CRDOWNLOAD Files: What They Are and How to Open Them

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Everything you need to know about CRDOWNLOAD files

Written by Stan Kats | Edited by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: January 26, 2026 Fact Checked

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Overview

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Opening a CRDOWNLOAD File

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FAQ

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Video

Have you noticed a CRDOWNLOAD file in your Downloads folder and wondered what it is? Rest assured that this file is completely normal. CRDOWNLOAD files are temporary files made by Google Chrome when you start downloading something. In this article, we go over what CRDOWNLOAD files are and how to open them, including when they will or won't open. Keep reading to learn more!

Opening a CRDOWNLOAD File: Fast Facts

CRDOWNLOAD files are temporary files that Chrome creates when you download something from the internet.
CRDOWNLOAD files can sometimes be opened if you rename them, but this will only work for audio and video files.
If you can't open a CRDOWNLOAD file and you're not downloading anything, the best thing to do is delete the file.

Section 1 of 3:

What is a CRDOWNLOAD file?

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A CRDOWNLOAD file is a partially-completed Chrome download. When you use Google Chrome to download something on a Windows PC or Mac, Chrome will create a temporary CRDOWNLOAD file. When the download is completed, the CRDOWNLOAD file will be replaced with the file you downloaded. ^{[1]
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- Some CRDOWNLOAD files can be opened, namely video and audio files. To learn how to open a CRDOWNLOAD file that's a video or audio file, jump to the next section.
- If the CRDOWNLOAD file is from an image or text document that you were trying to download, it cannot be opened. Learn what to do with these files below.

Section 2 of 3:

Opening a CRDOWNLOAD File

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1
Navigate to the CRDOWNLOAD file. This will usually be in your Downloads folder, which is the default location for downloaded files.
- The file will end with the ".crdownload" file extension.
2
Right-click or control-click the CRDOWNLOAD file. A menu will expand.
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Click Rename. This allows you to change the file's name. If you're on a Mac, press ⏎ Return to continue.
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Type the new name of the file, followed by the correct file extension. If you were downloading an MP3 file, for example, you would name it [example].mp3 instead of [example].crdownload, where [example] is replaced with the name you want to give the file.
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Press ↵ Enter or ⏎ Return to finalize the name change. The biggest thing to remember is that you must replace the .crdownload part of the file name with the file extension that matches its file type (such as .mp3, .avi, etc.).
6
Open the file. How you open the file depends on what type of file it is, however. Note that you may not be able to open a CRDOWNLOAD file even after renaming it, as the file isn't complete.
- Audio file: Open the audio file in any media player and click the play button.
- Video file: Drag and drop the video file into VLC media player to play it.

Section 3 of 3:

FAQ

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What do I do with a CRDOWNLOAD file? If you don't want to or can't open the file, the best option is to delete it. These files aren't very useful as they can't be used properly. You can always try redownloading the file in Chrome (or another web browser).
- If you have a CRDOWNLOAD file in your Downloads folder and you currently have something downloading in Chrome, you should not delete the file (and you'll likely get an error that the file is in use if you try). Chrome will deal with the CRDOWNLOAD file when your download is done. If you want to cancel the download, go to Chrome to do so. Chrome will then remove the CRDOWNLOAD file.
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Why are all of my downloads CRDOWNLOAD files? This could mean there's a bug with your Chrome installation. Check for a Chrome update and install it if there's one pending. Otherwise, you might need to reinstall Chrome entirely. You can also try a different browser to see if the download works that way.
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Why can't I delete a CRDOWNLOAD file? This is likely because it's a file that's actively being downloaded by Chrome. If you don't want to download the file anymore, go to Chrome and stop the download. If the file isn't currently being downloaded but you still can't delete it, try force-closing Chrome. Learn how to force close an app on Windows and Mac.^{[2]
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