How to Cancel Google Chrome Download?

Downloading files is an integral function of Web browsing, and Google Chrome makes it as easy as possible. However, sometimes you may start an uwanted download by accident, or you might feel that you don’t need the file midway through the download. Knowing how to cancel the download on Google Chrome can save you time and storage, probably helping your device to stay away from unwanted and suspicious files. In this article, we will show you multiple ways to cancel downloads in Google Chrome on desktop and mobile so you remain in control of your downloading activity.

Why You Might Want to Cancel a Download

To begin with, one needs to understand why chrome users would wants to know how to cancel Google Chrome download mid-process. Following is a rundown of common reasons:

• Accidental Downloads: Sometimes, links can be deceiving, and you may feel, after clicking onto them, that the file isn’t what you wanted.
• Suspicious Files: If you suspect the file may contain malware or isn’t from a trusted source, it’s better to cancel it to avoid potential risks.
• File Size: Large files take up considerable bandwidth and storage capacity; hence, you might not want to continue downloading if either of them is in low supply.
• Extra Files: Sometimes we download something and then find out that this or that file is not needed. In this case, cancelling will save your download folder from clutter and messy look.

Whether you work on Chrome via desktop, laptop, or mobile, knowing how to cancel Google Chrome download will help you out lots of times.

How to Cancel Google Chrome Download on Desktop

Google Chrome offers desktop users multiple means of canceling the download of a file midway through. The steps by step methods shown below describe how to perform each of the available options.

1. Cancel from Download Bar
Any download initiated through Chrome shows a small download bar at the bottom of your browser window, showing the progress of the file. In order to cancel the download:

• Step 1: Locate and click on the download icon on top of the browser next to the address bar.
• Step 2: Hit the “X” button next to the downloading file. (alternatively, you can click on the pause icon, if you just want to pause the download.)

• Step 3: Chrome will instantly stop the download, and the file will not be saved.

This is one of the quickest methods about how to cancel Google Chrome download directly from your browser.

2. On the Downloads Page
The other way to cancel downloads includes going into the Downloads page which contain more information about the recent and ongoing downloads. Here’s how:

• Step 1: The Downloads page opens with Ctrl + J for Windows and Cmd + Shift + J for Mac; alternatively, you can type chrome://downloads in the address bar.
• Step 2: Click on the three dots next to the file for which you need to cancel the downloading. There should be a “Cancel” option beside it.

• Step 3: Click “Cancel”, and Chrome will immediately stop downloading.

The Download page also maintains a record of your previous downloads. So you can use it to remove unwanted ones and clean up.

3. Canceling Downloads via the Task Manager

If it is frozen and you cannot do anything from google chrome, you can forcibly stop downloads using the Task Manager:

• Step 1: Shift + Esc opens Chrome’s Task Manager.
• Step 2: Under Task Manager, search for “Network Service” or any task related to downloads.
• Step 3: Choose that task and click “End Process.”

This will kill all ongoing downloads and whatever network activity; hence, use it only when you have to. Learning how to cancel Google Chrome download this way is good in the event of Chrome freezing up on you. It happens 🙂

How to Cancel Google Chrome Download on Mobile

If you browse on a mobile device, then here is “how to cancel Google Chrome download” on Android or iOS.

1. Notification Center Cancelling

On mobile, downloads can be managed from the notification center, which makes managing downloads without opening the Chrome app easier.

• Step 1: Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the notification center.
• Step 2: Look at the Chrome download notice at the bottom of the browser. You can see there what is currently downloading and how much of it has completed.
• Step 3: Click on the “Cancel” or “X” next to the download notice.

2. Cancelling Downloads Through Chrome Mobile Downloads Tab
You can also cancel downloads from within the Chrome app using the Downloads tab :

• Step 1: Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots at the top right corner to open the menu.
• Step 2: Tap “Downloads” to reveal the list of current downloads.
• Step 3: Scrolling down to view the downloading file, tap “X” or “Cancel” to cancel that download.

This will be useful in case the download is in process and you want it to stop from within the app itself.

Managing and Clearing Unwanted Downloads

Once you learn “how to cancel Google Chrome download,” managing and clearing downloads can help you maintain the storage in optimized condition. Here are additional tips to deal with unwanted files:

• Clean Up Download History: On the Chrome Downloads page, chrome://downloads, click the “Clear all” button or remove individual files manually to keep your history clean.

• Cleaning Up Downloads Folder: Even when a download has been canceled, the file may still be in your downloads folder as a partial or incomplete file. You should remove such incomplete files to clean up space on your device. On the Chrome Downloads page, chrome://downloads click on the “X” next to the cancelled download to remove it from the download page.

Conclusion

Knowing how to cancel a Google Chrome download is a helpful way of keeping your browser’s downloads in order. Whether it involves canceling an unwanted file or saving yourself from huge downloads, Chrome offers multiple options. You can use the Downloads bar, the Downloads page, or even the notification center if you use it on mobile. With that, you can always be in control of what gets saved on your device. With just a few swift motions, one is able to handle the downloads and cancel them, thereby maintaining the speed of browsing and making it safe.