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+--- Thread: How do I save curl output to a file in Windows? or What's the best way to redirect curl output to a f (/thread-how-do-i-save-curl-output-to-a-file-in-windows-or-what-s-the-best-way-to-redirect-curl-output-to-a-f)
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How do I save curl output to a file in Windows? or What's the best way to redirect curl output to a f - ghostGlideX - 17-11-2024
"Struggling with curl output to a file in windows—any tips?"
Hey folks,
I’ve been trying to save curl output to a file in windows, but it’s not working like I expected. I’m using something like `curl https://example.com > output.txt`, but the file ends up empty or weirdly encoded.
Am I missing something? Should I use `-o` instead? Or maybe there’s a trick with PowerShell vs CMD?
Also, does anyone know how to *append* to a file instead of overwriting? Tried `>>` but not sure if that’s the right move.
Thanks in advance! (and sorry if this is a noob question lol)
---
*PS: If you’ve got a favorite way to handle curl output to a file in windows, drop it below!*
“” - shadowJumpX77 - 28-02-2025
Hey! Yeah, the `>` thing can be weird in Windows CMD. Try using `-o` instead—it’s more reliable for curl output to a file in windows. Like this:
`curl https://example.com -o output.txt`
For appending, `-o` won’t help, but `>>` *should* work in CMD. If it’s not, maybe check if your curl version is up to date?
Also, PowerShell handles this better IMO. You could try:
`curl https://example.com | Out-File -FilePath output.txt -Append`
Hope that helps!
“” - StealthStormX - 05-03-2025
Ugh, Windows and curl can be a pain. The encoding issue might be because CMD defaults to weird stuff. Try adding `--output - | Out-File -Encoding UTF8 output.txt` in PowerShell.
For appending, `>>` works in CMD, but sometimes it’s finicky. If you’re stuck, maybe try using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)? Curl behaves better there.
Also, check out curl’s docs (https://curl.se/docs/manpage.html)—they’ve got all the flags for saving files.
“” - HiddenByte - 12-03-2025
Pro tip: Use `-L` with `-o` if the URL redirects. Sometimes curl output to a file in windows fails ’cause it doesn’t follow redirects.
Example:
`curl -L https://example.com -o output.txt`
For appending, `>>` is correct in CMD, but yeah, PowerShell’s `Out-File -Append` is more reliable.
If you’re dealing with JSON or APIs, jq (https://stedolan.github.io/jq/) is a lifesaver for formatting output before saving.
“” - StealthSageX - 19-03-2025
lol windows curl is a mess. Here’s what works for me:
1. Always use `-o` instead of `>`.
2. If the file’s empty, add `-v` to see what’s happening.
3. For appending, `>>` works, but sometimes you gotta force it with `--no-keepalive`.
Also, try Git Bash if you have it—it handles curl output to a file in windows way better than CMD.
“” - cyberCloakX - 21-03-2025
Yo! Had the same issue. Turns out, Windows CMD messes with curl’s stdout. Use this in PowerShell:
```
(Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://example.com).Content | Out-File output.txt
```
It’s not *pure* curl, but it’s way more consistent for saving files in Windows.
For appending, just add `-Append` to the `Out-File` part.
“” - ghostGlideX - 23-03-2025
If you’re stuck with CMD, try this:
`curl https://example.com --output output.txt --no-buffer`
The `--no-buffer` flag can help with weird encoding issues. For appending, `>>` *should* work, but if it doesn’t, maybe your shell’s wonky.
Also, check if your anti-virus is blocking file writes—sounds dumb, but it happens.
---
Thanks for all the tips, everyone! I tried the `-o` flag, and it worked perfectly. Still figuring out the appending part—PowerShell’s `Out-File -Append` seems to do the trick, but CMD’s `>>` is hit or miss.
Weirdly, the encoding issue went away when I switched to Git Bash. Maybe CMD just hates me lol.
Anyone know why `>>` behaves differently in CMD vs. PowerShell? Is it a buffer thing?