GitHub Actions download-artifact "Unable to find any artifacts"

download-artifact with no name tries to fetch all artifacts from the current run and finds none, because nothing was uploaded in this run or the artifacts live in a different run.

What this error means

The download step fails with "Unable to find any artifacts for the associated workflow" even though you expected uploads to be present.

Error: Unable to find any artifacts for the associated workflow

Common causes

No artifacts uploaded in this run

The producing job did not upload (failed, skipped, or empty), so the run has no artifacts to fetch.

Downloading from the wrong run

The artifacts belong to a different run/workflow and cross-run parameters were not supplied.

How to fix it

Ensure artifacts exist and target the right run

1. Confirm at least one upload-artifact step succeeded in this run.
2. Order the consumer after the producer with needs:.
3. For cross-workflow downloads, pass run-id, github-token, and repository.

- uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
  with:
    run-id: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.id }}
    github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

How to prevent it

• Verify uploads occur before any download.
• Sequence producer and consumer jobs explicitly.
• Provide cross-run parameters when sourcing from another run.

Related guides