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How to Change Where Your Browser Saves Downloads

Set where future downloads go in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari, and learn what the setting changes on desktop and iPhone.
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To change where future downloads go, open your browser’s download settings and choose a new folder. Chrome and Edge offer a per-download prompt as well as a default folder; Firefox and Safari have their own controls. The setting is separate in each browser, and changing it does not move files you have already downloaded.

Choose a default folder or pick a location each time

A default folder sends future downloads to the same place. If you want to choose a destination for individual files, enable the browser’s “ask where to save” option where available. These are separate choices: changing the default does not automatically turn on a prompt. Download settings belong to each browser, so changing Chrome’s folder does not change Edge, Firefox, or Safari.

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Change the download location on a computer

Google Chrome

  1. Open Chrome and select More (the three-dot menu) > Settings > Downloads.
  2. Select Change beside the download location and choose a folder.
  3. To choose a destination for each download, turn on Ask where to save each file before downloading.

Google lists the usual download folders as Users<username>Downloads on Windows 10 and later, /Users/<username>/Downloads on Mac, and /home/<username>/Downloads on Linux. These are defaults, not required locations. See Google Chrome’s computer download instructions.

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Microsoft Edge

  1. Open Settings and more (the three-dot menu) > Settings > Downloads.
  2. Under Location, select Change and choose a folder.
  3. Enable the option to ask where to save each file if you want to choose a destination for individual downloads.

In a work or school environment, an administrator may set a download directory that overrides your preference. Microsoft’s policy documentation says this policy applies to Windows and macOS, not Android or iOS. See Microsoft’s Edge download-folder instructions and the DownloadDirectory policy reference.

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Mozilla Firefox

  1. Open the Firefox menu and choose Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Under Files and Applications, find Downloads and select Browse or Choose beside Save files to.
  4. Select the folder you want to use.

For more detail, see Mozilla’s Firefox download guide.

Safari on Mac

  1. In Safari, choose Safari > Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Use File download location to select a folder or configure Safari to ask where to save downloads.

Apple’s Safari General settings guide describes this control. Labels may vary slightly by app or operating-system version.

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Change Safari’s download destination on iPhone

  1. Open the iPhone Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps > Safari > Downloads.
  3. Choose iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or Other.

iCloud Drive stores downloads in its Downloads folder; On My iPhone uses the device’s local Downloads folder. Choose Other to select another available location. See Apple’s Safari settings guide for iPhone.

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What about Chrome on Android?

Do not assume the desktop Chrome steps apply to Android. Google’s Android help explains how to find and manage downloaded files in Chrome’s Downloads view and the Files app, including sharing, renaming, and deleting, but does not document a setting for changing the destination. Check the current app’s own settings for available options. See Google Chrome’s Android download help.

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Changing the setting does not move old downloads

A new folder applies to future downloads; files already saved stay where they are. To relocate them, move them separately in File Explorer, Finder, or your device’s file-management app. Chrome also documents dragging a completed download to a target location in its download list.

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