The Internet is mainly for downloading files. You can find almost everything on the Internet, and you will most likely start downloading files from the first minutes of using your computer. Your operating system will try to keep all your downloads in one place, but in the end, the downloaded files may end up scattered all over your computer. Finding downloaded files quickly will save you a lot of time and headaches.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Find the Downloads folder in Windows
Step 1. Check your Downloads folder
Windows has a Downloads folder for each user, which are the default download directories for most programs. There are several ways to find your downloads folder:
- Click the Start button and select your username. In theory, you will see the Downloads folder in the window that opens.
- Open Windows Explorer by pressing ⊞ Win + E. The Downloads folder can be on the left side of the window under Favorites or Computer / This PC.
- Press ⊞ Win + R and enter shell: downloads. Press ↵ Enter to open the Downloads folder.
Step 2. Check other directories
If you've downloaded files using more than one program, chances are that your downloads are located elsewhere. Another popular place where your downloads can be stored is in the Documents or My Documents folder.
If you have an additional drive that acts as a file storage, check to see if there is a download folder there
Step 3. Search for the required file
If you know the name of the file you are looking for, you can quickly open it using the search. Press ⊞ Win and enter the file name. After a few seconds, it should appear in the search results.
Step 4. Open the downloaded files
Opening most of the files downloaded from the Internet is not difficult. However, there are files that can be difficult to open. To open such files, follow the advice in the articles below.
- "How to open MKV file"
- How to burn-an-ISO-file-to-DVD
- "How to extract a RAR file"
- "How to open a BIN file"
- "How to open a torrent file"
Method 2 of 4: Find Downloads on Mac
Step 1. Check your Downloads folder
MacOS has a Downloads folder for each user, which is the default download directory for most programs. There are several ways to find your downloads folder:
- Select the Downloads folder in the Dock.
- Open the menu Transition and select Downloads.
- Open a Finder search box. Press ⌥ Opt + ⌘ Cmd + L to open the Downloads folder.
Step 2. Check elsewhere
It happens that downloaded files will spread throughout your computer over time, especially if you use many different download programs. Other popular download locations include the desktop or the Documents folder.
If you have an additional drive that acts as a file storage, check to see if there is a download folder there
Step 3. Search for the required file
If you know the name of the downloaded file, you can quickly open it using the search. Open a Finder window and press ⌘ Cmd + F to open the search bar. Enter a file name and select it from the search results.
Step 4. Open the downloaded files
Opening most of the files downloaded from the Internet is not difficult. However, there are files that can be difficult to open. To open such files, follow the tips in the articles below.
- "How to open MKV file"
- How to burn-an-ISO-file-to-DVD
- "How to extract a RAR file"
- "How to open a BIN file"
- "How to open a torrent file"
Method 3 of 4: Managing Downloads in Chrome
Step 1. Open the Downloads list
You can open a list of recent downloads in Chrome by clicking the Menu button ⋮ and selecting Downloads, or by pressing Ctrl + J (for Windows) or ⌘ Cmd + J (for Mac).
Step 2. Review the list of recent downloads
Chrome keeps your download history for several weeks if not cleared. When you click on any item in the list, the computer will open it (if it still exists and its location has not changed). You can also click the Show in Folder link to open a folder with specific files.
Step 3. Open the Downloads folder
Click on the Downloads link in the upper right corner to open the folder where Chrome saves downloaded files. By default, this is the Downloads folder in your custom directory.
Step 4. Change the location of the Downloads folder for Chrome
Click the Chrome menu button ⋮ and select Preferences. Scroll to the bottom and click on the "Advanced" link. In the Downloaded Files section, you can set a new downloads folder in Chrome using the Change… button.
You can also specify whether the browser should always specify the download location
Method 4 of 4: Managing Downloads in Firefox
Step 1. Open the list of Recent Downloads
Click the down arrow button in the upper right corner of the Firefox window. Your latest downloads will be displayed. You can open any file (if it still exists) by clicking on it in the list. If you click on the folder icon next to a file, you will open the folder with the specific file.
Step 2. Open the "Download Library"
In the "Recent Downloads" list, click the "Show All Downloads" button. A window with the last downloaded files will open. You can use the search bar to find something specific.
Step 3. Change the location of the Downloads folder for Firefox
Click the Firefox menu button (☰) and choose Preferences. Click the General tab. In the "Files and Applications" section, you can change the folder for the downloaded files by clicking the Browse … button.