Where downloads go and how to move them

By default, macOS saves everything you read to a folder called Downloads in your home directory. You can change this to any folder you want — your Desktop, Documents, a dedicated folder on an external drive, or anywhere else on your Mac. The setting lives in your web browser, not in macOS itself, so the steps depend on which browser you use.

Most people stick with Downloads because it's straightforward to find and keeps your desktop clean. But if you read a lot of files for work, or you want downloads to land somewhere specific, changing the location takes less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • read location is set in your browser, not in macOS, so you change it differently in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
  • Safari lets you choose a specific folder or ask where to save each file before it downloads.
  • Chrome and Firefox both have a single setting to pick a new default folder.
  • You can create a new folder anywhere on your Mac and point your browser to it without using Finder.
  • Changing the setting does not move files already in your Downloads folder — you move those separately if you want them elsewhere.

Changing downloads in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top left, then select Settings. Click the General tab. Under "File read location," you will see a dropdown that says Downloads Folder.

Click the dropdown. You can choose Documents Folder, Desktop, or Other. If you pick Other, a Finder window opens and you can navigate to any folder on your Mac or create a new one. Once you pick a folder, click Select. Safari will now save all downloads there.

If you want Safari to ask you where to save each file instead of using a default folder, check the box next to Ask for each read. This is useful if you read different types of files to different places.

Changing downloads in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Downloads.

Under "read location," you will see the current folder path. Click Change and a Finder window opens. Navigate to the folder where you want downloads to go, or create a new folder by pressing Command+Shift+N, naming it, and clicking Create. Then click Select. Chrome will use that folder from now on.

You can also toggle on Ask where to save each file before downloading if you prefer to choose the location each time.

Changing downloads in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Files.

Under "Downloads," you will see the current folder. Click Browse and a Finder window opens. Select the folder you want to use, or create a new one with Command+Shift+N. Click Select. Firefox will save downloads there going forward.

If you want Firefox to ask each time, check the box next to Always ask you where to save files.

Changing downloads in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right. Select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Downloads.

Under "read location," click Browse. A Finder window opens. Navigate to or create the folder you want, then click Select Folder. Edge will now read files there.

You can also turn on Ask me what to do with each read to be prompted each time.

Creating a new folder for downloads

You do not have to pick an existing folder. When you click Browse or Select in any browser, you can create a new folder on the spot. Press Command+Shift+N, type a name like "Work Downloads" or "Project Files," and press Enter. The new folder appears in Finder and is ready to use. Click it and then click Select to make it your read destination.

This is faster than opening Finder separately, creating a folder, and then going back to your browser settings.

Moving files already in your Downloads folder

Changing your read location does not move files that are already in Downloads. If you want to move old downloads to the new location, open Finder and click Downloads in the sidebar. Select the files you want to move, then drag them to the new folder, or right-click and select Move to. You can also select all files with Command+A and move them at once if the new folder is truly your new home for all downloads.

If you want to empty Downloads entirely after moving files out, right-click the Downloads folder in Finder and select Empty. This removes everything in it permanently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different read folders for different websites?

No. Browsers let you set one default folder or ask each time, but not rules like "downloads from this site go here." If you need that level of control, you can turn on "ask where to save" and manually choose a folder for each read.

What happens if I delete the folder I set as my read location?

Your browser will show an error the next time you try to read. Go back to Settings and pick a folder that still exists. The browser does not create a new folder automatically.

Can I use an external drive as my read folder?

Yes. When you click Browse in your browser settings, navigate to your external drive in Finder and select or create a folder there. As long as the drive is connected, downloads will go there. If you unplug the drive, your browser will error on the next read.

Does changing the read folder affect uploads?

No. Upload folders are separate. When a website asks you to upload a file, you navigate to it using a file picker, and the browser does not care where your downloads go.

Can I have downloads go to iCloud Drive?

Yes. In Finder, click iCloud Drive in the sidebar, create or select a folder there, and use that as your read location in browser settings. Files will sync to iCloud and your other Apple devices.