Chrome for Android is getting ‘Download later’ to Schedule downloads

Google is working on adding download later feature to Chrome for Android.  What this means is, when the feature is available, you no longer need to rely on download manager apps to schedule a file download at a specific date and time in the Chrome browser, Chrome offers an option for the same when you start a download in the download dialog.

Chrome WiFi pick date& time options download dialog

Chrome on Android comes with very few options to manage downloads. When you select Downloads option on the menu, it shows completed downloads and downloads that are in progress.

Chrome doesn’t provide options to sort downloads by date, size, and name. You need to use download manager apps such as Free Download Manager which also provides the Scheduling option for new downloads.

Chrome currently allows us to decide when and where to save downloads and offers a setting to download articles over WiFi.

Chrome 86 Canary now lets you schedule downloads when you enable a flag. Google is currently working on the feature and we’ve been able to get the feature work for one time only.

Chrome downloads page may soon show “Scheduled for later” tab along with My Files and Explore offline options.

Enable ‘Download later’ feature in Chrome on Android

1. Launch Chrome browser

2. Visit chrome://flags page

3. Search for “Enable download later”, select “Enabled” from the dropdown, and restart the browser.

Enable Download later flag

After completing the above steps, if you try to download any file, instead of “Downloading file” with Details message, you’ll receive a new prompt to ” Choose when to download” with Now, over Wi-Fi and “Pick date and time” as options.

When you select Pick date & time option and select Download, you’ll be allowed to choose date and time in the next step.

More articles on Chrome for Android:

Chrome for Android receives ‘Touch to Fill’ for Passwords

Chrome for Android lets you Test ‘LiteVideos’ in Canary

Chrome on Android Tests ‘Default Browser Promo’ in Canary

This is Chrome’s Screenshot Editor UI on Android

Venkat Eswarlu

Venkat is an independent technology journalist and the founder of Techdows. He has been covering web browsers, Windows, and software news since 2009. His exclusive scoops on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge features have been cited by Forbes, TechCrunch, Wired, CNET, and other major publications.

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