All downloaded files show 0 bytes

Brave Browser Desktop Support
,
1

Description of the issue: - All downloaded files shows 0 (zero) bytes and when clicking on given file in download list it shows: ’ Error

Failed to load PDF document.
How can this issue be reproduced?

1.Eg: Log in to your email account online
2. Click any message with attachment
3.Try to download an attachment to any location on a PC hard-drive

Expected result: - to be able to download fully openable and readable files (.pdf, .word, etc)

**Brave Version v1.80.125 (Jul 30, 2025)

Additional Information: - cannot tell for sure but this came out of the blue after either browser or von or antyvir. update

2

@Conrad111

Wherever your normal Downloads folder is, create a new folder within that folder; you could name that new folder: BB_Downloads

So, instead of downloading to: C:\Users\yourusername\Downloads

You download to: C:\Users\yourusername\Downloads\BB_Downloads

Use the Internet browser’s settings brave://settings/downloads in order to select that new folder as the default.

Download a Test File

A simple text (TXT) file. The file’s contents are one word: ‘test’:

Test a simple PDF file, courtesy of W3C:

3

Hello,

brave ss3
brave ss31903×1027 71.4 KB

testFile. txt was downloaded successfully to a newly created BB_Downloads subfolder however while clicking on the link above with a test .pdf file has opened visible on the next tab - a downloading (clicking down pointing arrow) from that tab has resulted in: ‘blocked by your organisation’ message with further: ‘your organisation blocked this because it didn’t meet a security policy’ message while clicking for more details - ss attached.

4

@Conrad111

Good to know that the test file (a simple text file) download, worked.

Brave Community member @Saoiray will likely know the questions to ask you about the “your organization blocked this” issue that objects to the downloading of the PDF test file.