This SharePoint tutorial explains how to solve windows server AppFabric installation error or windows server AppFabric download error SharePoint 2016/2013/2019. The error usually comes while installing prerequisitesinstaller.exe in SharePoint 2016/2013.
Before trying the below solutions, one way to solve windows server AppFabric installation error is to download and install Windows Server AppFabric manually. Sometimes people also search for sharepoint 2016 AppFabric installation error or windows server AppFabric download for sharepoint 2016.
The tool was unable to download windows server AppFabric
Recently I was trying to install the SharePoint server 2016 in Windows server 2016, there I was facing a problem of an error named “Windows Server AppFabric: download error” during the installation of SharePoint server 2016 ‘prerequisiteinstaller’ as given below.
As we know before running the SharePoint server 2016 setup, we need to run the “prerequisiteinstaller.exe” which will download and install all the required prerequisites.
One way is you can manually download the AppFabric component and do the installation, but ideally, it should be done through prerequisiteinstaller.exe.
The error looks like below:

Windows Server AppFabric: download or installation error
We can resolve Window Server Appfabric: download error by doing few changes in Server manager and Internet explorer. We need to change two things.
Off IE Enhanced Security Configuration
1. At first, open the Windows Server Manager and then click on Local Server. Then in the Local Server you can see an option as “IE Enhanced Security Configuration” which will be by default On like below:

2. Click on “On“, this will open the “Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration” dialog box. Choose Off for both Administrators and Users option like below:

3. Finally “IE Enhanced Security Configuration” option looks like Off like below:

Enable File Download Option in Internet Explorer
Next thing we will do is to enable file download option in Internet Explorer.
1. Open Internet Explorer, In internet explorer click on Settings -> ‘Internet Options’.
Then click on ‘Security’ tab. And then in the “Select a zone to view or changes security settings”, Select “Internet“ and then select ‘Custom level’.
In the Security Settings – Internet Zone. Search for ‘Downloads’ and select the “Enable” option of both ‘File download’ and ‘Font download’ and then click on ok.

Once you save the above two things, again run the “prerequisiteinstaller.exe” and this time the error “windows server appfabric download error ” will not come.
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Conclusion
In this tutorial, we will discuss how to solve windows server AppFabric download error sharepoint 2016. The error will also come as a windows server AppFabric installation error in SharePoint 2016/2013.
I am Bijay a Microsoft MVP (8 times – My MVP Profile) in SharePoint and have more than 15 years of expertise in SharePoint Online Office 365, SharePoint subscription edition, and SharePoint 2019/2016/2013. Currently working in my own venture TSInfo Technologies a SharePoint development, consulting, and training company. I also run the popular SharePoint website EnjoySharePoint.com
Thanks, for me the reason that downloads failed was IE Enhanced Security.