404 Error while downloading exe files from the browser? We can help you fix it.

Recently, while one of our customers tried to download an exe file and some other files types from the website on the server, a 404 not found message displayed although the files are there.

However, the zip and mpg files download fine.

As part of our Server Management Services, we assist our customers with several such errors.

Is there a way to enable .exe files to be downloaded on Windows Server

404 Error while downloading .exe files from the browser

In most cases, this error occurs when we disable downloading of executable files in Internet Options.

We can perform this manually or alter it automatically through some software by any user.

Though there exists many other possibilities, these two are the most popular ones.

Moving ahead, let us discuss fixing this issue in Windows 10 using both methods.

First, we will see how our Support Techs fix the Internet Options.

This might be because the .exe file may be getting interpreted as a CGI to be run on the server rather than downloaded.

In order to solve this issue, we recommend the steps below:

1. Initially, we open the IIS

2. Then we go to the website

3. Later, we click on the Handler Mappings

4. After that, we click on Edit feature permissions

5. Then we uncheck the Execute box.

6. Finally, we click OK

On the other hand, for other extensions, we need to make sure to register a mime-type for those extensions in IIS.

[Need a hand with the fix? We are available 24*7]

Conclusion

In short, we saw how our Support Techs fix the .exe files 404 Error.