Prevent users from downloading harmful files

Chrome version 61 and later.

For administrators who manage Chrome Browser or Chrome devices for a business or school.

As a Chrome administrator, you can use the DownloadRestrictions policy to prevent users from downloading dangerous files, such as malware or infected files. You can prevent users from downloading all files or those that Google Safe Browsing identifies as dangerous. If users try downloading dangerous files, they get a security warning that they can’t bypass.

Step 1: Review the policy

Policy: DownloadRestrictions

Prevents users from bypassing Safe Browsing security warnings to download dangerous files. Or, prevents all downloads.

Set this policy with one of the following values:

  • 0 - No restrictions: All downloads are allowed. Users still receive warnings about sites identified as dangerous by Safe Browsing. But, they can bypass the warning and access the site.
  • 1 - Block dangerous downloads: All downloads are allowed, except those marked with Safe Browsing warnings for dangerous downloads.
  • 2 - Block potentially dangerous downloads: All downloads are allowed, except those marked with Safe Browsing warnings for potentially dangerous downloads.
  • 3 - Block all downloads: No downloads are allowed.

Unset: Defaults to No restrictions, as described above.

What the policy restricts

Setting this policy restricts downloads that are triggered on webpages when users click a download link on the page or right-click a file and choose Save link as.

However, restrictions do not apply when users save a webpage by clicking File and then Save page as, or Print and then Save as PDF.

Step 2: Set the policy

Click below for steps, based on how you want to manage these policies.

Admin console
Can apply for signed-in users on any device or enrolled browsers on Windows, Mac, or Linux. For details, see Understand when settings apply.
  1. Sign in to your Google Admin console.

    Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).

  2. From the Admin console Home page, go to Devicesand thenChrome management.

    If you don't see Devices on the Home page, click More controls at the bottom.

  3. Click User & browser settings.
  4. To apply the setting to everyone, leave the top organizational unit selected. Otherwise, select a child organizational unit.
  5. Scroll to Chrome Safe Browsing.
  6. For Download restrictions, choose an option:
    • Block all downloads
    • Block dangerous downloads
    • Block potentially dangerous downloads
    • No special restrictions
  7. Click Save.
Windows
Applies to Windows users who sign in to a managed account on Chrome Browser.

Using Group Policy 

In your Group Policy Management​ (Computer or User Configuration folder):
  1. Go to Policies and then Administrative Templates and then Google and then Google Chrome.
  2. Enable Allow Download Restrictions.
  3. Set an option:
    • Block all downloads
    • Block all dangerous downloads
    • Block potentially dangerous downloads
    • No special restrictions
  4. Deploy the policy to your users.
Mac
Applies to Mac users who sign in to a managed account on Chrome Browser.

In your Chrome configuration profile, add or update the following key and then deploy the change to your users.

Set the DownloadRestrictions key to <integer>value</integer>, where <value> is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Example code:

<key>DownloadRestrictions</key>
  <dict>
  <integer>1</integer>
</dict>

Linux
Applies to Linux users who sign in to a managed account on Chrome Browser.

In your preferred JSON file editor, add or update a JSON file and then deploy the change to your users.

  1. Go to your etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed folder.
  2. Set the DownloadRestrictions key to 0, 1, 2, or 3.
     

Example code:

{
"DownloadRestrictions": "1"
}

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