Sorry, you can't view or download this file at this time is an error message that you may get when you try to download files on Google Drive.
The explanation for the error message is simple: while users are free to share files publicly, or with a large number of users, quotas are in effect that limit availability.
If too many users view or download a file, it may be locked for a 24 hour period before the quota is reset. The period that a file is locked may be shorter according to Google.
If a file is particularly popular, it may take days or even longer before you manage to download it to your computer or place it on your Drive storage.
Fix Google Drive: Sorry, you can't view or download this file error
While you may wait until the file becomes available again, doing so may be risky. If the file is pulled in the meantime, you won't be able to download it anymore. Also, if you require the file right away, for instance for work related tasks, waiting may not be an option.
There is a workaround that allows you to bypass Google Drive's 24 hour limit. How that is done depends largely on what you see on the screen.
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