When you download a file from the Internet, it is saved in your operating system's downloads folder. Additionally, there is a record of it in your Internet browser. When a file is in the downloads folder, it can take up unnecessary storage space. Also, as it shows the files you've downloaded, it could be a security or privacy risk. To clear your downloads folder or download history, click a link in the list below and follow the instructions.

• To choose to download a linked file (and some webpage items can’t be downloaded, in Safari click the Show Downloads button near the top-right corner of the web browser window. If there are no downloads, the button won’t appear. If files are currently being downloaded, you can use the button to pause and resume them. The author Dennis Sellers.
• Mar 14, 2021 The Downloads folder is aptly named. It’s where your Mac stores files downloaded by Safari, attachments you download from Messages, and where many other apps save files when you download them from the internet or other devices on a local network.
• 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.

Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10

To clear the files in the Downloads folder in Windows, follow the steps below.

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Downloads, and press Enter.
2. In the window that opens, highlight all the downloaded files using your mouse or press Ctrl+A. If you do not want to delete all files only select the downloaded file you want to delete.

Within your finder window, you'll usually find 'Downloads' as one of the options on the far-left side: The above screenshot shows OS X 10.7 'Lion'. If you're using 10.6 'Snow Leopard' or 10.5 'Leopard' the icons will look a bit different, but the finder's overall function and layout is the same. If you can't find 'Downloads' under 'Favorites. Copy the download folder as it is now to the second hard drive. Delete the current contents of the download folder, and then drag the folder from the dock. Drag the downloads folder from the second drive to the dock to create the dock 'shortcut'. I have also down the same with the documents folder.

3. Press Delete to send the files to the Recycle Bin.
4. To permanently delete the files, right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin in the drop-down menu that appears.

If there isn't a Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, you can restore it. For help with getting the Recycle Bin back, see: Missing Windows desktop Recycle Bin icon.

macOS and Safari

To clear the files in the Downloads folder on your Mac computer, follow the steps below.

As it's built in to macOS, these steps are the same for those using the Safari browser.

1. Select Finder from the Dock at the bottom of your desktop.

2. In the window that opens, select Downloads from the list on the left side of the screen.

3. Right-click each entry and select Move to Trash in the drop-down menu.

You may also clear download history entries by highlighting them and pressing Delete.

Google Chrome

To clear the files in the Downloads folder for Google Chrome, follow these steps.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser.
2. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome button in the upper-right corner of the screen.
3. Select Downloads from the drop-down menu that appears.
4. In the new window that opens, click next to each entry you want to remove.
5. To clear all entries, click the More actions icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and select Clear all.

In Chrome, press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+Shift+J (macOS) to view a list of your downloaded files.

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Mozilla Firefox

To clear the files in the Downloads folder for Firefox, follow these steps.

1. Open the Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. Click the Library icon near the upper-right corner of the screen.
3. Select Downloads in the menu that appears.

4. At the bottom of the expanded menu, click Show All Downloads.

5. You may delete each file individually using the Delete key. To remove them all at once, right-click in the downloads section and select Clear Downloads in the drop-down menu.

In Firefox, press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (macOS) to view a list of your downloaded files.

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Microsoft Edge

To clear the files in the Downloads folder for Microsoft Edge, follow these steps.

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
2. Click the Settings and more icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
3. In the drop-down menu, select Downloads.
4. You can remove files individually by clicking the icon, or delete all files by clicking Clear all.

In Edge, press Ctrl+J to view a list of your downloads.

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Microsoft Edge Legacy

To clear the files in the Downloads folder for Microsoft Edge Legacy, follow these steps.

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
2. In the upper-right corner, select the Hub button.
3. Click the icon that looks like a down arrow.
4. You can delete each file individually by clicking next to the file entry, or click Clear all to delete all files.

In Edge Legacy, press Ctrl+J to view a list of your downloads.

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

To clear the files in the Downloads folder for Internet Explorer, follow these steps.

1. Open the Internet Explorer browser.
2. Click the Gearicon in the upper-right side of the window.
3. Click View downloads in the drop-down menu that appears.
4. You may delete each file individually by clicking the X next to the file entry, or click Clear list to delete all files.

In Internet Explorer, press Ctrl+J to open your Downloads folder.

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Opera

Empty Downloads Folder Mac

To clear the files in the Downloads folder for Opera, follow these steps.

1. Open the Opera browser.
2. Click in the upper-left corner of the window.
3. In the drop-down menu that appears, select Downloads.
4. In the tab that opens, you may delete each entry individually by clicking the icon on the right side and selecting Remove in the menu. To delete all files, click the button in the upper-right corner.

In Opera, press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (macOS) to view a list of your downloaded files.

Mac Downloads Folder File Structure

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Mac Downloads Folder Missing From Finder