How to Download Files Using Selenium WebDriver

To download a file using Selenium, configure the browser's download settings to save files automatically to a chosen folder. Then, trigger the download by clicking the download link or button using WebDriver. This avoids manual popups and lets Selenium handle file downloads smoothly.

Syntax

Set browser preferences to specify the download folder and disable download popups. Then use Selenium commands to click the download link.

• options: Browser settings to control download behavior.
• driver.get(): Opens the page with the file link.
• driver.find_element(): Locates the download link/button.
• element.click(): Starts the file download.

python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options

options = Options()
options.add_experimental_option('prefs', {
    'download.default_directory': '/path/to/download/folder',
    'download.prompt_for_download': False,
    'download.directory_upgrade': True,
    'safebrowsing.enabled': True
})

driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
driver.get('https://example.com/download-page')
download_button = driver.find_element('xpath', '//a[@id="download"]')
download_button.click()

Example

This example shows how to set Chrome options to download a PDF file automatically to a folder without popup dialogs. It opens a sample page and clicks the download link.

python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
import time

# Set download folder path
download_folder = '/tmp/selenium_downloads'

# Configure Chrome options
options = Options()
options.add_experimental_option('prefs', {
    'download.default_directory': download_folder,
    'download.prompt_for_download': False,
    'download.directory_upgrade': True,
    'safebrowsing.enabled': True
})

# Start Chrome with options
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)

# Open page with file to download
driver.get('https://file-examples.com/index.php/sample-documents-download/sample-pdf-download/')

# Find and click the first download button
download_link = driver.find_element('xpath', '(//a[text()="Download sample pdf file"])[1]')
download_link.click()

# Wait for download to complete (simple wait)
time.sleep(5)

driver.quit()

Output

No visible output; file is downloaded to /tmp/selenium_downloads folder.

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when downloading files with Selenium include:

• Not setting the browser's download directory, causing files to save in default locations.
• Not disabling download prompts, which block automation.
• Using incorrect locators for the download button/link.
• Not waiting enough time for the download to finish before closing the browser.

Always verify the download folder and use explicit waits if needed.

python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options

# Wrong: No download folder set, prompts not disabled
options = Options()
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
driver.get('https://example.com')
driver.find_element('id', 'download').click()
# This may cause popup blocking or save to default folder

# Right: Set preferences to avoid prompts and specify folder
options = Options()
options.add_experimental_option('prefs', {
    'download.default_directory': '/path/to/folder',
    'download.prompt_for_download': False
})
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)

Quick Reference

Tips for downloading files with Selenium:

• Use browser options to set download.default_directory.
• Disable download prompts with download.prompt_for_download.
• Use reliable locators like id, css selector, or xpath.
• Wait for downloads to complete before closing the browser.
• Check browser compatibility; Chrome and Firefox support these options.

Key Takeaways

Configure browser download preferences to automate file saving without popups.

Use Selenium to click the download link after setting download folder and options.

Always wait for the download to finish before closing the browser.

Use correct locators to find the download button or link reliably.

Test your setup with a sample file to ensure downloads work as expected.