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Learn how to change the default download location in your browser
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- Google Chrome |
- Safari |
- Microsoft Edge |
- Firefox |
- Tips |
- Warnings
This wikiHow article teaches you how to select a specific folder destination for files you download from the Internet. Keep in mind that setting the download location for one browser won't change it for any other browsers on your computer.
Ways to Choose Where A Download is Saved
No matter what browser you use, you can choose where your downloads are saved by opening the browsers settings. In Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, click the Downloads option in the sidebar. In Safari and Firefox, download settings are directly in the General tab.
Steps
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Open Google Chrome. It's a red, green, yellow, and blue sphere-shaped icon.
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Click â‹® . This icon is in the top-right side of the Chrome window.Advertisement
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Click Settings . It's near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
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Click Downloads . It's in the left-hand sidebar, and it has an icon of downwards-facing arrow.
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Click Change next to the "Location" heading. It's at the top of the screen. Your current download location will be displayed under the Location heading.
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Select a folder. Click a folder into which you want downloads to save.
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Click Select folder . It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will choose the folder you clicked as the default location for any subsequent downloads.
- You can also toggle Ask where to save each file before downloading to enable or disable a prompt for each download.
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Open Safari. This app resembles a blue compass. You'll likely find it in your Mac's Dock.
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Go to Safari > Settings . The Safari menu is in the upper-left corner of the screen, along the top bar.
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Click the drop-down box next to File download location . This box is near the bottom of the window.
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Click Other… . It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Doing so opens a Finder window.
- You can also click Ask for each download in this menu to have Safari ask you to select a specific location for each individual download.
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Select a folder. Click a folder in the Finder to select it as your default download location.
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Click Select . This will choose the folder you clicked as the default location for any subsequent downloads.
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Open Microsoft Edge. This app icon resembles a green and blue swoosh in the shape of an "e".
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Click ⋯ . It's in the top-right corner of the Edge window.
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Click Settings . This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu, and it has an icon of a cog wheel.
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Click Downloads in the left-hand sidebar. It has an icon of a downward facing arrow.
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Click Change next to the "Location" heading. It's at the top of the screen. Your current download location will be displayed under the Location heading.
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Select a folder. Click a folder into which you want downloads to save.
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Click Select folder . It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will choose the folder you clicked as the default location for any subsequent downloads.
- You can also toggle Ask me what to do with each download to enable or disable a prompt for each download.
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Open Firefox. This is the globe-shaped icon with an orange fox wrapped around it.
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Click ☰ . It's in the top-right corner of the Firefox window. This prompts a drop-down menu to appear.
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Click Settings . It's near the bottom of the menu.
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Scroll down to find the Downloads section. It's under the Files and Applications header in the General tab, which is the default tab when you open your Firefox settings. If you aren't on the General tab, click it in the left-hand sidebar first.
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Click Browse (Windows) or Choose (Mac). This button is on the right side of the current download folder's name. Clicking it opens a window with folders on your computer listed.
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Select a folder. Click a folder into which you want downloads to save.
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Click Select Folder . This will choose the folder you clicked as the default location for any subsequent downloads.
- If you would prefer to be asked where to save a download every time you download something, click the radio button next to Always ask you where to save files .
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Common Questions: Setting a Specific Download Folder
How do you turn off "ask where to save each file before downloading?"
On Google Chrome, click â‹® → Settings → Downloads . Toggle off Ask where to save each file before downloading .
How do you download to a specific folder on an iPhone?
To download to a specific folder on an iPhone, go to the content you want to save. Tap the Share button and select Save to Files . From there, tap Browse or select a folder to save your content.
Tips
- Selecting the Desktop folder as your default download location will ensure that you never have to navigate through your documents to find your downloads.Thanks
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Warnings
- Changing the download folder will not move previously downloaded files from the previous download folder.Thanks
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About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 366,658 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "This was exactly what I was looking for! At work, I use Chrome on one monitor and Firefox on the other, and it has long been an annoyance that I have to go find files and move them to the appropriate spot after they download. Now I have them both set up so I can control where files go. Yay!" ..." more
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"This was exactly what I was looking for! At work, I use Chrome on one monitor and Firefox on the other, and it has long been an annoyance that I have to go find files and move them to the appropriate spot after they download. Now I have them both set up so I can control where files go. Yay!"
..."
more
"As always, the step-by-step explanation and pictures helped."
