There are certain actions you can’t avoid while using internet. One such action is to download files from websites for offline reference. The file download function works similar on all popular browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and Internet Explorer. Generally all browsers will download the files to ‘Downloads’ folder. However, you can change this default download folder in browsers and set your own custom location. Learn more on how to clear browsing history in browsers.
Downloads Folder in Computer
Both Windows and Mac computers have “Downloads” folder as part of the operating system structure. Browsers use this as a default location to download content from websites. Though Chrome will open PDF files on the browser, you can disable this to download PDF file. The problem here is that you may get confused when all files are available in single downloads folder.
The best option is, instead of downloading files to default downloads folder, you can setup different location to store files. It is also possible for you to choose the download location every time instead of setup default folder. In this manner you can organize downloaded files and access them later without confusion.
Let us explain, how can you change the downloads folder in popular web browsers.
1. Change Downloads Folder in Chrome
First Chrome, the popular browser. Go to ‘chrome://settings’ command URL in the address bar and click on the ‘Advanced’ option.
Navigate to ‘Downloads’ section and click on ‘Change’ button. Select the new folder and Chrome will download the files to the newly select folder henceforth.
If you want to manually choose the download location every time then switch on the option ‘Ask where to save each file before downloading’.
2. Change Downloads Folder in Firefox
Open Firefox and go to the URL about:preferences in address bar. You can also go to preferences by clicking on the gear icon or ‘Hamburger Menu > Preferences’ menu option. Scroll down under ‘General’ tab and go to ‘Files and Applications’ section.
Under ‘Downloads’ section, click on the ‘Choose’ button and change the default downloads folder location.
Enable ‘Always ask you where to save files’ option, if you want to choose the different download locations each time.
3. Change Downloads Folder in Safari
On MacBook open Safari and press ‘Command + ,’ keys. Or go to ‘Safari > Preferences…’ to open preferences section. Under ‘General’ tab, click the drop-down against ‘File download location’ and choose ‘Other…’ option. Select the new download folder for you to download the files.
You can choose ‘Ask for each download’ to every time decide the download location.
4. Change Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge
On Microsoft Edge click on the three dots button and choose ‘Settings’ option.
Then click on the ‘View advanced settings’ button under ‘Advanced settings’.
Click on the ‘Change’ button under ‘Downloads’ section to change the default downloads folder.
Switch on the ‘Ask me what to do with each download’ to choose the download location each time when downloading a file in Edge.
Note: If you are using new Microsoft Edge based on Chromium backend, the process is same as Google Chrome.
5. Change Downloads Folder in Internet Explorer
Windows 10 still has Internet Explorer 11 along with Edge. If you use Internet Explorer then click on the ‘Gear’ icon and choose ‘View downloads’. Or press ‘Control + J’ to open the downloads section.
On the view downloads section, click on ‘Options’ to open ‘Download Options’ popup.
Click on the ‘Browser’ button and choose different folder to change the default download location.
Caution with Downloads
Though changing downloads folder can help in organizing files, it will not help in improving your privacy. Anyone access to your computer can view downloaded files, open or delete them from your browser’s download history page. For example, below is the download location in Chrome browser. As you can see the files are downloaded from GoDaddy email. It may create privacy problems if someone using your computer can see from where you downloaded files.
We strongly recommend you to use private computer or clear browsing history when using public computer.
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