wget for file downloads in Linux CLI - Commands & Configuration

Introduction

Sometimes you need to get files from the internet directly to your computer using the command line. wget is a simple tool that helps you download files quickly and easily without opening a browser.

When you want to download a software installer from a website using the terminal.

When you need to save a backup of a webpage or file for offline use.

When you want to download multiple files automatically using a script.

When you have a slow or unstable internet connection and want to resume downloads.

When you want to download files on a remote server without a graphical interface.

Commands

This command downloads the file named sample.txt from the website example.com to your current folder.

Terminal

wget https://example.com/sample.txt

Expected Output

2024-06-01 12:00:00 URL:https://example.com/sample.txt [1234/1234] -> "sample.txt" [1]

This command downloads the file but saves it locally as newname.txt instead of the original name.

Terminal

wget -O newname.txt https://example.com/sample.txt

Expected Output

2024-06-01 12:01:00 URL:https://example.com/sample.txt [1234/1234] -> "newname.txt" [1]

→

-O - Save the downloaded file with a custom name

This command downloads a large file and allows resuming if the download is interrupted.

Terminal

wget -c https://example.com/largefile.zip

Expected Output

2024-06-01 12:02:00 URL:https://example.com/largefile.zip [104857600/104857600] -> "largefile.zip" [1]

Resuming download

→

-c - Continue an incomplete download

This command downloads the file quietly without showing progress or messages.

Terminal

wget -q https://example.com/sample.txt

Expected Output

No output (command runs silently)

→

-q - Quiet mode, no output

Key Concept

If you remember nothing else from wget, remember: it downloads files from the internet directly to your computer using simple commands.

Common Mistakes

Typing the URL incorrectly or missing the https:// part

wget cannot find the file and returns an error because the address is wrong.

Always copy the full and correct URL including the protocol (http:// or https://).

Not using -c flag when resuming a large interrupted download

The download restarts from the beginning instead of continuing where it left off.

Use wget -c to continue incomplete downloads and save time.

Expecting wget to show progress when using -q flag

No output appears, so it seems like nothing is happening.

Use -q only when you want no messages; otherwise omit it to see progress.

Summary

Use wget followed by a URL to download files from the internet.

Use -O to save the file with a different name.

Use -c to resume interrupted downloads.

Use -q to download quietly without showing progress.