Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu: A common issue with rustup and how to resolve it
What is cargo and why it is useful for Rust developers
If you are a Rust developer, you probably have heard of cargo, the official package manager and build system for Rust. Cargo is a powerful tool that helps you manage your dependencies, compile your code, run your tests, and publish your crates. Cargo also integrates with rustup, the Rust toolchain installer, which allows you to easily switch between different versions of Rust and install additional components.
Cargo is designed to make Rust development easier, faster, and more reliable. However, sometimes you may encounter errors or issues when using cargo, especially when downloading or installing components. One of these errors is error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu, which can prevent you from building or running your Rust project. In this article, we will explain what causes this error, how to fix it, and how to prevent it in the future.
error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
What causes the error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
The error error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu means that cargo was unable to download or install the component cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu, which is part of the x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu toolchain. A toolchain is a set of tools that are used to compile, link, and run Rust code for a specific target platform. The x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu toolchain is one of the most common toolchains for Linux systems with 64-bit processors.
There are several possible reasons why this error may occur, such as:
Your rustup or toolchain is outdated or corrupted.
Your target or linker is incompatible with your system or project.
Your network connection is slow or unstable.
Your firewall or antivirus is blocking the download.
To fix this error, you need to identify the root cause and apply the appropriate solution. Here are some options that you can try.
How to fix the error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Option 1: Update rustup and reinstall the toolchain
The first thing you should do is to make sure that your rustup and toolchain are up to date and working properly. You can use rustup to update and reinstall the toolchain by following these steps:
How to fix error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Windows Subsystem for Linux
Rust installation fails with error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Linking with cc failed: exit status: 1 when building for target x86_64-unknown-linux-musl
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on macOS
Rustup component add rustc-dev fails with error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Ubuntu
Could not rename component file from /home/user/.rustup/tmp/... to /home/user/.rustup/toolchains/stable-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/share/man
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Debian
Rustup update nightly fails with error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Fedora
Detected conflict: "share/doc/rust/html" when installing rust-docs-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Arch Linux
Rustup self update fails with error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on CentOS
Linker does not support -static-pie command line option when building for target x86_64-unknown-linux-musl
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Alpine Linux
Rustup toolchain install stable fails with error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Could not copy file from /home/user/.rustup/downloads/... to /home/user/.rustup/tmp/...
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Gentoo Linux
Rustup default nightly fails with error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on NixOS
Could not remove file /home/user/.rustup/tmp/...
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on openSUSE
Rustup override set nightly fails with error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Manjaro Linux
Could not create directory /home/user/.rustup/tmp/...
Error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu on Mint Linux
Rustup show fails with error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
Open a terminal and run rustup update to update rustup and all installed toolchains.
Run rustup self uninstall to uninstall rustup completely.
Download and run from [11 to reinstall rustup and the default toolchain.
Run rustup toolchain install x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu to install the toolchain that includes the cargo component.
Run cargo build or cargo run to test if the error is resolved.
This option should fix the error if it was caused by an outdated or corrupted rustup or toolchain. However, if the error persists, you may need to try another option.
Option 2: Use a different target or linker
The second thing you should do is to check if your target or linker is compatible with your system and project. A target is a specification of the platform that you want to compile your code for, such as the operating system, architecture, and features. A linker is a program that combines the compiled code and libraries into an executable file. Cargo uses the default target and linker for your system unless you specify otherwise.
Sometimes, the default target or linker may not work well with your system or project, resulting in errors or failures. For example, you may be using a different Linux distribution or version than the one that the toolchain expects, or you may be using a custom or experimental feature that requires a different target or linker. In these cases, you can try to use a different target or linker by following these steps:
Open a terminal and run rustup target list to see the available targets for your toolchain.
Pick a target that matches your system and project requirements, such as x86_64-unknown-linux-musl for a static linking option.
Run rustup target add to install the target.
Create or edit a file named .cargo/config.toml in your project directory and add the following lines:
[build] target = ""
If you also want to use a different linker, such as lld, add the following lines as well:
[target.] linker = ""
Run cargo build or cargo run to test if the error is resolved.
This option should fix the error if it was caused by an incompatible target or linker. However, if the error persists, you may need to try another option.
Option 3: Check your network and firewall settings
The third thing you should do is to check if your network connection is stable and fast enough to download the component. You can use tools like ping, traceroute, or to test your network speed and latency. If your network is slow or unstable, you may need to switch to a different network or contact your internet service provider for assistance.
You should also check if your firewall or antivirus is blocking the download of the component. Some firewalls or antivirus programs may mistakenly flag cargo as a malicious program and prevent it from accessing the internet. You can try to disable your firewall or antivirus temporarily and see if that solves the error. If it does, you should add cargo as an exception or whitelist it in your firewall or antivirus settings.
This option should fix the error if it was caused by a network or firewall issue. However, if the error persists, you may need to seek further help from the cargo community.
How to prevent the error component download failed for cargo-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu in the future
To avoid encountering this error again in the future, you should follow some tips and best practices when using cargo and rustup. Here are some of them:
Keep your rustup and toolchains updated
You should always make sure that your rustup and toolchains are updated to the latest versions. This will ensure that you have access to the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. You can use rustup to update your rustup and toolchains by running rustup update. You can also use rustup check to see if there are any updates available.
Use stable or supported toolchains and targets
You should always use stable or supported toolchains and targets for your projects unless you have a specific reason not to. Stable toolchains and targets are tested and guaranteed to work with cargo and rustup. Supported toolchains and targets are maintained and supported by the Rust team or the communit