How to make a ZIP file downloadable

Alex Ethridge · 07-31-2020, 01:50 PM

I put a 3-Gig ZIP file on my site for someone to download. How do I make it so people can download the file?

In the past, I think I used to be able to simply enter the address of the file in the form of www.mysite.com/whatever.zip and a download box would pop up but I get a "forbidden" error trying it that way.

**Bob** · 08-01-2020, 08:32 AM

Alex,

You should just be able to do exactly as you say, making sure you place the file in your /www or a subdirectory of the /www.

If you have done that and it isn't working you either would need to provide the name of the file and location here, or send an email to the Service Desk with the details.

-Bob

Alex Ethridge · 08-01-2020, 09:58 AM

Here's the path complete with file name:

www.alexethridge.com/vebberslides.zip

I get the same "forbidden" error with Firefox and Edge.

**Bob** · 08-01-2020, 05:17 PM

Hi again Alex,

The problem is the file size, Apache has issues with files over 2 GB and that file is around 3 GB. You have another .zip file that is much smaller and it works fine as a download.

You probably would be better off using a File Share provider of some sort for files larger than 1 GB. It would save your Bandwidth as well as File Share sites are optimized for file downloads.

-Bob

Alex Ethridge · 08-01-2020, 10:48 PM

Thanks, I'll break it into two files.

As for bandwidth, that is something that is almost never used here.