Download files with powershell

This method is also incredibly flexible supporting separate credentials for the destination server AND web proxy, if required. Personally, the biggest benefit to using the Start-BitsTransfer method is the ability to set retry actions on failure and limiting the amount of bandwidth available to a transfer. While BITS is enabled by default on many machines, you can't guarantee it is enabled on all unless you are actively managing this.

Also with the way BITS is designed, if other BITS jobs are running in the background, your job could be queued or run at a later time hindering the execution of your script.

This method is perfect for scenarios where you want to limit the bandwidth used in a file download or where time isn't a major issue. I have used this to sync files nightly at full speed and during the day at half speed using Transfer Policies. BITS is also easy to monitor and audit. I would recommend System. WebClient due to it's universal nature and performance. BITS my second choice due to it's flexibility and managability.

Viewed 6k times. Files were not downloaded. Camilo Riviere. Camilo Riviere Camilo Riviere 51 1 1 silver badge 8 8 bronze badges. The two overloads either require string or Uri but because you're offering an object the code isn't working. What's the actual error message? Whats the rest of the exception? Matt I've edited my question to contain the answer with an edit that you recommended.

Thank you for your help. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. That Object[] should not be an issue. Wondering if those files with time stamps in their names really really really exist. Complete error message would be nice. JanneTuukkanen I stand corrected, Powershell indeed doesn't not seem to mind and works out they are indeed String s. To do so, you only have to add the -Asynchronous switch at the end of the Start-BitsTransfer command.

Initially, the state of each job would show c onnecting. To check the download job status, use the Get-BitsTransfer cmdlet. PowerShell is based on. NET, and its nature makes it capable of leveraging the power of. NET itself. If you want to know more about these two. HttpClient vs. To use the WebClient class, you need to initiate an object as a System. WebClient object. Then, using the DownloadFile method starts the download of the file from the source.

Please copy the code below and run it in your PowerShell session to test. However, the PowerShell prompt will be locked until the download is complete. If the source requires authentication to allow the file download, you can use the code below. Instead, use the System. HttpClient class. It appears that the WebClient class is obsolete, and the new class that Microsoft is endorsing is the HttpClient class. The next section talks about using the HttpClient class in PowerShell to download files from the web.

Like the WebClient class, you need to create first the System. See how to enable scripts. Choose the download you want. Download Summary:. Total Size: 0. Back Next. Microsoft recommends you install a download manager. Microsoft Download Manager. Manage all your internet downloads with this easy-to-use manager. Instead of typing a full cmdlet name, you can use for example :. If the file already exists, it is overwritten without any warning.