Fix: Origin Download Failed Error

Being unable to download the games you have purchased can be a very frustrating experience.

This scenario is even worse if there is a time-limited in-game event that you don’t want to miss, which is often the case with some of the most popular multiplayer titles.

If your Origin downloads keep failing, the first thing you should check is your internet connection. A slow or unstable connection is the most obvious reason for your games not downloading as they should.

Although this is usually the most logical reason for your issue, it isn’t always the case where Origin is concerned.

In fact, on Origin, this problem is usually caused by a less obvious error.

The Problem Explained

Users have reported seeing their Origin downloads failing for no apparent reason, despite their internet connection being stable and as fast as expected.

Various error messages can appear when this problem occurs, making the situation even more confusing and difficult to address.

A user reached out to members of the EA forum to ask for help. This is how they described the problem.

If you have encountered the same problem, there are a few trusted methods you can try that should help you overcome this frustrating Origin bug.

Fix 1: Run Origin As An Administrator

Downloading games from Origin means the client will need to save files to your disk. If the client doesn’t have the necessary permissions, the download will usually fail.

To avoid this, ensure you run Origin as an administrator each time you launch the client. Here’s how to do that.

1. Right-click the Origin shortcut on your desktop or start menu.
2. Select “Run as administrator” from the menu.

Doing this each time will ensure you don’t encounter any permission-related issues when using the app, especially while downloading your games.

If you don’t want to do this manually each time you launch the client, do the following:

1. Right-click the Origin shortcut on your desktop or start menu.
2. Select “Properties” from the list of options.
3. In the “Shortcut” section, click “Advanced” in the bottom-right corner.
   
4. In the window that opens, tick the “Run as administrator” setting and confirm by clicking “OK” in the bottom-right corner.
   

Origin will now automatically start with administrator privileges each time you launch it via the shortcut you just modified.

Fix 2: Add Origin As An Exception In Your Firewall Settings

Another possible reason for your game downloads failing is your firewall detecting Origin as a potential threat. This can happen with antivirus software on Windows 10, and it affects various platforms, including Steam and Epic Games.

To avoid this, you need to add an exception for Origin in your Windows 10 firewall settings.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click the search icon located in the bottom-left corner of your taskbar. Type in “Firewall & Network Protection” and press “Enter” on your keyboard.
   
2. Once the panel opens, click “Allow an app through firewall” from the list of options.
   
3. Click the “Change Settings” button, as indicated in the image below, to make the list editable so you can add a new app to it.
   
4. Click the “Allow another app” button located at the bottom of the panel. This will open a new window where you need to add the app, in this case, Origin, by either specifying its path or using the “Browse” function to locate it in File Explorer.
   
5. After finding the app, finish by clicking the “Add” button located at the bottom of the window.

You have now successfully added Origin as an exception, and your firewall will no longer prevent any files it downloads from being installed on your PC.

This means you can now download your games without seeing the Download Failed error on Origin.

Conclusion

These two simple methods should help you overcome the frustrating Origin error which prevents you from downloading the games in your library.

If you continue to experience the error even after applying the solutions in this article, don’t hesitate to contact Origin’s support team for further assistance.