VBA WinHTTP to download file from password proteced https website

calendar_today Asked Feb 26, 2014
thumb_up 8 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

Ok, I did it. Here the code: Sub SaveFileFromURL() Dim FileNum As Long Dim FileData() As Byte Dim WHTTP As Object mainUrl = "https://www.website.com/" fileUrl =…. This is a 40-line VBA Core snippet, ranked #93rd of 95 by community upvote score, from 2014.


The Problem (Q-score 3, ranked #93rd of 95 in the VBA Core archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2014

I’m trying to save a file from https password protected site using WinHTTP. Here’s the code:

Sub SaveFileFromURL()

Dim FileNum As Long
Dim FileData() As Byte
Dim WHTTP As Object

fileUrl = "https://www.website.com/dir1/dir2/file.xls"
filePath = "C:myfile.xls"

myuser = "username"
mypass = "password"

Set WHTTP = CreateObject("WinHTTP.WinHTTPrequest.5.1")

WHTTP.Open "GET", fileUrl, False
WHTTP.SetCredentials myuser, mypass, HTTPREQUEST_SETCREDENTIALS_FOR_SERVER
WHTTP.Send

FileData = WHTTP.ResponseBody
Set WHTTP = Nothing

FileNum = FreeFile
Open filePath For Binary Access Write As #FileNum
    Put #FileNum, 1, FileData
Close #FileNum

MsgBox "File has been saved!", vbInformation, "Success"

End Sub

The problem is with authentication. The file is being saved but when I open it in Excel it’s just the html logon page instead of the actual file. If I copy direct file url and paste it into browser addressbar and I’m not logged in to the webpage the effect is the same. I’m presented with the logon page. Then if I enter my login and password the download window will show up allowing me to save the file.

So I think that SetCredentials part of the code is not working properly cause if I debug.print WHTTP.ResponseBody it’s html code instead of the acutal file data.

Is there a way to pass userid and password to the WinHTTP so I could be able to properly save the file?

Here’s the page address:

https://sst.msde.state.md.us/

=======================EDIT:========================

So I’ve played a little bit with it today and I think I’m moving forward. Here’s what I got. I Modyfied the code like this:

Sub SaveFileFromURL()

Dim FileNum As Long
Dim FileData() As Byte
Dim WHTTP As Object

fileUrl = "https://www.website.com/dir1/dir2/file.xls"
filePath = "C:myfile.xls"

myuser = "username"
mypass = "password"

strAuthenticate = "start-url=%2F&user=" & myuser & "&password=" & mypass & "&switch=Log+In"

Set WHTTP = CreateObject("WinHTTP.WinHTTPrequest.5.1")

WHTTP.Open "POST", fileUrl, False
WHTTP.SetRequestHeader "Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"
WHTTP.Send strAuthenticate

WHTTP.Open "GET", fileUrl, False
WHTTP.Send

Debug.Print WHTTP.GetAllResponseHeaders()

FileData = WHTTP.ResponseBody
Set WHTTP = Nothing

FileNum = FreeFile
Open filePath For Binary Access Write As #FileNum
    Put #FileNum, 1, FileData
Close #FileNum

MsgBox "File has been saved!", vbInformation, "Success"

End Sub

When I Debug.Print WHTTP.GetAllResponseHeaders() I get e.g.:

Accept-Ranges: bytes
Content-Disposition: attachement; filename="xxx"
Content-Length: xxxxxx
Content-Type: application/octet-stream

So I think that authentication worked but I still cannot save the file. When I continue with:

FileData = WHTTP.ResponseBody
Set WHTTP = Nothing

FileNum = FreeFile
Open filePath For Binary Access Write As #FileNum
    Put #FileNum, 1, FileData
Close #FileNum

The content of the saved file is the html webpage itself, but not the file.

Did I do the authentication rigth and the problem is with saving the file to the disk or still is there a problem with authentication and that’s why I cannot save it? Any clues?

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 95 VBA Core entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds niche answer (below median) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.


The Verified Solution — niche answer (below median) (+8)

40-line VBA Core pattern (copy-ready)

Ok, I did it. Here the code:

Sub SaveFileFromURL()

Dim FileNum As Long
Dim FileData() As Byte
Dim WHTTP As Object

mainUrl = "https://www.website.com/"
fileUrl = "https://www.website.com/dir1/dir2/file.xls"
filePath = "C:myfile.xls"

myuser = "username"
mypass = "password"

'@David Zemens, I got this by examining webpage code using Chrome, thanks!
strAuthenticate = "start-url=%2F&user=" & myuser & "&password=" & mypass & "&switch=Log+In"

Set WHTTP = CreateObject("WinHTTP.WinHTTPrequest.5.1")

'I figured out that you have to POST authentication string to the main website address not to the direct file address
WHTTP.Open "POST", mainUrl, False 'WHTTP.Open "POST", fileUrl, False
WHTTP.SetRequestHeader "Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"
WHTTP.Send strAuthenticate

'Then you have to GET direct file url
WHTTP.Open "GET", fileUrl, False
WHTTP.Send

FileData = WHTTP.ResponseBody
Set WHTTP = Nothing

'Save the file
FileNum = FreeFile
Open filePath For Binary Access Write As #FileNum
    Put #FileNum, 1, FileData
Close #FileNum

MsgBox "File has been saved!", vbInformation, "Success"

End Sub

Thanks for all your help.

BTW I’ve found this posts very useful:

http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-questions/353006-download-file-excel.html

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Error-handling details to lift with the snippet

This answer wires error flow through MsgBox / Err.Description. Keep that intact: stripping it to “make it cleaner” removes the signal you’ll need when the macro fails silently on a user machine.


When to Use It — classic (2013–2016)

Ranked #93rd in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 93% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the VBA Core archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2014 and 2026

The answer is 12 years old. The VBA Core object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

help
Frequently Asked Questions

This is a below-median answer — when does it still fit?
expand_more

Answer score +8 vs the VBA Core archive median ~4; this entry is niche. The score plus 3 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+3) means the asker and 7 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

Does the 40-line snippet run as-is in Office 2026?
expand_more

Yes. The 40-line pattern compiles on Office 365, Office 2024, and Office LTSC 2026. Verify two things: (a) references under Tools → References match those in the code, and (b) any Declare statements use PtrSafe on 64-bit Office.

Published around 2014 — what’s changed since?
expand_more

Published 2014, which is 12 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The VBA Core object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which VBA Core pattern ranks just above this one at #92?
expand_more

The pattern one rank above is “Object variable or With block variable not set (Error 91)”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 3, Answer-score 8, original post 2014, ranked #93rd of 95 in the VBA Core archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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