Fix Google Chrome Web Store NETWORK_FAILED

The ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error typically appears when users try to download install or download an app or extension from the Chrome Web Store. Some affected users report that every Web Store download fails, while others are only encountering this issue with some extensions.

In some cases, this issue might occur if you’re using a severely updated Chrome build. There was a glitch that used to wreak havoc months in the initial months after Windows 10 launched. However, a virus infection (most likely adware or browser hijacker) can also cause this problem – in this case, running the Cleanup Tool or a specialized scanner like Malwarebytes can resolve the issue.

But in case you are prevented from using the Web store to download extensions, you can also force a manual download or attempt to reset every Chrome setting in order to clean potentially corrupted data.

How to fix the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error?

Solution 1: Update Chrome to the latest version

As it turns out, you might be encountering the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error due to an issue that was since patched. Of course, updating your browser version might not be an option if you’re purposely keeping your version down for one reason.

But if your browser is not updating and you don’t have a reason for it, you should be able to fix the issue by following the instructions to updating Chrome to the latest version:

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the action button (three-dot) icon in the top-right corner. Once you get to the correct location, go to Help > About Google Chrome.

   

2. After you manage to get to the next window, Chrome will automatically scan to see if a new version is available.

   

3. In case a new version of your Chrome version is available, you will be automatically prompted to install it. Do so and then restart your browser to see if the issue is fixed.

In case you’re still encountering the same ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error when attempting to download or install an extension, move down to the next potential fix below.

Solution 2: Running the integrated Cleanup Tool

If the issue is being caused by a superficial browser hijacker, you should be able to resolve the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error code by running the integrated Chrome Cleanup tool to swiftly identify and remove the malicious files from your browser.

Several affected users have confirmed that this procedure has finally allowed them to download & install browser extensions.

Here’s a quick guide on running the integrated Cleanup Tool in order to fix the error and allow new extensions to be installed:

1. Open your Chrome browser, click on the action button (top-right corner of the window) and click on Settings from the newly appeared context menu.
2. When you’re inside the Settings menu, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the settings window and click on Advanced, to bring up the advanced settings menu.
3. Once the Advanced Settings menu of Chrome is visible, scroll all the way down to the Reset and clean up section and click on Clean up computer.
4. Next, click on the Find button associated with Find harmful software.
5. Wait for the scan to complete, and follow the on-screen instructions to remove corrupted files in case any are found.

If this operation wasn’t able to find any harmful files that might be causing the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error, move down to the next potential fix below.

Solution 3: Scan Computer with Malwarebytes

As it turns out, the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error is sometimes linked with a selection of serious browser hijackers and trojans. In some cases, the issue might occur because some Chrome browser files got infected by adware or hijackers.

Some users that faced the same problem have confirmed that they were finally able to fix the issue and download & install extensions without getting the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error after they initiated a Malwarebytes scan to clean the infection.

Note: You can use other premium scanners to get the job done. But Malwarebytes is renowned for being the most efficient security scanner when dealing with browser hijackers.

Here’s a quick guide on initiating a Malwarebytes scan before reinstalling a clean version of Google Chrome:

1. To deal with the security threat, start following this guide (here) on installing and configuring MalwareBytes to clean your browser of malware and adware.

   

2. After you follow the guide above and manage to remove the malware, restart your computer to complete the removal of any leftover files.
3. After the next startup is complete, press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘appwiz.cpl’ inside the text box and press Enter to open the Program and Features menu.

   

4. Once you manage to get inside the Programs and Features menu, scroll down through the list of installed applications and locate Google Chrome. When you see it, right-click on it and choose Uninstall from the newly appeared context menu. Next, follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall Google Chrome completely.

   

5. Once the uninstallation process is uninstalled, restart your computer once again.
6. At the next system startup, visit this link (here) from IE or a different browser, then follow the instructions to download & install the latest Chrome version. After the installation executable is downloaded, follow the on-screen prompts to install the latest version of Chrome on your computer.

   

7. Once the new version is installed, open Google Chrome and repeat the action that was previously causing the issue to see if the problem has been fixed.

In case you’re still encountering the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error when you attempt to download or install an extension, move down to the next potential fix below.

Solution 4: Changing the download directory

Another fairly common cause that might lead to the apparition of this issue is a download location that is no longer available. This can occur if the user has previously set a custom folder as the default download location for Chrome that it’s no longer available.

It’s possible that the location was quarantined by an AV suite, the drive containing the tool was removed or the user has since deleted the folder.

Note: Even though this folder doesn’t seem related to Chrome extensions, keep in mind that just like any other download, Chrome will initially the extension pack in the download folder and only after it will install it.

If this scenario is applicable, you can fix the issue by changing the default download location to a valid directory and restarting the browser.

Here’s a quick guide on how to do this from Chrome’s settings:

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the action button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Then, from the newly appeared context menu, click on Settings.
   

   

3. Inside the Settings menu, scroll down to the Downloads section and click the Change button associated with Location.

   

4.  From the Location window, choose a location that is valid and it’s not subject to become unavailable in the future and click on Select Folder.

   

   Note: The safest location for this is the Downloads folder. It cannot be deleted conventionally, so there’s no chance of it becoming invalid in the future.

5. Once the change has been enforced, restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved.

In case the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.

Solution 5: Download the extension manually

If none of the methods you’ve tried so far have helped you in resolving the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error, one way to circumvent it entirely is to download the app or extension directly by copying the app id and using a predefined link.

By doing this, you will download the file directly, then you can go to the Extensions page and drag-n-drop the downloaded extension to install it.

Note: If it doesn’t install right away, you might need to change the extension of the file to .zip and extract it into a new folder before uploading it via the Load unpacked extension.

A lot of affected users have confirmed that they used this method to install a Chrome extension after the Web Store became unresponsive and started showing the “Network_Failed‘ error.

Here’s a quick guide on doing this:

1. Open this link (here) on your Chrome browser and find the extension that is failing to download or install with the “Network_Failed‘ error.
2. When you manage to find it, select the entire URL and copy it on your clipboard.
3. Once the link is copied on your clipboard, visit this link (here) and paste it inside the Chrome Extension Downloader, then click on Download extension.

   

4. Once the extension is downloaded, open the Extension window by going to action button > More Tools > Extensions or by pasting the following address directly into the navigation bar and pressing Enter:
    

   chrome://extensions/

5. When you arrive at the correct location, simply drag & drop the extension file you previously downloaded at step 3 and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
   Note: In case the installation fails this way, use the Load unpacked feature to complete the installation of the extension.
6. Restart your computer and see if the extension is working properly at the next browser startup.

In case you’re still encountering the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error or this method wasn’t applicable, move down to the next potential fix below.

Solution 6: Resetting the Chrome browser

In case none of the methods above have allowed you to fix the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error, it’s quite possible that you’re encountering the issue due to some kind of file inconsistency or even corrupted data.

If this scenario is applicable, the quickest way of resolving this issue is to reset Chrome along with every set back to the default.

Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the action button (top-right section of the screen), then choose Settings.
2. After you are inside the Settings menu, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Advanced drop-down menu to make the advanced settings visible.
3. Scroll down through the advanced settings and click on Restore settings to their original defaults (under Reset and Cleanup).
4. After the operation is complete, restart your browser and see if the ‘Chrome Web Store Network_Failed‘ error has been resolved.