Unable to download files or upload files in brave browser

Browser Support
1

Description of the issue:
As the title says, i am unable to download or upload files in brave browser. Since the download of brave around this year. I have disabled safe browsing, removed extensions, Reinstalled brave, i have checked on where it can download and ask me where to save and yet nothing works. I asked reddit but not a single soul replied me, Help. I keep going to chrome just to download and upload files.

Just minutes before this post i disabled safe browsing and i actually downloaded a file. A min later, the same issue came back.

Steps to Reproduce (add as many as necessary): 1. 2. 3.
A thousand times done and the same result.

Actual Result (gifs and screenshots are welcome!):
Spam clicking the save button and nothing works.

Expected result:

Unable to download or upload.

Reproduces how often:
Every time i download or need to upload something.

Operating System and Brave Version(See the About Brave page in the main menu):
Windows 1 1 Pro.
1.80.124

EDIT

Tried disabling brave shields, new user profile, file system access in windows, nothing blocking brave in windows defender, Reset brave, did sfc/scannow and dism/online/cleanup in windows, started brave as admin, nothing was blocking in group policy editor, i deleted this C:\Users<YourName>\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware after uninstalling brave.

2

@MysticZ

Suggestion - follow what @Mattches wrote, re creating a new user profile - for testing your download issue:

3

@MysticZ do you have any anti-virus software running on your PC at this time?

4

Bitdefender, i disabled it to check if that was the problem but unfortunately it wasn’t

6

Unfortunately doesn’t work :frowning:

7

I disabled ask where to save files in brave and it works, but i would like to use the function of asking where to save

8

This used to be an issue but it was for Linux users – wondering if the same thing is somehow now affecting Windows:

Are there any extensions you have installed at this time?

9

No new extensions, the same from chrome. I think im the only one though? I don’t see anyone from windows having a problem

10

Is there any other way that i can ask for more people to help me? At this point im considering moving to a different browser

11

@MysticZ

I am using a Mac (MacOS 14.7.6) and Brave Browser 1.80.124; Private Windows; Global Shields UP; Global JavaScripts and Cookies Allowed. Using the previous update BB version, and especially with this BB version, I often encounter download failures - the downloads are incomplete, the process stops, and it does not rekindle.

I immediately switch to Firefox, which does not have a problem downloading.

12

is firefox like brave? Inbuilt adblocker>? i honestly downloaded brave just for this as chrome was phasing out adblockers

13

@MysticZ

Mozilla Firefox does not have a built-in adblocker like Brave Browser.

I use the uBlock Origin blocker - the add-on - with Firefox.

Generally, I prefer Brave Browser for its Privacy & Security features. I very much like the ability to control the granular Allow / Block of javascript sources. Also:

Tips regarding Brave Shields:

I have more success, with:

  • Brave Shields UP
  • Either Allow All Cookies or Block 3rd Party Cookies, but NOT Blocking All Cookies
  • Allowing JavaScripts from specific sources, but NOT Allowing All JavaScripts
  • Trackers & Ads treatment: Aggressive (at first), and then incrementally relaxing that setting
  • Fingerprinting (aka footprinting) blocking: Strict (at first), and then incrementally relaxing that setting

I almost NEVER use:

  • All of Brave Shields UP
  • All of Brave Shields DOWN

Shields Basics

How do I configure global and site-specific Shields settings?

How do I use Shields while browsing?

14

Can you please try disabling the extensions you do have installed and test to see if the issue persists?

Alternatively (or in addition to) you can try downloading the Beta build
of the browser, install it an test to see if the Beta has the same issue.

15

@Mattches

I used Firefox to download from:
‘https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/releases?q=beta&expanded=true’

  • Installed: ‘Brave-Browser-Beta-x64.dmg’ (Brave 1.81.124 (Official Build) beta (x86_64))
  • Ran through some of the settings, disabling the BB Extras, Bells, Whistles
  • BB Global Shields UP; BB Global JavaScript Allowed; 3rd Party Cookies Blocked
  • Of course, no extensions from the Internet
  • No Anti-Virus
  • Using BB Private Windows . . .
  • Sent BB to this issue (Unable to download . . .)

Then, right-clicked on your link that you gave in your reply re downloading BB Beta; result: I had to use Firefox to download.

The Downloads issue that I have with Brave Browser (stable, MacOS), is that large file downloads fail; the browser simply will not continue to download at some point in the process . . . downloads are incomplete.

So, as I wrote before, I use Firefox (where BB does not work).

PS: At: ‘https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/releases/tag/v1.81.124’

Trying to download the BB Beta installer, using BB Beta:

BB Beta on the left, Firefox on the right (both are private windows):

Screenshot 2025-07-28 at 14.37.34
Screenshot 2025-07-28 at 14.37.342698×1164 343 KB

BB Beta > Developer Tools:

Screenshot 2025-07-28 at 14.47.51
Screenshot 2025-07-28 at 14.47.511666×830 202 KB

Another PS: I clicked the Deny button when launching BB Beta:

bravess
bravess690×339 77.8 KB

Because, seems to me, that I should not want BB Beta and BB stable, using the same “Brave Safe Storage” application password in the keychain.