to download
Loading your saved state.
to download
To copy data such as a file, program, or video from the internet or a network onto your own computer or another device.
Ich muss noch die neueste Version der App herunterladen.
I still have to download the latest version of the app.
'Herunterladen' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'herunter' goes at the end; in a subordinate clause, the verb stays together; and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' goes in the middle.
Ich lade die Fotos später herunter.
I'll download the photos later.
The verb consists of the direction 'herunter' (down) and 'laden' (to load). The opposite is 'hochladen' (to upload), which makes the logic of the prefixes 'herunter-' and 'hoch-' clear.
Du kannst deine Dokumente in die Cloud hochladen und von überall herunterladen.
You can upload your documents to the cloud and download them from anywhere.
In a digital context, 'herunterladen' is often used with the prepositions 'aus' or 'von' to specify the source. The object you download is in the accusative.
Man kann den Film legal aus dem Internet herunterladen.
You can legally download the film from the internet.
The literal meaning of unloading a physical load is very rare today and sounds outdated. In everyday language, 'abladen' (to unload) or 'ausladen' (to unload) is more commonly used.
Der Kranführer musste die schwere Kiste vom Schiff herunterladen.
The crane operator had to unload the heavy crate from the ship.
down
'runter' and 'herunterladen' can both mean that you get data from the internet onto your own device. Here, 'runter' is only the colloquial short form, usually with a verb such as 'laden': 'etwas runterladen' (to download something). 'herunterladen' is the full verb and sounds more neutral, especially in instructions, on websites, or in more formal situations. They can be confused because both are used in everyday language for the same process. In practice: in conversations, 'runterladen' is very natural; in official texts, 'herunterladen' is more precise.
In der Pause lade ich die neue App für den Termin herunter.
During the break, I download the new app for the appointment.
Julian lädt die Fotos für die Familie auf sein Tablet runter.
Julian downloads the photos for the family onto his tablet.