[FIX] Anti-Virus warning – Downloading Attachments Disabled in Gmail

Gmail may show the message “Anti-virus warning – 1 attachment contains a virus or blocked file. Downloading this attachment is disabled” when you try to download an email attachment, especially if the file is inside a ZIP, RAR, or other compressed folder. This warning means that Gmail’s built-in scanner has found something in the file that could be unsafe or doesn’t follow Gmail’s rules for safe attachments.

The most common reason for this warning is that the email contains types of files that Gmail blocks, such as .exe, .js, or .bat files. These files might be attached directly or hidden inside a compressed folder. Other reasons for the warning include password-protected folders, encrypted files, or files that Gmail cannot properly scan.

In this article, we will discuss different ways to solve this error.

1. Send the Email Back to the Spam Folder

This issue may happen if you use the “Move To” option to transfer an email from the Spam folder to your Inbox instead of using the “Not Spam” button. When you do this, you bypass a Gmail security flag that marks the email as Not Spam and allows you to download attachments.

1. First, open the email and use the “Move To” option to send it back to the Spam folder.

   

2. Mark the Email as “Not Spam”
3. Go to the Spam folder, open the email again, and click on the “Not Spam” button at the top.
4. Save your changes and check if you are now able to view or download the attachment.

2. Download the Email and Use an Email Client

In this method, we will use an Email Client to open the email and save the attachment to your computer. For this process, you need to have a desktop Email Client installed, such as Outlook, Thunderbird, or Mailbird. These programs give you a more “desktop-like” experience and allow you to manage Gmail messages directly on your device.

You don’t have to connect the Email Client to Gmail for this solution—just having it installed is enough.

1. Open your email in Gmail. Click the three dots (more options) in the top-right corner and select “Show Original”.

   

2. The email will open up in a new tab. Now, click the “Download Original” button.

   

3. Save the file to your computer with a recognizable name, and make sure it is saved as an “.eml” file type.

   

4. Next, open this saved file using your installed Email Client (for example, Outlook).

   

5. You should now see the original attachments included with the email. Click on the “Save All Attachments” option, and select the folder where you want to save these attachments.