How do you download a file from an https site that requires username and password

Question

How do you download a file from an https site that requires username and password

Stacy Bell 41

How do you download a file from an https site that requires username and password? I tried both:

[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls, [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls11, [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12, [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Ssl3
[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = "Tls, Tls11, Tls12, Ssl3"
$download_url = "C:\Users\me\Downloads\Monthly Report.csv"
$local_path = "C:\Users\me\Downloads\Monthly Report.csv"
$user = "myusername"
$pass = "mypassword"
$WebClient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
$WebClient.Credentials = New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($user, $pass)
$WebClient.DownloadFile($download_url, $local_path)

[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls, [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls11, [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12, [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Ssl3
[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = "Tls, Tls11, Tls12, Ssl3"
$download_url = "C:\Users\me\Downloads\Monthly%20Report.csv"
$local_path = "C:\Users\me\Downloads\Monthly%20Report.csv"
$user = "myusername"
$pass = "mypassword"
$WebClient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
$WebClient.Credentials = New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($user, $pass)
$WebClient.DownloadFile($download_url, $local_path)

I'm getting an error: [Download File] Error: Download failed: The request was aborted: Could not create SSL/TLS secure channel.

1 answer

Your answer

Answer 1

MotoX80 36,401

$download_url = "C:\Users\me\Downloads\Monthly%20Report.csv"

For starters you have to point to an actual web site address and not local file name that's on the C drive. The download url should be something like HTTPS://www.SomeSite.com/SomethingElse/

https://theitbros.com/download-file-powershell/

Stacy Bell 41 Reputation points

2021-12-29T17:59:16.957+00:00

Sorry typo. I tried this.

$download_url = "https://www.test.com/Monthly Report.csv"
$local_path = "C:\Users\me\Downloads\Monthly Report.csv"
$user = "myusername"
$pass = "mypassword"
$WebClient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
$WebClient.Credentials = New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($user, $pass)
$WebClient.DownloadFile($download_url, $local_path)

I also tried this.

$download_url = "https://www.test.com/Monthly%20Report.csv"
$local_path = "C:\Users\me\Downloads\Monthly%20Report.csv"
$user = "myusername"
$pass = "mypassword"
$WebClient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
$WebClient.Credentials = New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($user, $pass)
$WebClient.DownloadFile($download_url, $local_path)

I'm not getting an error on either but it's not downloading the file.
MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2021-12-29T18:09:04.937+00:00
I'd suggest trying Invoke-WebRequest first. Using an example from that link, first see if you can connect to your site.

Credentials = Get-Credential Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://theitbros.com/ -Credential $Credentials

Then try the full url with the -outfile switch

Credentials = Get-Credential Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://theitbros.com/backup_file.zip -OutFile C:\downloads\backup.zip -Credential $Credentials
MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2021-12-29T18:30:41.367+00:00

If you try to browse the site, do you get a popup like this?

And this error if you just cancel out and don't log in.

That's basic authentication, and using the credential example should work. If you didn't get those, then the site may use a different authentication method. You would need to talk to the web site support team and ask them for help.
Stacy Bell 41 Reputation points

2021-12-29T18:45:33.25+00:00

It didn't download the file. Shouldn't I enter my username and password as part of it somewhere?
MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2021-12-29T18:53:17.897+00:00
I missed the dollar sign doing the copy and paste.

$Credentials = Get-Credential

It should look like this.
Stacy Bell 41 Reputation points

2021-12-29T19:01:11.457+00:00

I need it to be done programmatically to automate the entire process.
MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2021-12-29T19:42:21.283+00:00

That's fine, but there are different methods of authenticating users. Some sites put up a login page and verify the id+pswd against a back end database or possibly Active Directory. Your code needs to conform to however the web site works. I don't know how your site works, so I can't tell you how to login. I was trying to determine if the site used IIS's basic authentication.
Rich Matheisen 47,901 Reputation points

2021-12-29T20:05:18.36+00:00
Well, while it wouldn't make a lot of sense (in this case), you can "download" a local file:

$download_url = "file:\\C:\Junk\text2.txt" $local_path = "C:\Junk\Text21.txt" $WebClient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient $WebClient.DownloadFile($download_url, $local_path)

I've used that technique when the data are located on a local file or web site (ftp, too!). I don't know if it works with "news" or "gopher", though. :-)

Share via

How do you download a file from an https site that requires username and password

1 answer

Your answer