Use curl -o filename URL to download a response to a known local file. Use -O when you want cURL to derive the filename from the URL, -L for redirects, and -C - to resume an interrupted transfer. The examples below cover single files, authentication, SFTP, multiple URLs, URL lists, troubleshooting, and safer repeatable downloads.
Download a file with cURL
cURL transfers data to or from a server using a URL. If you do not select an output option, it writes the response body to standard output, which is your terminal in a normal shell.
Stream the response to standard output
curl https://example.com/file.zipThis is suitable for text you intend to inspect or pipe to another command. Do not use it for a binary archive, image, installer, or disk image unless you redirect the output deliberately; binary bytes can corrupt your terminal display.
Save to an exact filename with -o
curl -o report.zip https://example.com/download?id=42-o (also written --output) takes the path of the local destination. It is the safest default when the URL is an API endpoint, contains a query string, or ends in a generic path such as /download.
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You can provide a directory as part of the path, but the directory must already exist:
mkdir -p downloads
curl -o downloads/report.zip https://example.com/download?id=42Use the URL’s filename with -O
curl -O https://example.com/releases/app-1.2.3.tar.gz-O (also --remote-name) saves the file component of the URL in the current working directory. In this example the local file is app-1.2.3.tar.gz. Check the directory first: an existing file can be replaced, depending on the transfer and options you use. When the URL does not contain a useful filename, use -o instead.
Handle redirects and inspect what the server returned
Follow redirects with -L
curl -L -o latest.zip https://example.com/latestDownload endpoints commonly redirect to a versioned object-storage URL or a sign-in route. cURL does not follow HTTP redirects unless asked, so add -L (or --location) when the endpoint is expected to redirect.
Show response headers while diagnosing a download
curl -i -L -o latest.zip https://example.com/latest-i (or --include) places response headers in the output stream along with the body. That is useful for seeing status codes, Location headers, content type, and server-side errors. Because headers are mixed with the body, do not use this form for a file you need to consume as an unmodified archive. For cleaner diagnostics, run a separate header request or save the body with a normal command after you have identified the problem.
Resume an interrupted download
Continue from the existing local file
curl -C - -o large.iso https://example.com/large.iso-C - asks cURL to determine the resume position from the existing local file and request the remainder. Pair it with -o so the local name is deterministic. If the transfer completed, cURL may report that there is nothing to resume.
Resume is not guaranteed for every server or protocol. The remote resource must support the required range behavior, and the local file must correspond to the same version of the resource. If the server rejects the range request, start a fresh download to a different filename rather than appending unrelated bytes.
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Protect a partial file from being mistaken for a complete one
Download to a temporary name and rename it only after cURL succeeds:
curl -fL -o large.iso.part https://example.com/large.iso && mv large.iso.part large.iso-f (or --fail) makes an HTTP error status cause a failure instead of treating an error page as a successful file. The temporary-file pattern is especially useful in scripts that other processes monitor.
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HTTP basic authentication
curl -u alice -o private.zip https://example.com/private.zip-u (or --user) accepts USER[:PASSWORD]. Supplying only alice makes cURL prompt for the password, keeping it out of the command text and, in many environments, out of shell history. Avoid putting a password directly in a command line that may be logged or visible to other users.
curl -u 'alice:correct-horse-battery-staple' -o private.zip https://example.com/private.zipThe second form works, but the secret can be exposed through history, process listings, CI logs, or copied transcripts. Prefer an interactive prompt or the secret-management mechanism provided by your automation platform.
Other HTTP credentials and headers
Some services use a bearer token or an API key rather than basic authentication. Pass the exact header required by that service:
curl -fL -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN' -o data.json https://api.example.com/exportUse HTTPS and verify the host before sending credentials. Do not paste an untrusted URL into a command that expands shell substitutions, and quote URLs containing characters such as &, ?, $, or parentheses.
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SFTP with an SSH key
curl -u username: --key ~/.ssh/id_rsa -o file.txt sftp://example.com/path/file.txtThe empty value after the colon tells cURL not to use a password in the command. cURL can then use the specified private key; an encrypted key may still prompt for its passphrase. Confirm that the account, host key, key permissions, and remote path are correct before troubleshooting the transfer itself.
Download several files in one command
Use a remote filename for each URL
curl -O https://example.com/a.txt -O https://example.com/b.txtEach -O applies to the URL that follows it, so the files are saved as a.txt and b.txt in the current directory.
Assign explicit local names
curl https://example.com/a.txt -o a-local.txt
https://example.com/b.txt -o b-local.txtGive every URL its own output choice when names must be predictable. This avoids collisions when two URLs use the same final path or when a URL has no filename at all.
Run transfers concurrently
curl --parallel
-o a-local.txt https://example.com/a.txt
-o b-local.txt https://example.com/b.txtWithout --parallel, transfers are sequential by default. Parallel requests can reduce elapsed time when the server and your network can handle them, but they also increase simultaneous load and can trigger rate limits. Use a modest set of URLs and follow the service’s usage policy.
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Newer cURL releases support URL-list input:
curl --url @urls.txtPut one complete URL per line in urls.txt. The man page documents implicit remote-name behavior for this form beginning with cURL 8.13.0. Check your installed version before relying on it:
curl --versionIf your build is older or behaves differently, use a shell loop with an explicit output policy instead of assuming that filenames will be chosen safely. Treat the list as data: do not place shell commands in it, and quote each URL when processing it in a script.
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Choose options for reliable scripted downloads
| Goal | Option | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact destination | -o FILE |
curl -o build.zip URL |
Works even when the URL has a query string or generic path. |
| URL-derived destination | -O |
curl -O URL |
Uses the filename in the URL path. |
| Follow redirects | -L |
curl -L -o file URL |
Handles HTTP redirection to the actual resource. |
| Inspect status and headers | -i |
curl -i -L URL |
Exposes response headers for troubleshooting; do not save this mixed stream as a clean binary. |
| Resume | -C - |
curl -C - -o file URL |
Requests continuation from the existing local length when the server supports it. |
| Fail on HTTP errors | -f |
curl -fL -o file URL |
Prevents a typical HTTP error page from being accepted as the download. |
| Authenticate | -u USER[:PASSWORD] |
curl -u alice URL |
Prompts for a password when only the username is supplied. |
| Concurrent URLs | --parallel |
curl --parallel URL1 URL2 |
Runs transfers concurrently instead of sequentially. |
For long-running jobs, combine the smallest set of options that expresses your policy. For example, -fL handles HTTP failures and redirects, while -o gives the job a stable destination. Add resume only when you know the endpoint supports it.
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Troubleshoot common cURL download failures
The terminal fills with unreadable characters
You streamed binary data to standard output. Repeat the command with -o filename or -O. If the file was redirected into a shell pipeline, delete the damaged output and download it again.
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The saved file is an HTML error page
The URL may require a redirect, authentication, or a different path. Run curl -i -L URL to inspect the status and headers, then use -fL for the real download so an HTTP error causes a nonzero exit status. Check that you are not saving a login page returned after an unauthenticated request.
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The command creates the wrong filename
Use -o with an explicit path. -O deliberately derives the name from the URL path and cannot infer the filename you intended from an API’s query parameters.
Resume fails or starts over
The server or protocol may not support range requests, the remote file may have changed, or the local partial file may not match it. Keep the partial file, try once with -C -, and if the server rejects continuation, download afresh to a new temporary name.
Several downloads overwrite each other
Two URLs may resolve to the same remote filename. Replace -O with a distinct -o for every URL, and place each destination in the command next to its URL.
Credentials work interactively but fail in automation
Check which authentication scheme the server expects. A basic-auth -u argument will not substitute for a bearer header, signed URL, cookie, or client certificate. Supply secrets through your CI or operating system secret store rather than embedding them in a script or command line.
The URL works in a browser but not in cURL
Confirm the exact URL, quote shell metacharacters, and test redirects with -L. The browser may also be sending cookies, authorization headers, a user agent, or a JavaScript-generated URL that cURL does not have. Reproduce only the headers and credentials you are authorized to use.
Verify and handle downloaded files safely
- Prefer HTTPS and verify the expected host before supplying credentials.
- Download archives and executables to a temporary path, then inspect them before opening or running them.
- Use the publisher’s checksum or signature when one is provided; do not assume that a successful HTTP transfer proves the file’s authenticity.
- Quote URLs containing shell metacharacters, and never paste untrusted command substitutions into a shell.
- Check
curl --versionandcurl --manualwhen a feature may depend on your installed version or build.
A practical command checklist
- Confirm the URL and expected host, preferably over HTTPS.
- Decide whether the destination should be an explicit name (
-o) or the URL’s name (-O). - Add
-Lif the endpoint can redirect. - Use
-fin scripts so HTTP failures are not mistaken for successful files. - Use
-C -only with a matching partial file and a server that supports resuming. - For multiple URLs, assign each output explicitly or use remote names that you have checked for collisions.
- Inspect, verify, and safely handle the resulting file before opening it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I see which cURL version supports a download option?
Run curl --version for the installed release and protocol features, then read the matching local manual with curl --manual. Options such as URL-list input can be version-sensitive.
Should I use -O for downloads in production scripts?
Use -O only when URL-derived names are intentional and collision-free. For repeatable jobs, -o with an explicit path makes the destination and overwrite behavior easier to audit.
Quick Recap
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