How to Change the Download Location in All Web Browsers

Using File Explorer on Windows

Press ⊞ Win+E to open File Explorer ((windows|explorer}}. File Explorer has an icon that resembles a folder with a blue clip. You can click the File Explorer icon or use the keyboard shortcut to open File Explorer. You can change the default download location for your Windows downloads in File Explorer. On Mac, you can't change the default download location across the entire system, but you can change the default location in Safari and the Mail app.

Right-click Downloads and click Properties. You can find the Downloads folder in the Quick Access menu in the menu bar to the left. Right-click the Downloads folder and click Properties at the bottom of the context menu.

Click the Location tab. The Location tab is at the top of the Properties menu.

Click Move. It's the middle button below the bar that contains the path to the Downloads folder.

Select the folder you want to use as your default download location. Navigate to the folder you want to save your files to. Click the folder to select it and then click Select Folder in the bottom-right corner.

Click Apply. This confirms the download location and sets it as the default location for all your downloaded files. If prompted, click Yes to confirm the new location.

Using Google Chrome

Click the Menu icon ⋮. It's the button with three dots in the upper-right corner.

Click Settings. It's near the bottom of the menu. This opens the Settings menu in a new tab.

Click Downloads. It's near the bottom of the menu bar on the left side. It's next to an icon that resembles an arrow pointing down over a tray.

Click Change. It's next to the bar that says "Location."

Select the folder you want to use as your default download location. Navigate to the folder you want to save your files to. Click the folder to select it and then click Select Folder in the bottom-right corner. This changes the default download location for the files you download using Google Chrome. Alternatively, you can click the toggle switch next to "Ask where to save each file before downloading." This will prompt you to select a location and a file name every time you download a file using Google Chrome.

Using Microsoft Edge

Click the menu button ⋯. It's the button with three dots in the upper-right corner. This displays the menu.

Click Downloads. It's in the menu next to an icon that resembles an arrow pointing down over a line. This displays your downloads list at the top of the page.

Click the menu button in the Downloads window ⋯. It's the icon that resembles three dots in the upper-right corner of the Downloads window. This displays a separate menu for your downloads.

Click Download settings. It's next to an icon that resembles a gear in the Downloads menu.

Click Change next to "Location." It's the first option below the "Downloads" header.

Select the folder you want to use as your default download location. Navigate to the folder you want to save your files to. Click the folder to select it and then click Select Folder in the bottom-right corner. This changes the default Download location for the files you download using Microsoft Edge. Alternatively, you can click the toggle switch next to "Ask me what to do with each download." This will prompt you to select a download location and give the file a file name each time you download a file with Microsoft Edge.

Using Firefox

Click the menu button ☰. It's the icon with three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner.

Click Settings. It's near the bottom of the menu.

Scroll down and click Browse next to "Save files to." It's in the "Files and Applications" section below the "Downloads" header.

Select the folder you want to use as your default download location. Navigate to the folder you want to save your files to. Click the folder to select it and then click Select Folder in the bottom-right corner. This changes the default download location for the files you download using Firefox. Alternatively, you can click the checkbox next to "Always ask you where to save files." This will prompt you to select where you want to download a file and give it a file name every time you want to download a file.

Using Safari on Mac

Click Safari. It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Click Settings. It's in the drop-down menu that appears when you click "Safari."

Click the General tab. It's the tab that has an icon that resembles a gear at the top of the Settings menu.

Click the drop-down menu next to "File download location." This displays a pop-up menu with two options.

Click Other. This allows you to select a different location for the files you download using Safari. Alternatively, you can click Ask for each download." This will prompt you to select a download location each time you download a file using Safari.

Select the folder you want to use as your download location. Navigate to the folder you want to download your files to. Click the folder to select it and then click Select in the lower-right corner. This changes the default download location for the files you download using Safari. You can also click New Folder to create a new folder for your downloads.

Using Mail on Mac

Click Mail. It's in the menu bar at the top.

Click Settings. It's in the menu that appears when you click "Mail" in the menu bar at the top.

Click the General tab. It's the tab that has an icon that resembles a gear at the top of the Settings menu.

Click the drop-down menu next to "Downloads folder." This displays a menu.

Click Other. This allows you to select a different folder for the files and attachments you download using Mail.

Select the folder you want to use as your download location. Navigate to the folder you want to download your files to. Click the folder to select it and then click Select in the lower-right corner. This changes the default download location for the files you download using Mail.