Couldn't download - Download error/no permissions when downloading .exe files on Edge

Question

So whenever I download exe files from Edge I got "Couldn't download - Download error/no permissions" when my target download location is set to Downloads. The .exe file is already in the downloads section of my PC even after getting this error. Sometimes it will make a duplicate .exe file after I press the resume button. Whenever my target download location is at any other location or downloading from other browsers, it still works as per normal.

Answer 1

Yes, this now appears to be a device-wide Windows Security block rather than a Downloads folder permission issue.

Reproduce the error, then immediately open Windows Security > Protection history. Check whether Edge or the downloaded .exe was blocked as a potentially unwanted app. If the file is from a trusted source, select Actions > Allow on device, delete the existing copy, and download it again.

This protection applies specifically to Edge downloads and can affect every user account on the computer.

Official guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/windows-security-protection-history

Answer 2

Close Edge, then go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Edge > Modify > Repair. Restart the computer and test downloading an .exe file to Downloads again. Repairing Edge should not remove your favorites or saved data.

Answer 3

Since downloads work in other folders, please reset the original Downloads folder path and permissions.

Close Edge, open File Explorer, right-click Downloads under This PC, select Properties > Location > Restore Default > Apply. The default path should be:

C:\Users\YourUserName\Downloads

Select Yes if Windows asks to move the files.

Next, open Properties > Security > Advanced. Click Enable inheritance, then confirm your Windows account has Modify, Read and Write permissions.

If the permissions still look incorrect, open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one at a time:

icacls "%USERPROFILE%\Downloads" /inheritance:e

icacls "%USERPROFILE%\Downloads" /reset /T /C

Restart the computer, open edge://settings/downloads and select the original Downloads folder again. Microsoft documents the icacls reset command here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/icacls

Answer 4

Please first change the Edge download location to another folder and test again.

Open Edge, go to edge://settings/downloads, click Change next to Location, then select a folder such as Desktop or create a new folder like C:\EdgeDownloads.

If .exe files download normally there, the issue is with the permissions or configuration of the original Downloads folder.