What Is Download Folder On Mac
Delete files and folders on Mac. At any time, you can get rid of files, folders, and other items that you no longer need. You start by dragging items to the Trash in the Dock, but the items aren’t deleted until you empty the Trash. To search for and locate files you want to delete, see Narrow your search results on Mac. Mac OS X doesn’t have an obvious way to view the exact text based path to a folder (otherwise known as a directory) in the finder window. You can have it show a graphical path, but getting just the text based path to a directory (for use in the Terminal for example) requires a couple of extra steps. Navigate to the location where you want the files to be stored. Click the Select button. Click the Close button to exit Preferences. To download a specific image that appears on a web page, move your pointer over the image, right-click, and choose Save Image As from the pop-up menu that appears. Showing the On My Computer folders is required to create a contact group because the group does not sync with the Exchange server. To show the On My Computer folders in the navigation pane, on the Outlook menu, click Preferences. Under Personal Settings, click General. Then, under Folder list, clear the Hide On My Computer folders check box. Pause a download: Click the Stop button to the right of the filename in the downloads list. To resume, click the Resume button. Find a downloaded item on your Mac: Click the magnifying glass next to the filename in the downloads list. If you move a file or change the download location after downloading it, Safari can’t find the file.
Your Downloads panel and Library keep track of files you download while using Firefox. Learn how to manage your files and configure your download settings.
Table of Contents
- 2See downloads history
- 2.1Download protection
You can access downloads from your current browsing session by clicking on the Downloads button (the down arrow on your toolbar). The arrow will appear blue to let you know there are unviewed downloaded files.
- During a download, the Downloads button gradually fills with color to show your download's progress.
- Click on the Downloads button to open the Downloads panel. The Downloads panel displays your three most recently downloaded files, along with its size and download status:
- To see all of your downloads at any time, go to the Library by clicking on Show all Downloads at the bottom of the Downloads panel.
The Library displays information for all of your downloaded files, unless you've cleared them from your history.
- Click the Library button on your toolbar.
- Click Downloads in the drop-down menu.
- Click Show All Downloads at the bottom of the Downloads panel. The Library window will open showing a list of your downloaded files.
Download protection
Before beginning a download, Firefox will attempt to protect you from potentially malicious or unsafe downloads. See the Mozilla blog posts, 'Enhancing Download Protection in Firefox' and 'Improving Malware Detection in Firefox' for more information. If something is suspected, the download will not begin, but rather:
Potentially malicious downloads are detected using Google Safe Browsing Service. A red dot will appear on the Download arrow:
Click on the red-tagged Download arrow to open the Downloads panel. The file name will be displayed along with the warning message,
- This file contains a virus or malware.
Other files covered under download protection may be potentially unwanted downloads (explained in the Google Policy) that may make unexpected changes to your computer. Or, a download may not be malicious or unwanted but simply not commonly downloaded. A yellow dot will appear on the Download arrow:
Click on the yellow-tagged Download arrow to open the Downloads panel. The file name will be displayed with one of these warning messages:
- This file may harm your computer.
- This file is not commonly downloaded.
How do I handle unsafe downloads?
When you see a malicious file or other types of potentially unsafe files in the Downloads panel, click on the right-facing arrow to choose what to do with the file, as shown in this example:
You will be given more information about the type of unsafe file and the option to open or remove the file:
Tip: The (right-click) context menu includes other options for handling any potentially harmful or malicious files listed in the Downloads panel that are pending download:
For example: Right-clickHold down the control key while you click on one of the potentially unsafe files that are pending download and select Allow Download to save the file to your computer.
You can check on past downloads at any time. Click on the Downloads button (alternatively, click the Library button and then click Downloads) to open the Downloads panel. The Downloads panel displays your three most recently downloaded files, along with its size, source and download time.
You can manage your files directly in the Downloads panel or in your library. Options will appear to the right of each file during each stage of the download.
- Pause: You can pause any downloads currently in progress by right-clickingpressing Ctrl and clicking on the file and selecting Pause. When you want to continue downloading the file, right-clickpress Ctrl and click the file entry and select Resume.
- Cancel : If you no longer need to download a file, click the X button at the right of the file entry. This button turns into a refresh symbol; click it again to restart your download.
- Open the file: When a download has finished, you can click on the entry directly to open the file.
- Open Containing Folder : Once a file has finished downloading, the icon to the right of the file entry becomes a folder. Click the folder icon to open the folder that contains that file.Show In Finder : Once a file has finished downloading, the icon to the right of the file entry becomes a magnifying glass. Click the magnifying glass icon to show that file in the Finder. To set the folder where your downloads go, see Change where downloads are saved, below.
- Go to Download Page: Right-clickPress Ctrl and click on the file to bring up the menu. Choose this option to visit the webpage where the file came from.
- Remove the file's entry: If you do not wish to keep a record of a particular download, simply right-clickpress Ctrl and click the file entry, then select Remove From History. This will remove the entry from the list but will not delete the file itself.
- Retry a Download : If for any reason a file does not finish downloading, click the button to the right of the entry - a refresh symbol - to retry.
- Clear Downloads: Click the button at the top of the Library window to clear the entire history of downloaded items. This will not delete the downloaded files.
File downloads are saved in the folder specified in Firefox OptionsPreferences. To change that folder:
- Click the menu button and select ..
- In the General panel, find the Downloads section under Files and Applications.
- Click the button next to the Save files to entry.
- Choose the downloads folder you wish to use.
You can change what applications are used for handling downloads while browsing the Web:
- Click the menu button and select ..
- In the General panel, scroll down to the Applications section.
- Click on the arrow under the Action column for the file type you wish to change and select the viewer you wish to use from the drop-down menu.
- Note that PDF files are viewed in Firefox by default.Note that some file types (XML, PDF, SVG, WebP Image) are opened in Firefox by default.
For more information, see Change what Firefox does when you click on or download a file.
What is the bin folder?
Although it might sound like it, this is not the Trash. Bin is another hidden folder.
When operating systems, such as macOS — and Mac OS X before that — are constructed using a Linux system directory, certain files and folders are hidden on purpose. Almost every operating system will hide things that the majority of users don't need. It is the same as an architect and builder placing plumbing and wiring behind a wall: it looks better and the last thing you want is to accidentally damage the operating system that keeps your house functioning smoothly. Sky go wont download on mac.
For most people, it is enough to know that the plumbing and wiring is working smoothly and that they can call a professional should something go wrong. With an Apple operating system, hidden folders and files are routes that power users take to tweak and modify a Mac, to improve how it performs, and solve any problems should anything go wrong.
Accessing the bin folder is another way to take a look at potentially make changes to license and configuration files. Now, if you ever want to make changes to hidden files and folders without digging around in system directories, there is an easier and quicker way. Download an app like CleanMyMac X to uncover space within hard drives. Using its Space Lens feature, This program can show you what is taking up space and help you delete anything you don't need.
However, if you are keen to take a look under the hood manually, here is how to access the bin folder.
Download Folder On Mac
Ways to access the bin folder?
Method 1: Find the bin folder through the Finder
- Open Finder
- Press Command+Shift+G to open the dialogue box
- Input the following search:
/usr/local/bin
- Now you should have temporary access, so you should be able to drag it into the Finder favorites if you want to access it again.
Another way to find the bin folder is through Terminal.
Method 2: Finding the bin in Terminal
- Launch Terminal; which you can find in /Applications/Utilities
- Enter this command in Terminal:
chflags nohidden ~/usr/local/bin
- Click Return. Make sure the command is executed.
- Quit Terminal. The bin folder should be visible in the Finder.
- If you ever want to restore this to how it was before enter the following command in Terminal:
chflags hidden ~/usr/local/bin
- Click Return again and it should be back to how it was.
Only attempt this method if you are comfortable using Terminal. Remember, using Terminal can make significant changes to your macOS systems and files, so only make these sort of changes if you’re confident in the instructions you are inputting. This way, you should have temporary access to the bin folder to make any changes that are needed.
Pro Tip: If you find yourself running short of storage on your Mac, clear out your downloads folder. Everything you’ve ever downloaded, that you’ve not moved somewhere else, or copied, is sitting in that folder. Going right back to when you got your Mac. Imagine how much room that is taking up! Especially when it contains zip folders, videos, images and app downloads.
Another way to access hidden directories
There are many apps that allow you to gain access to hidden files, folders and directories. One of such is Daisy Disk, another CleanMyMac X. I prefer CleanMyMac better because of nice visualizations. You can click the 'Space Lens' tool and see the entire folder tree of your Mac. This reveals many hidden folders and things you may have long forgotten.
I downloaded the free version of CleanMyMac X here.
After you get the app you need to click the 'Space Lens' tab.
From there, just click on bubbles to dive deeper into folders that are sorted by colors and categories. Quite exciting, really.
Accidentally Deleted Downloads Folder Mac
That's all you need to know about finding the Bin folder on Mac. Stay tuned for more Mac tips!