Dear Nicholas,
Update Akeeba Backup Pro fails with Message: "Error connecting to the server: URL using bad/illegal format or missing URL" .. "Failed to download package. Download it and install manually from https://www.akeeba.com/download/akeeba-backup/10-3-6 ......." See Attachment.
I already checked the Download-ID, it seems OK. Despite several efforts, I could not find a solution so far. Hope, you can help.
#43085 Error connecting to the server: URL using bad/illegal format or missing URL
Posted in ‘Akeeba Backup for Joomla!’
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Environment Information
Joomla! version
6.1.1
PHP version
8.3.31
Akeeba Backup version
10.3.4
Latest post by nicholas on Sunday, 09 August 2026 01:20 CDT
Friday, 26 June 2026 05:25 CDT
gneumann
Friday, 26 June 2026 06:08 CDT
nicholas
Akeeba Staff
Manager
What happens when you click the link you see in the message? Does it download the ZIP file?
Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos
Lead Developer and Director
🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!
Saturday, 27 June 2026 02:21 CDT
gneumann
Dear Nicholas,
Thanks for quick reply. The URL displayed after "Failed to download...." is not a link, just text. However, when copying the URL in browser address bar, download of ZIP is possible. Link to download page works works either. Already the update 10.3.3 -> 10.3.4 came with same behavior, so I did a manual installation some weeks ago, hope we can fix that. Kind regards Gerd
Saturday, 27 June 2026 08:20 CDT
nicholas
Akeeba Staff
Manager
OK, this means that Joomla does see the correct download URL, and that URL works fine – so it's neither a problem with Joomla or on our end. Therefore, the message comes from your host. I suspect they are using a transparent caching proxy which is somehow messing up when trying to serve this URL. Try contacting your host to see what is going on.
Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos
Lead Developer and Director
🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!
Saturday, 27 June 2026 09:50 CDT
gneumann
Dear Nicholas,
thank you - will try that! Regards Gerd
Saturday, 08 August 2026 03:45 CDT
gneumann
Dear Nicholas,
Due to holidays, I continued today, only. According to my internet service provider, the problem can’t be down to them, he says. I then generated a new download key and entered it – after that, there were no more error messages. We can close the ticket. Many regards!
Sunday, 09 August 2026 01:20 CDT
nicholas
Akeeba Staff
Manager
Well, that's why I asked you if accessing the URL directly worked. Since you told me it does, it precluded an incorrect download ID.
Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos
Lead Developer and Director
🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!