How can I download files using curl from the command line? or What's the best way to download using c

"What's the best way to download using curl for large files?"

Hey guys, I'm trying to download using curl for some huge files (like 10GB+), but it’s taking forever and sometimes fails halfway.

Is there a trick to make it faster or more reliable? I’ve heard about resuming downloads, but not sure how to do it.

Also, does adding more flags help? Like `--limit-rate` or something?

Thanks in advance!

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*or*

"Download using curl – why is my file incomplete or corrupted?"

So I’ve been trying to download using curl, but the file keeps ending up broken or only partially there.

Am I missing something? Do I need to add `-C -` for resume or `-L` if it’s a redirect?

Sometimes it just stops randomly—no error, nothing. Super annoying.

Help a noob out pls! 😅

Hey! For large files, definitely use `-C -` to resume broken downloads. Also, try `--retry 5` to auto-retry if it fails.

If speed is an issue, `--limit-rate` can help, but honestly, I’d recommend aria2c instead of download using curl for huge files—it’s way faster with multi-threading.

Check out `aria2 -x 16 -s 16 [URL]`—it splits the file into chunks and downloads in parallel. Lifesaver for 10GB+ stuff!

Yo, I feel your pain. Download using curl can be a pain for big files.

Pro tip: Use `-O -J` to handle redirects AND save with the correct filename. Also, `--connect-timeout 30` helps if the server’s flaky.

If it fails, just rerun with `-C -` and it’ll pick up where it left off. Works like 90% of the time for me.

For corrupted files, always verify with checksums!

When you download using curl, add `--remote-time` to keep the server timestamp, and maybe `--silent --show-error` to avoid clutter but still see errors.

If it’s still failing, try `wget -c`—it’s more resilient for resume sometimes.

Dude, `-L` is a MUST if there’s a redirect. Also, `--fail` ensures curl actually fails if the download’s borked instead of saving garbage.

For speed, tweak `--tcp-fastopen` or `--parallel` (if your curl version supports it).

But tbh, for 10GB+, consider a download manager like `axel`—it’s built for this.

If your download using curl keeps stopping, check your network!

Use `--retry-delay 10` to space out retries. Also, `--output /dev/null` to test speed before downloading for real.

And yeah, `-C -` is your best friend here. Just rerun the same command and it’ll resume.

For big files, I always use `curl -C - -O [URL]` and let it run overnight.

If it’s still slow, try `--compressed`—some servers gzip files, and curl can handle that.

Also, `curl --version` to check if you’re on the latest—older versions suck at resuming.

OP here—thanks for all the tips! Tried `-C -` and it actually resumed my download, but it’s still slow af.

Gonna test aria2c like some of you suggested. Quick Q: Does `--limit-rate` make it more stable, or just slower?

Also, anyone know a good site to check download speeds? My ISP might be throttling me. 😑