Always ERROR 404 when trying to download .apk from IIS server.

Question

Always ERROR 404 when trying to download .apk from IIS server.

Volk Volk 551

Hi!

I'm trying to download a .apk file from the Win 2022 server with IIS. I tried different options, nothing helps. Although it downloads quietly .zip and any other extensions. What should I do to prevent the browser from giving me a 404 error, and let me download the .apk? I didn't even think that it could create such a problem! After all, it would seem that everything would be simple.

Thanks!

IIS_MIME

I tried these options, nothing helped:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2328459/apk-installation-from-web-page

https://teachnicallife.wordpress.com/2017/06/11/allow-the-download-of-apk-files-within-iis-avoiding-404-errors/

https://serverfault.com/questions/506406/iis7-responds-with-a-404-when-extension-is-not-listed-in-the-mime-types-cant-i

https://serverfault.com/questions/501562/configure-iis-7-0-to-download-apk

https://gist.github.com/contensis/dbc2255f744eacd7633f

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/49402090/apk-packages-is-not-served-in-asp-net-core-mvc

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30731074/the-page-cannot-be-displayed-because-an-internal-server-error-has-occurred-on-se

https://www.ryadel.com/en/allow-the-download-of-apk-files-within-iis-avoiding-404-errors/

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/42831645/asp-net-core-download-exe-returns-404-error

Locked Question. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

AgaveJoe 31,706 Reputation points

2023-02-28T19:28:37.19+00:00

I added an apk file in the root of an existing IIS application, then added the MIME type, and the file downloaded as expected.

I assume the URL is your using to download the file is wrong or you left the 404.3 error message in the browser. Keep in mind, there can only be one response stream so if the page showed the 404.3 error the page will remain until you open a new page in the browser. Downloading a file does not change refresh the browser window.

Keep in mind, you posted this in an ASP.NET Core forum so if this is ASP.NET Core then you need to configure the static file handler middleware.

Non-standard content types
Volk Volk 551 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:12:51.63+00:00

In general, I do not know why it works for you. In principle, it also works for me for all files except .apk. That's exactly the files with the .apk extension for some reason the browser can't return, whatever I do. Either this is an IIS bug or there is a ban on .apk somewhere, or I don't understand something. In general, I did not understand what kind of nonsense this was, so I solved the issue in a different way - by calling a method in the controller that already returns a file from a certain folder in the form of an array of bytes - and everything works as it should. The question is closed, good luck to everyone!

P.S. Sometimes I was given not a 404 error, but this message on browser page :))) : The page cannot be displayed because an internal server error has occurred.

Well, it's actually some kind of clowning! :)))
Volk Volk 551 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:13:44.8166667+00:00

.....
AgaveJoe 31,706 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:21:41.77+00:00

Keep in mind, you tagged this question as ASP.NET Core. If you are working on an ASP.NET Core application then adding configuration to IIS will have no affect You have to configure the static file handler.

But of course, if you are targeting Core or .NET Framework and return a file stream from a controller, well, that always works.
Volk Volk 551 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:27:16.4966667+00:00

Net.Core 6.0. :)
Volk Volk 551 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:29:29.36+00:00

Net.Core 6.0. WebSite.
James Michael 0 Reputation points

2026-08-29T06:32:01.5933333+00:00

I had a similar issue with IIS before. You may want to check the MIME type configuration for the .apk extension in IIS. Try adding .apk with the appropriate MIME type and restart IIS after making the change. Also check that the file is actually accessible from the IIS directory. Hopefully this points you in the right direction.
James Michael 0 Reputation points

2026-08-29T06:32:24.5366667+00:00

Have you checked the MIME type settings in IIS? A 404 for only .apk files usually points to how IIS is handling that file extension. I would add a MIME mapping for .apk, restart IIS, and test the file again. Also worth checking the IIS request filtering settings in case the extension is being blocked.
JuliaMarvin 22,275 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-29T07:47:08.2233333+00:00

@James Michael
Please refrain from resurrecting old threads. See: [Article] Community Tip: Get the most out of active questions
Also read https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/support/ai-usage-policy as well as https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/support/code-of-conduct

1 answer

AgaveJoe 31,706 Reputation points

2023-02-28T19:28:37.19+00:00

I added an apk file in the root of an existing IIS application, then added the MIME type, and the file downloaded as expected.

I assume the URL is your using to download the file is wrong or you left the 404.3 error message in the browser. Keep in mind, there can only be one response stream so if the page showed the 404.3 error the page will remain until you open a new page in the browser. Downloading a file does not change refresh the browser window.

Keep in mind, you posted this in an ASP.NET Core forum so if this is ASP.NET Core then you need to configure the static file handler middleware.

Non-standard content types
Volk Volk 551 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:12:51.63+00:00

In general, I do not know why it works for you. In principle, it also works for me for all files except .apk. That's exactly the files with the .apk extension for some reason the browser can't return, whatever I do. Either this is an IIS bug or there is a ban on .apk somewhere, or I don't understand something. In general, I did not understand what kind of nonsense this was, so I solved the issue in a different way - by calling a method in the controller that already returns a file from a certain folder in the form of an array of bytes - and everything works as it should. The question is closed, good luck to everyone!

P.S. Sometimes I was given not a 404 error, but this message on browser page :))) : The page cannot be displayed because an internal server error has occurred.

Well, it's actually some kind of clowning! :)))
Volk Volk 551 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:13:44.8166667+00:00

.....
AgaveJoe 31,706 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:21:41.77+00:00

Keep in mind, you tagged this question as ASP.NET Core. If you are working on an ASP.NET Core application then adding configuration to IIS will have no affect You have to configure the static file handler.

But of course, if you are targeting Core or .NET Framework and return a file stream from a controller, well, that always works.
Volk Volk 551 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:27:16.4966667+00:00

Net.Core 6.0. :)
Volk Volk 551 Reputation points

2023-02-28T21:29:29.36+00:00

Net.Core 6.0. WebSite.
James Michael 0 Reputation points

2026-08-29T06:32:01.5933333+00:00

I had a similar issue with IIS before. You may want to check the MIME type configuration for the .apk extension in IIS. Try adding .apk with the appropriate MIME type and restart IIS after making the change. Also check that the file is actually accessible from the IIS directory. Hopefully this points you in the right direction.
James Michael 0 Reputation points

2026-08-29T06:32:24.5366667+00:00

Have you checked the MIME type settings in IIS? A 404 for only .apk files usually points to how IIS is handling that file extension. I would add a MIME mapping for .apk, restart IIS, and test the file again. Also worth checking the IIS request filtering settings in case the extension is being blocked.
JuliaMarvin 22,275 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-29T07:47:08.2233333+00:00

@James Michael
Please refrain from resurrecting old threads. See: [Article] Community Tip: Get the most out of active questions
Also read https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/support/ai-usage-policy as well as https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/support/code-of-conduct

Answer 1

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