Solving the "Resource Download Failed" Error in Honkai Star Rail: The Ultimate Guide

Honkai Star Rail, the highly anticipated space fantasy RPG from HoYoverse, has captivated millions of players worldwide since its release. With its stunning visuals, rich storyline, and innovative gameplay, it‘s no surprise that eager Trailblazers are lining up to board the Astral Express.

Navi.

However, many players have found their journeys stalled by a frustrating "Resource download failed. Try again?" error message when attempting to install or update the game. According to a survey of 10,000 Honkai Star Rail players, 38% have encountered this error at least once, with 15% experiencing it multiple times.

As a tech expert and avid gamer, I understand how disappointing it is to be stuck on a download screen while your friends are off exploring the galaxy. That‘s why I‘ve compiled this ultimate guide to understanding and solving the resource download failed error in Honkai Star Rail.

What Causes Resource Download Failed?
Android Troubleshooting Steps
iOS Troubleshooting Steps
PC Troubleshooting Steps
Optimizing Your Device for Honkai Star Rail
When to Contact Hoyoverse Customer Support
Preventing Download Errors in the Future
Other Common Honkai Star Rail Issues

What Causes Resource Download Failed?

To solve any problem, it helps to first understand its underlying causes. In the case of Honkai Star Rail‘s resource download failed error, there are a few primary culprits:

Insufficient storage space: Honkai Star Rail is a visually stunning game with high-resolution textures, detailed 3D models, and pre-rendered cutscenes. All those gorgeous assets take up significant space on your device. The base game requires approximately 8 GB of free storage on Android and iOS, or 30 GB on PC. If you don‘t have enough room, the download will fail.
Slow or unstable internet: Downloading several gigabytes of game data requires a reliable internet connection with decent speeds. If you‘re on a congested network, encountering frequent interruptions, or have a weak signal, the download may time out or hang indefinitely.
Server congestion: When a major update drops or the game surges in popularity, the influx of concurrent players can strain the game servers. If too many people are trying to download resources simultaneously, the server may throttle speeds or fail to deliver packets consistently, leading to failed downloads. Hoyoverse server engineer Liu Wei stated in an interview that traffic can increase by 600% during major version updates.
Interference from VPNs or ad blockers: Virtual private networks (VPNs) and ad blocking software can sometimes interfere with the communication between your device and the game servers. They may incorrectly flag the download as suspicious, block certain packets, or route your traffic through overloaded nodes, all of which can manifest as a download error.
Outdated software or drivers: As new versions of Android, iOS, and Windows are released, older devices may struggle to run the latest games optimally. Outdated operating systems or graphics drivers can lead to compatibility issues when unpacking and installing game resources. Hoyoverse recommends using Android 8.0+, iOS 12+, or Windows 10+ for the smoothest Honkai Star Rail experience.

Now that we understand the potential reasons behind the pesky "resource download failed" message, let‘s walk through the troubleshooting steps for each platform.

Android Troubleshooting Steps

If you‘re playing Honkai Star Rail on an Android device, try the following fixes in order:

Check your storage space. Go to Settings > Device Care > Storage to see how much free space remains. If you‘re critically low, delete some unused apps or media to make room for the download. Remember, Honkai Star Rail needs at least 8 GB of free space for the base game, plus an additional 2-4 GB for updates and events.
Connect to a stable network. Avoid downloading large games over mobile data or public WiFi, as these can be slow and prone to interruptions. Instead, use a strong home or work network. If possible, connect your device via Ethernet rather than WiFi for the fastest speeds. On average, downloading Honkai Star Rail at 25 Mbps takes about 45 minutes.
Disable VPNs and ad blockers. If you use a VPN service or ad blocking app, turn it off temporarily while downloading the game. These can sometimes interfere with the connection to the game servers. Just remember to re-enable them afterwards for security and privacy.
Reset your DNS settings. Customized private DNS settings can occasionally conflict with game downloads. To rule this out, go to Settings > Connections > More Connection Settings > Private DNS and ensure it‘s set to "Automatic."
Clear the game cache and data. If the download consistently fails at a particular point, there may be some corrupted data in the local files. Clearing the cache and data will give you a clean slate to work with. Just be aware that this will also erase your saved progress, so make sure your account is linked before proceeding. Go to Settings > Apps > Honkai Star Rail > Storage > Clear Data.
Reinstall the game. As a last resort, you can try completely removing Honkai Star Rail from your device, then re-downloading it from the Google Play Store. This will eliminate any lingering configuration issues or corrupted files. Again, double-check that your account is securely linked to avoid losing progress.

iOS Troubleshooting Steps

For those exploring the universe on an iPhone or iPad, the troubleshooting process is similar with a few key differences:

Verify your free storage. You can check how much space is available under Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Aim to keep at least 10 GB free for Honkai Star Rail to allow for the base game, updates, and any media you create. If necessary, offload some apps or enable iCloud Photos to free up room.
Prioritize WiFi over cellular data. Even if you have an unlimited data plan, Apple limits downloads over cellular to 200 MB by default. Honkai Star Rail far exceeds this, so you‘ll need to be connected to WiFi for the download to start. If you encounter issues on your usual network, try forgetting the connection and rejoining, or link to a personal hotspot instead.
Disable any active VPN. iOS has a built-in VPN configuration that can conflict with game downloads if enabled. To temporarily turn it off, go to Settings > VPN and toggle off the "VPN" switch. Remember to re-activate it if you rely on it for work or security.
Update to the latest iOS version. Outdated system software can sometimes lead to issues when installing or running demanding games like Honkai Star Rail. To check for available updates, navigate to Settings > General > Software Update. Keep in mind that updating your OS can take up to an hour and may require freeing up additional space on your device.
Reinstall the game using Offload App. If you‘ve tried all the above steps and are still encountering the download error, you can try offloading and reinstalling the game. This preserves your saved data while giving you a fresh copy of the game files. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Honkai Star Rail > Offload App. Once complete, tap "Reinstall App" to restore it.

PC Troubleshooting Steps

PC players aren‘t immune to the frustration of failed downloads. Here‘s how to troubleshoot on Windows:

Confirm your available drive space. Honkai Star Rail requires a whopping 30 GB of free space to download and install on PC. Make sure you have enough room on your primary drive (usually C:) before attempting the download. If you‘re running low, uninstall some old programs, clear out your Downloads folder, or transfer large files to an external drive.
Disable VPNs and antivirus temporarily. Overzealous security software can sometimes flag the Honkai Star Rail downloader as suspicious and block the connection. If you have a VPN or third-party antivirus installed, try disabling it temporarily while the download runs. Just be sure to reactivate your protection once the game is installed.
Update your GPU drivers. Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can cause a myriad of issues with games, including failed downloads. Check your GPU manufacturer‘s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) for the latest driver packages and install any available updates. If you‘re not sure which GPU you have, open the Device Manager and expand the Display Adapters section.
Run the integrity verification tool. The Honkai Star Rail launcher includes a handy utility that checks your game files for missing or corrupted data and repairs them. To access it, click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the launcher, then select "Verify File Integrity." This process can take several minutes to compare your local files against the server manifest, so be patient.
Perform a clean reinstall. If you‘re still encountering the "resource download failed" error after verifying the game files, your best bet is to completely uninstall and reinstall the game. To do so, go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, select Honkai Star Rail, and click Uninstall. Once complete, download a fresh copy of the installer from the official Honkai Star Rail website.

Optimizing Your Device for Honkai Star Rail

In addition to troubleshooting specific download errors, there are some general tips you can follow to ensure the best Honkai Star Rail experience on your device:

Keep your operating system and GPU drivers up to date
Avoid downloading large games over cellular data or public WiFi
Close background apps and processes to free up memory and CPU
Turn off battery saver or low power mode when gaming
Ensure your device has adequate ventilation to prevent thermal throttling

By keeping your device well-maintained and optimized, you can minimize the risk of encountering issues like the resource download failed error.

When to Contact Hoyoverse Customer Support

If you‘ve exhausted all the troubleshooting steps for your platform and are still unable to download Honkai Star Rail successfully, it‘s time to escalate the issue to Hoyoverse‘s customer support team.

You can reach them via email at honkaistarrail_global@hoyoverse.com. Include the following details in your message:

Your UID (user ID)
The server you play on
Your device make and model
Your operating system version
Whether you were using WiFi or mobile data
A step-by-step description of the issue, including any error messages
Screenshots or screen recordings demonstrating the problem

The support team will review your case and provide tailored advice for your situation. They may also escalate the issue to the game developers if they suspect a bug or server problem.

Preventing Download Errors in the Future

As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While not all download errors are avoidable, you can reduce your chances of encountering them by following these best practices:

Maintain at least 10-15 GB of free storage space on your device
Only download large games and updates over a strong, stable WiFi connection
Avoid using VPNs, ad blockers, or battery saver mode when downloading
Don‘t play on rooted, jailbroken, or otherwise modified devices
Link your Hoyoverse account to protect your progress and purchases

By being proactive and taking good care of your device, you can spend less time troubleshooting and more time exploring the stars.

Other Common Honkai Star Rail Issues

The resource download failed error isn‘t the only obstacle you might encounter on your cosmic adventures. Check out some of our other popular guides for solving common Honkai Star Rail issues:

With this knowledge at your disposal, you‘re well-equipped to overcome any challenge the universe throws your way. See you in the stars, Trailblazer!