Java Download File from URL

Published on August 4, 2022

Today we will learn how to download a file from URL in java. We can use java.net.URL openStream() method to download file from URL in java program. We can use Java NIO Channels or Java IO InputStream to read data from the URL open stream and then save it to file.

Java Download File from URL

Here is the simple java download file from URL example program. It shows both ways to download file from URL in java. JavaDownloadFileFromURL.java

package com.journaldev.files;

import java.io.BufferedInputStream;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.nio.channels.Channels;
import java.nio.channels.ReadableByteChannel;

public class JavaDownloadFileFromURL {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String url = "https://www.journaldev.com/sitemap.xml";
        
        try {
            downloadUsingNIO(url, "/Users/pankaj/sitemap.xml");
            
            downloadUsingStream(url, "/Users/pankaj/sitemap_stream.xml");
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    private static void downloadUsingStream(String urlStr, String file) throws IOException{
        URL url = new URL(urlStr);
        BufferedInputStream bis = new BufferedInputStream(url.openStream());
        FileOutputStream fis = new FileOutputStream(file);
        byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
        int count=0;
        while((count = bis.read(buffer,0,1024)) != -1)
        {
            fis.write(buffer, 0, count);
        }
        fis.close();
        bis.close();
    }

    private static void downloadUsingNIO(String urlStr, String file) throws IOException {
        URL url = new URL(urlStr);
        ReadableByteChannel rbc = Channels.newChannel(url.openStream());
        FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(file);
        fos.getChannel().transferFrom(rbc, 0, Long.MAX_VALUE);
        fos.close();
        rbc.close();
    }

}

downloadUsingStream: In this method of java download file from URL, we are using URL openStream method to create the input stream. Then we are using a file output stream to read data from the input stream and write to the file. downloadUsingNIO: In this download file from URL method, we are creating byte channel from URL stream data. Then use the file output stream to write it to file. You can use any of these methods to download the file from URL in java program. If you are looking for performance, then do some analysis by using both methods and see what suits your need.

You can checkout more Java IO examples from our GitHub Repository.

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About the author

Pankaj Kumar

Author

See author profile

Java and Python Developer for 20+ years, Open Source Enthusiast, Founder of https://www.askpython.com/, https://www.linuxfordevices.com/, and JournalDev.com (acquired by DigitalOcean). Passionate about writing technical articles and sharing knowledge with others. Love Java, Python, Unix and related technologies. Follow my X @PankajWebDev

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Category:

Tutorial

Tags:

Java

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JournalDev

January 15, 2014

Can you please tell me how to download file from dynamic URL www.bidsync.com/bidsync-app-web/vendor/links/bid_detail/BidDocumentsDownload.xhtml?auctionId=1952491&documentIds=5793068&contentDisposition=inline

- Gaurab Pradhan

JournalDev

June 4, 2015

If I execute the same example I am getting below exception java.net.ConnectException: Connection timed out: connect at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.socketConnect(Native Method) at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.doConnect(PlainSocketImpl.java:333) at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connectToAddress(PlainSocketImpl.java:195) at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connect(PlainSocketImpl.java:182) at java.net.SocksSocketImpl.connect(SocksSocketImpl.java:366) at java.net.Socket.connect(Socket.java:529) at java.net.Socket.connect(Socket.java:478) at sun.net.NetworkClient.doConnect(NetworkClient.java:163) at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(HttpClient.java:394) at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(HttpClient.java:529) at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.(HttpClient.java:233) at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(HttpClient.java:306) at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(HttpClient.java:323) at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getNewHttpClient(HttpURLConnection.java:975) at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.plainConnect(HttpURLConnection.java:916) at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.connect(HttpURLConnection.java:841) at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getInputStream(HttpURLConnection.java:1177) at java.net.URL.openStream(URL.java:1010) at com.snp.beans.DownloadFileFromURL.downloadUsingNIO(DownloadFileFromURL.java:39) at com.snp.beans.DownloadFileFromURL.main(DownloadFileFromURL.java:16)

- Ravi

JournalDev

July 26, 2016

Thanks. I used this code in Android and it is working fine.

- Nuwanga G.

JournalDev

February 22, 2019

run: Hello sir, Actually I want to download .csv file from yahoo finance website with the help of URL. I went through this code with different URL but it throws the following exception could you please help me out with this problem. java.io.IOException: Server returned HTTP response code: 401 for URL: https://query1.finance.yahoo.com/v7/finance/download/^BSESN?period1=1392921000&period2=1550687400&interval=1d&events=history&crumb=zmavVqRmDj/ at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getInputStream0(HttpURLConnection.java:1894) at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getInputStream(HttpURLConnection.java:1492) at sun.net.www.protocol.https.HttpsURLConnectionImpl.getInputStream(HttpsURLConnectionImpl.java:263) at java.net.URL.openStream(URL.java:1045) at testjava.JavaDownloadFileFromURL.downloadUsingNIO(JavaDownloadFileFromURL.java:49) at testjava.JavaDownloadFileFromURL.main(JavaDownloadFileFromURL.java:25)

- mahesh

JournalDev

May 8, 2020

Any file will be downloaded from this code, like JPEG, PDF, CSV ???

- Jagdeep

JournalDev

May 23, 2020

Thanks Pankaj for a very good example, explained is few simple steps. However, since I am a beginner in the field, I still cant apply the example to real exercise, I am trying to solve. The following is the exercise: Download the Document “1k_most_common.txt” from the following URL & save the file: • https://github.com/DavidWittman/wpxmlrpcbrute/blob/master/wordlists/1000-most-common-passwords.txt. Later you will need to open the file & edit the content. Please, I need your assistance as soon as you can. Have tried with other few examples but cant just complete it. I will appreciate. Thanks.

- Henzhi Mkali