How to Download Large Files in Chunks Using Wget on Ubuntu

This article outlines the process of downloading large files on Ubuntu using the wget command-line tool. It details how to configure wget to resume interrupted transfers and limit bandwidth usage for better stability. By following these instructions, you can manage large downloads efficiently without third-party tools.

Install Wget

Wget is typically pre-installed on Ubuntu. To verify installation, open your terminal and run the following command:

wget --version

If it is not installed, update your package list and install it using:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install wget

Enable Resume Functionality

The primary method for handling large files in wget is using the continue flag. This allows you to resume a download if your connection drops, effectively letting you download the file in separate sessions. Use the -c or --continue option followed by the file URL:

wget -c https://example.com/largefile.zip

If the download interrupts, running the same command again will pick up where it left off instead of restarting from zero.

Limit Download Speed

To prevent the download from consuming all available bandwidth, you can limit the download rate. This ensures your system remains responsive during the transfer. Use the --limit-rate flag with a value like k (kilobytes) or m (megabytes):

wget -c --limit-rate=500k https://example.com/largefile.zip

Understanding Chunking Limitations

It is important to note that wget downloads files sequentially, not in parallel chunks. While the -c flag allows you to break the download into time-based segments by resuming, it does not split the file into multiple concurrent streams. For true parallel chunk downloading, the aria2c utility is recommended, but wget remains the standard tool for reliable sequential downloads with resume capabilities on Ubuntu.