Downloading files causes the browser to hang my system for 10 seconds

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While downloading even small files like images from safe websites, the browser often hangs/freezes the download at 100% before finishing. Everything returns to normal after and the download is successful. However, during the freeze, even other parts of my computer become locked from my use. Task manager shows no unusual usage spikes.

Is this related to some sort of virus scan? It’s seemingly intermittent, sometimes they download instantly like in Chrome, but half the time they lag the whole system. It only happens with Brave.

I have tried disabling all my extensions in Brave as well as Windows Defender Real Time Protection but the issue remains. I am on the latest version of Brave. I’m on Windows 11 Home, 23H2.

Any ideas?

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Thanks. It happens intermittently. It also took 15 seconds to download a 120kb image from Facebook. While the download is frozen, I cannot click anything else in the browser. Infuriating. No issues on Chrome or Firefox.

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Re the following info, the idea is, attach instrumentation, learn over time, what you are seeing - reported by each instrument, and notice patterns . . . and then your eye catches something: a difference: a different pattern from the norm.

That is R&D; lots of study and frustration before stumbling upon a bit that leads to discovery:

PS1. Make sure that you back up bookmarks, passwords as a matter of routine. (Use Brave Browser’s Bookmarks Manager - Export . . . button, to make “bookmarks.html” files and save those files some place NOT within any of the Brave Browser installation.)

PS2. Create System Restore Points (you can police those by using CCleaner).

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@UltrafineIncorporate,
Can you please try downloading a file from within a Guest profile so we can check and see if the issue occurs in a fresh profile as well? If the issue is intermittent it could be tricky, but I would suggest you:

  1. Browse normally on your main profile
  2. When you try to download something and notice the issue, go ahead and open a Guest profile window (Menu --> More tools --> Guest profile) and close your main profile window
  3. Then, try to go a d download that same file using the guest profile window

Check to see if the issue reproduces there.

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Just confirmed the issue happened on a guest profile as well.

I should add, the browser is also intermittently freezing when I close & reboot it, which also prevents anything else on my computer from functioning.

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Hmmm strange — can you please try downloading the Beta build of the browser and test to see if the issue occurs there as well? If it does, then it points to there being an issue with the system (or some application on your system).

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So far no issues with the beta build. Dozens of downloads worked instantly without issue, no rebooting freezes either.

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@UltrafineIncorporate if it’s happening on Release but not on Beta, then usually means it’s either (A) Something you have changed in brave://flags -or- (2) An issue with particular version of Brave/Chromium -or- (3) Some incompatibility with something like a firewall, antivirus, etc. or even drivers

I guess some thoughts on things you can try over the weekend:

  1. Check your settings at brave://flags. If you have changed anything, perhaps try to put back to default (at least temporarily) to see if it resolves.

  2. Disable graphics acceleration and see if you notice any difference. This is found at brave://settings/system

  3. Go to brave://settings/downloads and change the location you’re saving and/or change the toggle you have for Ask where to save each file before downloading

  4. Manually update Brave by downloading and installing on top of your current iteration. (don’t uninstall). If there is any corrupt data it can repair itself this way.

  5. Flush DNS Cache: Sometimes DNS entries can get corrupted or outdated, potentially causing intermittent download issues. You can flush your DNS cache by opening Command Prompt (as Administrator) and typing

Anyway, just was some quick thoughts here. Just a heads up, but support often isn’t active over the weekend or on American holidays. So might be a few days before Mattches or anyone from Brave can follow up with you.

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Beta is still working for me. I reinstalled regular Brave & tried resetting settings but it is still freezing up. I guess I will just stick with beta.

I did mess around in flags prior to this issue but the problem remained even after resetting everything.

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a download manager would save you a lot of time… XDM, IDM, Jdownloader2
two are free…

also, if this starts happening on other browsers/applications. keep an eye out
on your 3.3v rail voltages. Mine was doing “similar” things to this during games,
and not so hard to run applications. dwm exe (desktop windows manager) was crashing on me, locking/freezing the entire system. my issue turned out to be cable extensions on my 1000w psu causing lower voltage from the cheap gauged wiring inside the “name brand” extension cables.

this may not be related to your issue, but the next person who has something like this may have a deeper issue at hand. to which, this may help them. (if someone doesn’t
have extension cables, its likely a bad psu. but remove all plugs and leave the psu unplugged for 40min before hooking it all back up).