# Downloads.download not working on github while OS curl does

**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/downloads-download-not-working-on-github-while-os-curl-does/129272
**Category:** General Usage
**Created:** [May 23, 2025, 11:18am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/downloads-download-not-working-on-github-while-os-curl-does/129272 "2025-05-23T11:18:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 2

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### Author: ![disberd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@disberd](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/disberd)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2025, 11:49am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/downloads-download-not-working-on-github-while-os-curl-does/129272/2 "2025-05-27T11:49:08Z")

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I renamed the thread as the main issues seems to be really just on `Downloads.download` throwing an error on most of `https` link including github/pkg server which end up making Artifact downloads impossible on this remote machine.

I check possible previous threads with issues with `Downloads` like:

- [Julia Artifact Download Problem: How to tell Julia to follow 301-redirected downloads? - #5 by braza2](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/julia-artifact-download-problem-how-to-tell-julia-to-follow-301-redirected-downloads/82003/5)
- [BADCERT\_NOT\_TRUSTED error while updating the Registry? - #14 by oheil](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/badcert-not-trusted-error-while-updating-the-registry/119040/14)
- [How to skip certification check when using Downloads.download?](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-skip-certification-check-when-using-downloads-download/87865)

I have also seen that there used to be a way to override the _downloader_ used by julia by setting the `BINARYPROVIDER_DOWNLOAD_ENGINE` variable but this does not seem to be applicable anymore in recent julia versions.

I initially though this issue might be temporary on the server I am working on but it’s now multiple days that is going on and it’s making my julia use on this linux host very problematic as a lot of packages now directly or indirectly rely on artifacts.

Is there a way to make julia use the system’s `curl` somehow for Artifacts (and or the whole Pkg stuff?) I doubt so but maybe worth asking.

Also shamelessly pinging @StefanKarpinski directly (sorry for the bother) as I see you were often answering questions with Downloads.download issues.

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_[View the full topic](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/downloads-download-not-working-on-github-while-os-curl-does/129272)._