The task keeps waiting, stops, or fails to download
The task card only uses icons and colors to indicate status, and displays an English error code when it fails. First, look at the icon and error code clearly, and then check resource validity, network, background operating conditions and device storage in order.
One thing to know first: Hams does not resume playback. Resume after pause, retry after failure, and restart the app after being terminated by the system. All are re-downloaded from 0 bytes, and the downloaded part will not be retained. Creating a task does not mean that the download has started; some web page media addresses have a temporary validity period, and the original task may not be successful.
Quick conclusion
Tasks are created and queued, but progress is not starting to show - only 1 task is actually downloading at the same time for free users and VIP.
The task once had progress, but then stopped, failed, or did not continue after switching apps, locking the screen, or saving power; the progress will return to 0 when it is restarted.
The task appears to have ended, but the file cannot be found or opened - this is different from a normal download failure.
There is no status text on the task card, only icons and colors
Hams' task cards use icons and colors to indicate the current situation, and there are no Chinese status labels. The only Chinese categories that actually appear on the interface are the three groups at the top of the Download Center: "Downloading", "Completed" and "Failed" - tasks waiting in queue, transcoding, paused, and canceled are all merged into "Downloading" and are not listed separately. Therefore, judging the task status depends on three things: the icon, whether the downloaded size is still changing, and the error code on the card when it fails.
Clock icon: waiting in line
The task has been queued, but has not yet received a download slot. Free users and VIPs can only run 1 task at the same time. SVIP can adjust the "number of simultaneous downloads" in the settings to a maximum of 6.
First things first: Wait for the previous task to finish and verify that the network is still available. Don't create the same tasks repeatedly.
Download icon but downloaded size remains unchanged
The transfer has started, but the download size has stayed at the same number for a long time. Maybe the network has switched or the resource server is not continuing to respond. Speed and remaining time are only shown when the transfer is actually active, not seeing speed doesn't necessarily mean the mission is dead.
First thing to do: Confirm that the network can access other content normally, and then observe whether the downloaded size resumes growth.
Video processing icon: transcoding
Segmented videos such as m3u8 / HLS need to be synthesized into mp4 locally. Text messages such as "Getting video information and preparing to download, please wait..." and "Processing... has taken N seconds" will appear on the card. This step is completed inside the app and is not protected by the system's background mechanism.
First things first: keep the app in the foreground and don’t cross it out of recent tasks. After being interrupted, the task will return to the queue state and needs to be manually continued and started from the beginning.
Red exclamation mark: failure
There will be an English error code on the card, for example http_403, ioFailure. Hams does not diagnose the cause of the failure, nor does it translate it into Chinese prompts. This code is the only basis for judgment.
First thing to do: Check the following "Read the failure message on the card” Determine whether to retry or rebuild the task.
Check icon: Completed but file exception
The task shows that it is completed, but it cannot be opened after clicking, the file does not exist, the size is obviously abnormal, or the player cannot recognize it.
First thing to do: enterComplete file review, do not directly regard it as a normal download failure.
"Waiting in queue", "Transcoding" and "Paused" written on this page are just to describe the task situation. There are no Chinese labels on the app interface - only the three group names of "Downloading/Completed/Failed" are actual text in the interface.
Complete these six checks in order
-
01 · Resources
Return to the web page to confirm that the target media is still accessible
Some web media addresses have temporary validity periods. After a long period of time after the task is created, the web page session changes, or the player is reloaded, the original resources may become invalid.
- Whether the web page can still be opened normally
- Does the video or image still exist?
- Whether the login session has expired
- Does the page require re-verification?
- Has the live stream ended?
- Whether the content has been removed or stopped being available
Completion flag: The target media can still be played or displayed normally in the current web page.
-
02 · Network
Confirm that the device can stably access the network
- Whether the web page can be loaded normally
- Did you just switch Wi-Fi and mobile networks?
- Do you need to log in again to the network?
- Are you in a weak signal environment?
- Are other downloads also affected?
Just because the web page can be opened does not mean that the video or image server must be able to transfer files stably.
-
03 · Backstage
Confirm that the device has no restrictions and Hams continues to run
The background policies of Android versions and device manufacturers are different, and the actual setting entrance may also be different. Please note: Hams does not detect power saving mode, background data limit or battery optimization, nor will there be a pop-up window to guide you to let it go - these are entirely your own operations in the system settings. Open Android's Hams app information page to view settings related to battery, background activity, or power saving—the exact name and location vary by system version and manufacturer.
- power saving mode
- Battery optimization
- Background activity limits
- Manufacturer’s own task cleanup
- Lock screen for a long time
- Manually force stop Hams
- Close the app when clearing recent tasks
- Insufficient system resources
This page does not provide complete menu paths for each brand, nor does it recommend turning off device security settings, installing background keep-alive tools, or granting high-risk permissions unrelated to downloads.
-
04 · Storage
Make sure the device has enough space to save the file
Hams does not do a storage space check before downloading, and there is no "insufficient space" warning in advance. When there is insufficient space, the task will only fail in the writing phase, and the card will display in English. ioFailure, the rest of the judgment is up to you.
- Estimated resource size
- Temporary space during download process
- There are duplicate files
- Device remaining space
- Is the storage directory still available?
- Is the system in a low storage state?
The remaining space is exactly equal to the expected file size, and may not be enough to complete the entire saving process.
Done flag: The device has reserved significantly more free space than the target file size.
-
05 · Try again
After conditions recover, perform an explicit retry
Retry and continue are not continuations: the task will restart from 0 bytes, and the previously downloaded part is discarded. For failures such as timeout, current limit, server 5xx and network interruption, the app will automatically retry up to 2 times (a total of 3 requests for the first time, and the interval will be lengthened from 10 seconds); other errors will not be automatically retried. There is no limit to the number of manual retries, but you will have to start over every time.
- Confirm that the resource is still valid
- Confirm that the network is normal
- Make sure there is enough storage
- Click "Re-Download" once
- Observe whether the downloaded size grows again from 0
Continuous clicking will not generate parallel repetitive tasks, but every time you click, the download progress will be invalidated and restarted. Also don't create multiple identical tasks at the same time, try again and again while the network continues to change, delete all tasks when they fail, or force close the app during retries.
-
06 · Recreate
When the original task fails, return to the web page and reload the media.
Applicable situations: The temporary address of the resource has expired, the web page session has changed, the live stream has been re-established, the original task has returned the same resource error multiple times, and the page player has been refreshed.
- Return to web page
- Replay or open target media
- Wait for resources to load
- Open download panel
- Reselect resources
- Create a new task
Before re-creating, you should confirm that the old task will not continue to run to avoid repeated downloads.
Task restart download
The downloaded size grows again from 0 and the task returns to the transfer phase.
Next step:Continue to observe the task in the Download Center to avoid frequently switching networks or forcefully ending Hams - being interrupted midway and having to start over again.
The original task still fails, but the web media is normal
The current task may have expired.
Next step:Return to the web page to reload and create a new task (Download Panel Guide).
Web media cannot be accessed either
The problem lies with the page, the account, the region, or the content itself.
Next step:View the Undiscovered Media Guide.
Shows completed but the file cannot be used
The task status is inconsistent with the file status.
Next step:Enter below "Completion file exception"examine.
Take corresponding actions based on the current status
The task has been waiting
Possible reasons: The number of simultaneous downloads is full (free users and VIPs are always 1, and SVIP can be adjusted to 1–6), the network is not ready yet, the task is waiting for resource confirmation, the system temporarily limits background running, and other tasks are publishing completed files.
Sequence: Confirm network → Check if other tasks are downloading → Keep Hams in the foreground for a short while → Check background limits → Retry if necessary. This page does not promise that all waiting tasks will start immediately.
Download progress stalled
Possible reasons: network interruption, the resource server stops responding, the temporary address expires, the device enters the background limit, the available storage decreases, and the web page withdraws resources.
First observe whether the downloaded size still changes, and then confirm the network and resource status.
Failed after switching network
Possible reasons: The current connection is interrupted, the new network requires login, the temporary resource is related to the original session, the media server rejected the new request.
Confirm that the new network can already access the web page normally, and try again; if it cannot continue, return to the web page and reload the resources. In addition, when "Only download under Wi-Fi" is turned on, it will only intercept the entry of new tasks and prompt "Currently only supports Wi-Fi downloads". Tasks that are already running will not be automatically suspended when switching to mobile data.
Stop after lock screen
Possible reasons: system power saving, device manufacturer backend management, Hams being cleaned up, user forced to stop the app. Ordinary direct chain tasks are hosted by Android's system task scheduling. After the app is ended, the system will usually restart it - but it will start again from 0 bytes; m3u8 / HLS video is processed inside the app, and the app will be interrupted as soon as it is ended. After reopening, it will return to the queued state and needs to be continued manually.
Check your device's battery and background activity settings for Hams and make sure you don't force-stop the app manually. Hams will not detect these system settings, nor will it prompt you to change them.
Fails immediately after retrying
Possible reasons: the original resource has expired, the web page session has expired, the content has stopped being provided, the storage path is unavailable, and the current resource itself cannot continue to be processed.
Let’s look at the error code first: the same one is returned every time http_403 / http_404 This type of code indicates that the resource itself is no longer available, and there is no point in continuing to click retry. Return to the web page to confirm the media and recreate the task.
Task starts from scratch repeatedly
This is the current normal behavior of Hams and is not a malfunction: there is no resumption of downloading from a breakpoint, resuming after a pause, retrying after a failure, and re-starting the app after being terminated, all will be re-downloaded from 0 bytes. Seeing the progress return to zero does not mean there is a problem with the task.
Try to download large files at once when the network is stable, and use less pauses; only retain one task for the same resource, and delete unnecessary duplicates. Before deleting, confirm whether the corresponding file has been completed to avoid accidentally deleting unique records.
Why the task may stop after entering the background
Native background downloads only work on Android. Ordinary direct-link tasks are handed over to Android's system task scheduling, and a notification will be posted during the download; m3u8/HLS videos are transcoded within the app and are not protected by this layer. System power saving policies, device manufacturer's background management, available memory and user operations may all interrupt the task - and any restart after an interruption will start from 0 bytes.
m3u8/HLS videos are not hosted by the system
This type of fragmented video needs to be synthesized into mp4 within the app, without system task scheduling or foreground notification protection. If the app is recycled by the system or crossed out from recent tasks, processing will be immediately interrupted; after reopening the app, the task returns to the queued state and needs to be continued manually and from the beginning. This is one of the most common real-world reasons why tasks get "stuck."
power saving mode
The device may reduce network and background activity. Hams doesn't detect the power saving state and won't prompt you to turn it off.
App battery limit
Hams may be set to be restricted or not allow continued background activity. The app will not apply for the battery optimization whitelist, nor will it guide you to add it.
Clean up recent tasks
Some devices end background work at the same time as they clean up recent tasks.
Forced stop
After forcing Hams to stop through system settings, tasks often cannot continue until the user reopens the app.
Insufficient system resources
Background processes may be stopped when device memory or system resources are tight.
Device restart
Hams does not start automatically after booting, and the task will not continue by itself after restarting. The next time you open the app, a pop-up message "Resume unfinished downloads?" will pop up. After confirmation, the task will be re-enqueued - again starting from 0 bytes.
During the download, there is a system notification for each task. There is no progress bar in the notification, and the text always says "1 download in progress" - when running multiple tasks at the same time, multiple notifications with 1 written on them will appear. This does not mean that the task is lost. Please return to the Download Center to check the actual progress.
On Android 13 and above, notification permission is requested the first time you start or continue a download. If rejected, "Start/Continue Download" will be aborted this time; the system pop-up window will only appear once, and you will need to go to the system settings to turn on Hams notifications later.
The web page can be opened, but the download may still fail.
Web page content and actual media may come from different servers, so a normal page does not necessarily mean that the media transmission is normal.
- The page can be opened, but the media server is unreachable
- Video plays snippets but full download connection fails
- Wi-Fi can access web pages but limits large file transfers
- Public network requires login
- Network proxy affects media connections
- Temporary resources are only valid for a specific session
- Confirm that other web pages are accessible
- Confirm that the target media can still be played
- Maintain a stable network
- Try again
- Reload resources when necessary
It is not recommended to try to switch multiple networks continuously while the task is running. Once the network is disconnected, the task will be restarted from 0 bytes.
"Download only under Wi-Fi" in the settings only intercepts tasks when adding them to the queue, and will prompt "Only Wi-Fi downloads are currently supported"; tasks that have already been started will not be automatically paused when switching to mobile data. To save traffic, please pause the task yourself first.
Possible storage problems
- Not enough space on device
- Expected file size changes
- Temporarily downloaded files take up space
- The destination storage location is unavailable
- User deleted or moved the download directory
- The system cleans up temporary files
- File publishing phase failed
What users can do
- Check the remaining space on your device
- Delete duplicate files no longer needed
- Confirm that the target directory is available
- Do not move related files during the download process
- Organize after completion
- Need to move inPrivate VaultWhen, first confirm that the normal download task has been completely completed
Hams does not check available space, and there is no smart "out of space" reminder. When there is not enough space, the task will only fail during writing, and the card will display in English. ioFailure——So you need to confirm the remaining space before downloading.
When should you retry and when should you recreate a task?
Can retry
- The network has been restored after a brief outage
- The task is in a suspended or failed state (only in these two cases can there be a "Continue/Re-Download" entry)
- Web resources are still valid
- Storage space has been released
- Background restrictions have been lifted
- The task is not re-created
Task should be recreated
- The original resource has expired
- Web page re-login
- Player reloads
- Live stream restarts
- The task immediately returns the same error code every time
- Transcoding tasks are repeatedly interrupted and never completed.
- The content page has changed
- You should not continue to try: the content of the web page has been deleted, the current account does not have access rights, the media uses technical protection that Hams cannot handle, the device storage is not available, the website has stopped providing resources.
Read the failure message on the card
Hams does not diagnose the cause of failure. When an ordinary direct-chain task fails, the original English error code is displayed on the card without a Chinese explanation. Just follow the correspondence below:
- http_403, http_404 wait http_ The code at the beginning - the server refuses, or the resource is no longer at the original address. It is probably because the temporary address has expired or the login session has changed. Go back to the web page and reload it to create a new task. Trying again usually has no effect.
- http_408, http_429 and http_5 The code at the beginning - timeout, current limit or server error, belongs to the type that will automatically retry; it is more likely to wait for a while and try again manually.
- ioFailure ——Network interruption or write failure, insufficient storage space also fall into this category. First confirm the network and remaining space.
- permissionDenied ——The system rejected this write.
- invalidUrl ——The resource address cannot be resolved. There is no point in trying again. Go back to the web page and select the resource again.
- missingResponseBody ——The server returned no content.
- nativeDownloadFailure -- Other errors not classified.
Only tasks such as m3u8 / HLS that require transcoding will have Chinese prompts appear when they fail, such as "The link may have expired, please refresh the page and try again" and "Processing failed:...". Seeing Chinese indicates that this is a transcoding task.
After clicking "Re-Download", the app only prompts "Retrying N downloads" and the task returns to the queue and is queued again. There are no continuously displayed status texts such as "Retrying" and "Will automatically retry later" on the interface - to judge whether the task is really running, see whether the downloaded size starts to grow from 0.
Task shows completed but where are the files
First distinguish three things: task status completed ≠ can be opened by any player ≠ the file must still exist in the original location.
- Open from task details: Prioritize opening files from completed tasks in the Hams Download Center.
- Verify that the file still exists: The file may have been moved or deleted by the user, a system cleaning tool, or another file management application.
- Check the file size: when the size is zero, significantly too small, or abnormal, the file may not be fully published.
- Check device playback compatibility: When the file exists but cannot be played, it may be related to the format supported by the device or player.
- Check if moved toPrivate Vault: After a subsequent move, the file may no longer appear in the normal download location.
- Do not delete records immediately before re-downloading: confirm the status of existing files first to avoid losing the basis for troubleshooting.
The file is saved in a subfolder under the public "Download" directory of the device. The default name is Hams, you can change the name in the "save location" of the settings; videos, images, and audios are all in the same folder regardless of directory. Hams will not write the file into the system album, and it is normal to not find it in the album app - it is most reliable to open it from "Completed" in the Download Center.
These operations may make the problem more difficult to diagnose
Click continuously to try again
No parallel repetitive tasks will be generated, but every time you click, the task will be restarted from 0 bytes, and the downloaded part will be invalidated.
Create multiple identical tasks at the same time
May occupy additional network and space, and generate duplicate files.
Force stop Hams during download
Will directly interrupt the current operating conditions.
Move temporary or target files while downloading
This may cause the path to become invalid or the completion file to be unavailable.
Clean app data
Task status and local records may be removed and cannot be used as the first step in ordinary troubleshooting.
Expect subscriptions or tasks to be restored automatically after uninstalling
uninstall,Account membership statusIt is a different issue from the local download task and cannot be confused.
Refresh the original web page repeatedly
The original resource address may continue to change, making it more difficult for old tasks to succeed.
Take a minute to decide the next step
- What icon is on the task card?
-
Clock icon (queuing)
- There are other tasks downloading → wait for it to finish (only 1 can be run at the same time for free and VIP)
- None → Check network and background restrictions
-
Download icon but downloaded size remains unchanged
- Network is normal → Check resources and storage
- Network abnormality → Try again after restoring a stable network (restart from 0)
-
Red exclamation mark (failure) → look at the error code first
- http_403 / http_404 / invalidUrl → Go back to the web page to reload and create a new task
- ioFailure / http_408 / http_429 / http_5xx → Try again after restoring the network and space
-
Check icon (completed) but cannot be opened
- Check Download/Hams directory, file size and player compatibility
After completing the troubleshooting, the task is still abnormal.
-
Icon on task card and downloaded size
-
The English error code on the failed task card (e.g. http_403, ioFailure)
-
What to do before the problem occurs
-
Whether to switch networks
-
Whether to enter the background or lock the screen
-
Whether the target media is still accessible
-
Have you retried/recreated the task?
-
Device remaining storage space
-
Hams version/Android version/Device model
-
Task status screenshots or short screen recordings without private content
- password
- Verification code
- Payment information
- Private media files
- Full browsing history
- Private Vault contents
- Internal debug logs (unless explicitly requested and scoped by support team)
When entering the support center from this page, only topic=download_issue and source=guide_background_downloads are pre-filled. The URL does not carry web page address, file name, email, task ID, member ID or download content.
Keep download tasks clear, checkable, and manageable
Use Hams to select resources from supported web pages and view tasks in the three groups of "Downloading/Completed/Failed" in the Download Center.
Scan the QR code to go to Google Play