Windows bitsadmin /transfer equivalent in Linux
Downloads files from HTTP, HTTPS or FTP sources from a script or terminal session.
bitsadmin /transfer
wget -c URL
wget -c URL
wget -c URL
Overview
What this command does
On Windows, "bitsadmin /transfer" is used to download a file non-interactively. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "wget -c URL". Downloads files from HTTP, HTTPS or FTP sources from a script or terminal session. This reference is grouped under Networking.
Windows → Linux context
What changes when you use this on Linux?
Equivalent task, different tool
Windows bitsadmin /transfer maps to wget -c URL for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.
Portable across the compared distros
The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows use the same command in this mapping. Package availability or defaults can still vary, so check the installed tool version when an option behaves differently.
For the broader concept behind this mapping, read Linux networking for Windows users.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Download a file non-interactively
Downloads files from HTTP, HTTPS or FTP sources from a script or terminal session.
wget -c https://example.com/large.iso
Download and resume if interrupted
curl -C - -LO https://example.com/large.iso
Resume with curl
wget -O output.iso https://example.com/file
Choose the output filename
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
wget -c https://example.com/large.iso
curl -C - -LO https://example.com/large.iso
wget -O output.iso https://example.com/file
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
wget -c https://example.com/large.iso # download with resume support
curl -C - -LO https://example.com/large.iso # resume using curl
wget -O output.iso https://example.com/file # save under a chosen nameReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
wget -c https://example.com/large.iso | Download and resume if interrupted |
curl -C - -LO https://example.com/large.iso | Resume with curl |
wget -O output.iso https://example.com/file | Choose the output filename |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch all use "wget -c URL" for this mapping. The command syntax shown here is portable across the three rows, although installed versions and system defaults can still vary.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | wget -c URL |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | wget -c URL |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | wget -c URL |
Same command on this distribution. |
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