Fix: This Type of File Can Harm Your Computer Chrome Alert

Settings can be pretty overwhelming, but not on all browsers

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Key notes

  • Chrome has various security features, and this is one of them that is designed to protect you from malicious files.
  • If you donโ€™t want to deal with this message, you can always try using a different web browser.
  • To get rid of This type of file can harm your device message, you just have to adjust a couple of settings in Chrome.

Online security is anย invaluable part of the everyday web-browsing experience. Chrome, for example, has a quite strict policy on downloads, especially the EXE files, which are mostly installation packages.

Speaking of which, sometimes your antivirus blocks EXE files, in order to prevent malicious files from affecting your PC.

It’ll make sure to inform you that, well, the program you’re trying to obtain is possibly a virus and can cause inexplicable damage to your system.

But, the ”This type of file can harm your computer” message can get on your nerves after some time, especially when you’re certain that the installation file comes from a trusted source.

If you’re downloading files frequently and the file’s extension triggers an annoying prompt message, this might help you. So make sure to check out the explanation below.

The fixes listed in this article will also prove helpful if you are experiencing any of these issues:

  • This type of file can harm your computer: This is a common message, and it appears if you download an unverified file.
  • Chrome this type of file can harm: Chome has its own file scanner, and if a suspicious file is detected, you’ll get this message.
  • This type of file can harm your computer turn off: It’s possible to turn off this notification. Sometimes you might get false positives, so many users choose not to use this feature.
  • This type of file can harm your computer Chrome: As previously mentioned, this is a standard message in Chrome, and it’s designed to inform you about malicious files.
  • This type of file can harm your computer. Do you want to keep: Messages such as these will give you a choice to keep a file or remove it. If you think that the file is safe, you can keep it, and if it’s not, you can block the download.
  • Was blocked because this type of file can harm your device Chrome: Some files will be automatically blocked since they don’t come from reliable sources.

What is file might be harmful?

This is just a security warning that appears when you try to open certain files. Usually, this happens when you try to open files that you downloaded or transferred from another PC.

This issue occurs due to your security settings, and it can be fixed simply by adjusting them.

Quick Tip:

Use a browser that offers strong online security without annoying, false alerts. Opera One is a great option, with built-in website filtering.

Not only that, but the browser is able to detect potentially harmful files and boosts your privacy using its anti-tracking and VPN features.

Opera One

Use trustworthy security features and browse without worries about online threats.

How do I fix this file can harm my computer?

Change the download settings

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Click on the 3-dot menu in the top right corner and open Settings.
  3. Select Downloads on the left side.
  4. Toggle on Ask where to save each file before downloading and close Settings.

That way, won’t get the This type of file can harm your computer message with every new download.

Sadly, this is more of a workaround (even that’s doubtful) than a solution. However, all other browsers are having the same procedure with downloads.

Especially if you’re downloading EXE (executables, mostly installers for various applications) files.

And adding a trusted website won’t help with it. So, it seems you can’t fully trade your security for leisure of not seeing the prompt every time.

Bottom line is, you can’t disable this feature. You can merely tweak the download settings in order to avoid it.

But, then again, it might be easier to confirm that the suspected file is indeed non-harmful than to enable Ask where to save each file before downloading. If you’re downloading multiple files in a succession, this isn’t the way out.

With that, we can conclude this article. We hope that you managed to fix This type of file can harm your computer on Windows 10/11.

Users also reported a This site may harm your computer in Google Chrome, and we covered that issue in a separate guide, so be sure to check it.

Did you find this guide helpful? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below.

More about the topics: All the Windows 10 tips you need to Know, Chrome Guides, Google Chrome Errors