How can I force download with html and/or javascript?

Question

So I have a this code:

    <a href="http://mysite.com/song.mp3">My Song</a>

How can I make it so that instead of the user having to right click, save as, they just click the link and BAM it downloads?

Not possible without a server-side language like PHP or manipulating the server-side configuration (like the .htaccess file in Apache) — Pekka, Dec 23 '11 at 08:23

score 4 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:44

4

On the server side, you can send back a Content-Disposition header, which should work (although its off-spec). See example here:

Uses of content-disposition in an HTTP response header

In future you'll be able to benefit from the new download attribute, part of HTML5.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:44

Community

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answered Dec 23 '11 at 08:46

isNaN1247

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it seems that `download` attrbute not works now – Z fp Jun 05 '20 at 09:12

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 23 '11 at 08:26

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The reason this can't be done without a server-side language is the potential security threats that it poses for users.

You wouldn't like "accidentally" downloading a virus from a site, now would you?

However, as long as the user's browser doesn't support displaying (or playing, in your case) any filetype, it will automatically prompt the user if they want to download the file. So if a browser doesn't offer support for playing mp3 files (I know Chrome does, maybe Firefox), then it should be "automatically downloaded" when clicked.

If you really need another way, though, it can be done with ASP. Here is a tutorial.

answered Dec 23 '11 at 08:26

Purag

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so is there a way to do it without php headers? – saoud Dec 23 '11 at 08:27
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It [can be done with ASP](http://www.psacake.com/web/if.asp), if you're open to it. – Purag Dec 23 '11 at 08:29
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@user1109075: you need to send headers, like it or not. – Blender Dec 23 '11 at 08:34
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Why "asking the user if he/she want to save a file" would impose more potential security threats than "automatically downloading and opening the file without asking anything"? – Guilherme Bernal May 22 '13 at 14:54

score -3 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 06 '13 at 17:44

<a type="application/mpeg" href="song.mp3">song link</a>

This will work on every Browser today, except on mobile dispositives. I would like a method with Javascript or simple html to perform this although. I've tried the meta content-disposition and still don't work.

score -3 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 23 '11 at 08:42

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Audio files by default gets played by audio player/plug-in.
You should put the files in a ".zip", and write the code to download it:

<a href="http://mysite.com/song.zip">My Song</a>

That instantly sets the default action to force download.

answered Dec 23 '11 at 08:42

Marcela Rocha

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This is not completely correct, in some actual browsers the mp3 is played inside the browser, there's not nedded any audio player nor plugin. And soaud tries to make a downloadable link for his songs, creating a zip file is a horrible way to do this. – Andrés Morales Mar 11 '14 at 14:02

How can I force download with html and/or javascript?

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