I keep running into this annoying popup when trying to download larger files from Google Drive. Every time I try to get a zip file that’s bigger than around 25MB, I see this message:
We can't scan this file for viruses because it's too big.
The file is larger than our scanning limit. Continue download
This really slows me down because I have to click through the warning every single time. I download lots of big files for work and this extra step is getting frustrating.
Is there some kind of user preference or account setting I can change to make Google Drive skip this virus scanning notification? I just want my downloads to start automatically without these popup interruptions.
Same problem here with large datasets. Google hardwired this into their system - there’s no way around it. Any file over 25MB triggers the warning as a security thing. I’ve found the desktop sync client works way better than browser downloads. When you sync folders locally, you skip the virus scan warnings entirely. Just set up selective sync so you’re only grabbing the folders you actually need. You could also try rclone for bulk downloads. It’s command line so there’s setup involved, but it bypasses the browser completely and saves tons of time if you’re constantly dealing with large files.
The Problem: You’re encountering a virus scan warning popup in Google Drive every time you download a file larger than 25MB. This interruption slows down your workflow, and you’d like to eliminate these popups.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Google Drive’s virus scanning mechanism triggers a warning for large files as a security precaution. This is a built-in feature and isn’t user-configurable. The warning is intended to protect your system from potentially malicious software within downloaded files. The size threshold (25MB in your case) is likely determined by Google to balance security with download speed. There’s no setting to disable this notification directly within the Google Drive interface.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Automate Downloads using the Google Drive API: The most effective solution is to bypass the browser’s download functionality entirely. Use a third-party tool or script to interact with the Google Drive API directly. This allows you to download files programmatically, circumventing the browser’s virus scan and the resulting popup. You’ll need to authenticate your application with the Google Drive API and then use their download functionality. This approach requires some programming knowledge but provides a clean and efficient solution for bulk downloads.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
- API Key and Authentication: Ensure your Google Drive API key is correctly configured and that your application has the necessary permissions to access and download files. Carefully follow Google’s documentation on API authentication.
- Rate Limits: Be mindful of the Google Drive API’s rate limits. Downloading very large files or numerous files concurrently might exceed these limits, resulting in temporary download failures. Consider implementing error handling and retry logic in your scripts.
- Alternative Tools: If you’re not comfortable with programming, explore pre-built tools that automate Google Drive downloads. Some applications might offer a graphical interface or simpler methods for interacting with the API.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
totally feel ya! that warning is a pain. but unfortuantely, there’s no way to disable it. u can try scripting with the API if you’re up for it, but it can get a bit complicated. hope you find a workaround that works for you!
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