do when Resume is greyed out.

Filename or extension

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Safe to delete?

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Resume in your browser

Chrome: press Ctrl+J to open Downloads, find the interrupted item and click Resume. Chrome continues from the .crdownload if the server supports it.
Firefox: press Ctrl+J, right-click the paused item → Resume. Firefox continues the .part file.

If Resume is greyed out or fails

Server doesn't support resuming: many servers can't continue a transfer, so the only option is to download again. Big files from CDNs usually can; dynamic links often can't.
Check the basics: unstable connection, low disk space, or no write permission to the Downloads folder all break resume. Fix those, then retry.
Use a download manager: tools like wget -c URL (continue) or a browser extension resume far more reliably than the browser alone for large files.

Don't delete the partial yet

The .crdownload / .part file holds the bytes you already downloaded — deleting it means starting from zero. Keep it until you've successfully resumed or decided to restart.

FAQ

How do I resume an interrupted download?

Open your browser's downloads (Ctrl+J), find the stopped item, and click Resume — Chrome continues the .crdownload, Firefox the .part. If the server supports resuming it continues from where it stopped; otherwise you'll need to download again.

Why is the Resume button greyed out?

Usually the server doesn't support resuming, or the partial file was removed. Low disk space, an unstable connection, or no write permission can also block it. Fix those and retry, or use wget -c / a download manager which resume more reliably.

Can I resume a download after closing the browser?

Often yes, as long as the .crdownload or .part file is still in your Downloads folder and the download still shows in the browser's history. Reopen the browser, go to Downloads (Ctrl+J), and click Resume.