How to Download Files Using BitsTransfer in PowerShell

In this tutorial, you will learn how to download files via BitsTransfer using PowerShell. This step-by-step guide will provide you with all the necessary information to successfully download files using BitsTransfer.

Download files via BitsTransfer

1. Open a PowerShell window.

2. Download a file using BitsTransfer.

This command creates a BITS transfer job that downloads a file from a server. The local and remote names of the file are specified in the Source and Destination parameters.

Because the default transfer type is Download, the http://10.10.2.102/Win10_21H1_English_x64.iso file is transferred to C:\Downloads\Win10_21H1.iso.

Start-BitsTransfer `
    -Source "http://10.10.2.102/Win10_21H1_English_x64.iso" `
    -Destination "C:\Downloads\Win10_21H1.iso"

The command prompt returns when the file transfer is complete or when it enters an error state.

Alternatively, because the Start-BitsTransfer cmdlet assumes that the first parameter is the source and that the second parameter is the destination when no value is specified, this command could be simplified as follows:

Start-BitsTransfer "http://10.10.2.102/Win10_21H1_English_x64.iso" "C:\Downloads\Win10_21H1.iso"

PS C:\> dir C:\Downloads\

Directory: C:\Downloads
Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
-a----          8/2/2021   9:48 AM     5824122880 Win10_21H1.iso

3. Download multiple files using BitsTransfer.

Start-BitsTransfer `
    -Source "http://10.10.2.102/Win10_21H1_English_x64.iso", "http://10.10.2.102/Win11_22H2_English_x64v1.iso" `
    -Destination "C:\Downloads\Win10_21H1.iso", "C:\Downloads\Win11_22H2.iso"

PS C:\> dir C:\Downloads\

Directory: C:\Downloads
Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
-a----          8/2/2021   9:48 AM     5824122880 Win10_21H1.iso
-a----        11/16/2022   7:39 AM     5557432320 Win11_22H2.iso

Alternatively, you can create a job that download multiple files.

Import-CSV filelist.csv | Start-BitsTransfer

The command imports the source and destination file locations and then pipes the locations to the Start-BitsTransfer command. The Start-BitsTransfer command creates a new BITS transfer job for each of the files in filelist.csv and then transfers them concurrently to the client.

The contents of the filelist.txt file resemble the following information:

Note Note: First line of the file must include Source, Destination header as in the example.

BitsTransfer in Asynchronous mode.

Download a file using BitsTransfer in Asynchronous mode.

Start-BitsTransfer `
    -Source "http://10.10.2.102/Win10_21H1_English_x64.iso" `
    -Destination "C:\Downloads\Win10_21H1.iso" -Asynchronous

Verify the status of the Asynchronous download.

Get-BitsTransfer

# Output
PS C:\> Start-BitsTransfer `
>>     -Source "http://10.10.2.102/Win10_21H1_English_x64.iso" `
>>     -Destination "C:\Downloads\Win10_21H1.iso" -Asynchronous

JobId                                DisplayName   TransferType JobState   OwnerAccount
-----                                -----------   ------------ --------   ------------
9a5459d7-a3ba-483e-ac8e-1bb8845f44b5 BITS Transfer Download     Connecting DESKTOP-RSLLB84\admin


PS C:\> Get-BitsTransfer

JobId                                DisplayName   TransferType JobState     OwnerAccount
-----                                -----------   ------------ --------     ------------
9a5459d7-a3ba-483e-ac8e-1bb8845f44b5 BITS Transfer Download     Transferring DESKTOP-RSLLB84\admin