Download failed WordPress Origin: Application & API Last updated 12 Oct 2026

WordPress: Download failed. A valid URL was not provided / cURL error 60 / Could not resolve host: downloads.wordpress.org

WordPress couldn’t download an update package — outbound HTTP blocked, DNS failure, SSL CA issues, or a premium plugin license URL problem.

Exact message you may see Download failed.A valid URL was not providedDownload failed. cURL error 60Download failed. cURL error 28
Seen on: WordPress

Meaning

Updates fetch from downloads.wordpress.org or vendor URLs via cURL. Firewalls blocking outbound traffic, outdated CA bundles (cURL error 60), DNS issues, or expired licenses for premium plugins cause it.

Common causes

  • Server blocks outbound HTTPS
  • DNS cannot resolve downloads.wordpress.org
  • Outdated CA certificates (cURL error 60)
  • Premium plugin license/URL invalid
  • WP_HTTP_BLOCK_EXTERNAL defined

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Test from the server: curl -I https://downloads.wordpress.org
  2. Update CA certificates
  3. Check license status for premium plugins; WP_ACCESSIBLE_HOSTS if blocking externals

Detailed fix by platform

Linux

  1. bash
    curl -sI https://downloads.wordpress.org | head -1
    sudo apt install --reinstall ca-certificates

How to diagnose

  1. Network — Outbound allowed?
  2. Error — cURL code
  3. Config — WP_HTTP_BLOCK_EXTERNAL

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: Application & API. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

0x80070035 — 0x80070035: The network path was not found (System error 53) (Windows)0x800700350x80072EE7 — Error 0x80072EE7 (Windows Update / Microsoft Store: server name could not be resolved) (Windows)0x80072EE70x8024402C — Windows Update error 0x8024402C (cannot connect to update server) (Windows)0x8024402C2003 — MySQL ERROR 2003 (HY000): Can't connect to MySQL server on 'host:3306' (111) (MySQL)2003407 — HTTP 407 Proxy Authentication Required (HTTP)407511 — HTTP 511 Network Authentication Required (HTTP)511AbortError — AbortError: The user aborted a request. / signal is aborted without reason (JavaScript)AbortErrorAn automated WordPress update has failed — An automated WordPress update has failed to complete - please attempt the update again now (WordPress)An automated WordPres…Download …

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