This article explains how to change the Chrome default download folder, find a downloaded file, be prompted for where to save files, and adjust multiple file download permissions on a desktop Windows PC or Mac.

What to Know

  • In the Chrome Settings menu, select Advanced > Downloads  > Location > Change and select a new location. To specify a location each time, go to Settings > Advanced > Downloads > Ask where to save each file before downloading. To find a download, go to Menu > Downloads.

How to Change Chrome’s Default Download Folder

When you download files with the Google Chrome web browser, Chrome saves those files to a specific file folder. You can change this default download location to organize your downloads, free up space on your hard drive, or redirect downloaded files to an online storage service, such as Dropbox. It’s also possible to set up Chrome to ask you for a download location each time you download a file. To change the Chrome default download location:

  • Open Chrome and select the menu icon (the three vertical dots), and then choose Settings.
  • Select Advanced in the left pane.
  • Select Downloads.
  • Next to Location, select Change.
  • Navigate to the folder you want to use as the default download folder, then choose Select. Now, when you use Chrome to download a file, it is saved in the newly specified folder.

How to Find a File Downloaded From Chrome

To find where Chrome downloaded a file, open the searchable list of downloaded files. To access this list:

Open Chrome and select the menu icon (the three vertical dots), and then choose Settings.

Select Advanced in the left pane.

Select Downloads.

Next to Location, select Change.

Navigate to the folder you want to use as the default download folder, then choose Select. Now, when you use Chrome to download a file, it is saved in the newly specified folder.

  • Open Chrome and select the menu icon (the three vertical dots), then choose Downloads.
  • The keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+J (on Windows) or Option+Command+L (on a Mac).
  • A list of downloaded files and associated URLs display. To open a file, select the filename. It opens in your computer’s default application for the file type.
  • To delete a file, select the X next to the filename. It is removed from your list of downloaded files.

Have Chome Ask Where to Save a File

To bypass the default download folder and specify where to save files each time you download:

Open Chrome and select the menu icon (the three vertical dots), then choose Downloads.

The keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+J (on Windows) or Option+Command+L (on a Mac).

A list of downloaded files and associated URLs display. To open a file, select the filename. It opens in your computer’s default application for the file type.

To delete a file, select the X next to the filename. It is removed from your list of downloaded files.

  • Open Chrome and select the menu icon (the three vertical dots), and then choose Settings.
  • At the bottom of the screen, select Advanced.
  • Select Downloads.
  • Turn on the Ask where to save each file before downloading toggle. Chrome now asks you for a download location each time you download a file.

How to Change Multiple File Download Permissions in Chrome

To adjust whether Chrome asks if you want to download multiple files from the same website:

At the bottom of the screen, select Advanced.

Turn on the Ask where to save each file before downloading toggle. Chrome now asks you for a download location each time you download a file.

  • Open Chrome and select the menu icon (the three vertical dots), and then choose Settings.
  • Select Privacy and security from the menu on the left.
  • Select Site Settings under Privacy and Security.
  • Scroll down to Permissions and select the down arrow next to Additional permissions.
  • Select Automatic downloads.
  • Turn on the Ask when a site tries to download files automatically after the first file toggle.
  • Chrome now asks permission before downloading multiple files from a single site.

Select Privacy and security from the menu on the left.

Select Site Settings under Privacy and Security.

Scroll down to Permissions and select the down arrow next to Additional permissions.

Select Automatic downloads.

Turn on the Ask when a site tries to download files automatically after the first file toggle.

Chrome now asks permission before downloading multiple files from a single site.

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