Downloading large Google Takeout files can be slow and frustrating. Because of this, many users choose to download Google Takeout with aria2 to get faster and more stable results. This guide shows simple steps that anyone can follow, even with basic terminal skills.
Table of Contents
Why Use aria2 for Large Google Takeout Downloads
Aria2 is a lightweight download tool. It works well for big files. It also works through the terminal, which makes it great for servers.
Benefits of aria2:
- Fast downloads
- Easy resume support
- Low resource usage
- Reliable for large ZIP files
However, Google Takeout blocks multi-stream downloads. Because of this, we must configure aria2 the right way.
Install aria2 on Your System
You can install aria2 on Linux or macOS. The commands below work on common systems.
Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo apt update
sudo apt install aria2 -yLinux (CentOS/RHEL)
sudo dnf install aria2 -ymacOS
brew install aria2These commands install aria2 quickly and safely.
Export Your Browser Cookies Before Downloading
Google Takeout download links need login cookies. Without cookies, aria2 will download an HTML login page instead of your ZIP file. This issue is common, but the fix is simple.
Steps to export cookies:
- Install the Get cookies.txt browser extension.
- Visit https://takeout.google.com
- Export your cookies.
- Save the file as:
~/cookies.txtYour download will fail without this file. So make sure you do not skip this step.
Get a Fresh Google Takeout Download Link
You must copy the download link the correct way. For example, links from email often expire. Because of this, you should copy it from your browser’s download page.
How to copy a valid link:
- Start the download in your browser.
- Open chrome://downloads.
- Right-click the Takeout file.
- Select Copy download link.
This link includes your login token. So aria2 can use it safely.
How to Download Google Takeout with aria2 (Correct Command)
Now we can run aria2. Google only allows single-stream downloads. Because of this, we must set -x 1 and -s 1.
aria2c -x 1 -s 1 -c --load-cookies=cookies.txt --file-allocation=none "PASTE_TAKEOUT_LINK_HERE"Command Breakdown
| Flag | Meaning |
|---|---|
-x 1 | Use 1 connection only |
-s 1 | No file splitting |
-c | Resume downloads |
--load-cookies | Load Google cookies |
--file-allocation=none | Avoid slow pre-allocation |
This command works for all large Google Takeout files.
Resume Downloads Anytime with aria2
If your internet drops, you can resume the download.
aria2c --load-cookies=cookies.txt -c "URL"Because aria2 supports resuming, you will not lose progress.
How to Verify Your Google Takeout Download
Google includes checksum files. These files help confirm your ZIP file is not corrupted.
md5sum takeout-001.zip
sha1sum takeout-001.zipThen compare the numbers with the checksum files in your Takeout folder.
FAQ
Copy the link again from chrome://downloads. [if you are using chrome]
Your cookies file is missing or outdated.
Yes, but you need the Windows version of aria2.
Google blocks multi-stream downloads.
Yes, but each must use -x 1 -s 1
[Video] How to Download Google Takeout with aria2
Conclusion
When you want fast and stable downloads, the best method is to download Google Takeout with aria2. It works well, it resumes downloads, and it avoids browser problems. With cookies, a fresh link, and the right command, you can download any size Takeout file smoothly.
