Have you ever had a situation when you downloaded a program and then couldn’t find it on your computer? If yes, then I think it’s time for you to deal with this issue - after studying this lesson, you will forget about this problem once and for all, because... you will know where the files are downloaded.

Some novice users are sure that after downloading the file disappears somewhere. Others simply claim that they are unable to download. In fact, the reason is not a disappearance or inability, but a lack of understanding that before downloading you need to understand exactly where this file will be downloaded.

Remember - before you start downloading (uploading) a file, you need to know the specific location on your hard drive where the downloaded file will be placed. That’s why, let’s immediately figure out where the files we download go.

If there were no failures during the file download, our antivirus did not give any signals, and we are sure that the download was completed, then most likely the file was downloaded normally, and our task is to find it.

Most often, novice users download from the Internet using a browser (you probably have Opera, Firefox, IE or Chrome). More experienced users use special programs for this. But not all users know that any browser (or program) is initially configured to download files to a specific location.

Check these folders and most likely you will find your “lost” files there.

But it should be noted that these are very inconvenient places for storing information, since they are located in the same section as the operating system (Windows). If suddenly some kind of failure occurs in the system and it needs to be reinstalled, then all files in these folders will be deleted.

So I suggest doing the following: create a separate folder for all downloads (in a more secure location on your hard drive) and set your browser (or program) to download all files to that folder.

If you agree, then let's get started...

You can create a folder anywhere, but it is important that it is not a system partition (usually drive C). For example, you can create a folder in partition D, calling it “Internet Downloads”:

Now let's configure our browser so that all downloads end up in this folder. I'll show you how to do this using all major browsers as an example.

Opera

Launch Opera and go to browser settings. This can be done from the menu ( Tools - General Settings) or simply by pressing a key combination Ctrl +F12.

In the window that appears, go to the tab Advanced(1), then select item Downloads(2), then using the button Review…(3) find and select our folder (4):

After this, press the button Ok (5).

Setting up downloads in the browserFirefox

Launch Firefox, click the button at the top of the window Firefox and select the item Settings(or the same through the menu Tools - Settings):

In the window that opens, on the tab Basic(1) via button Review… Ok (4):

Setting up downloads in the browserInternet Explorer (version 9)

Launch IE and press the key combination Ctrl +J. In the window that appears, click the item Options bottom of the window:

And in the next window using the button Review…(1) find and select our folder, then press the button Ok (2):

Setting up downloads in the browserChrome

Launch Chrome and click the key icon in the upper right corner, and select the item in the drop-down menu Options:

In the Chrome browser settings buttons Ok no, because All settings are saved without confirmation, so there is no need to click anything else.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated!

Setting up downloads in the program Download Master

The same settings can be made in any download program (download manager). For example, in the Download Master program this is done through the menu item Tools - Settings:

In the window that opens, select the item in the left list Downloads(1) and using the button Change(2) find and select our folder (3), then press the button Ok (4):

That's all! Now you won't lose a single downloaded file.

Having downloaded a file from the Internet for the first time, a novice computer user usually faces the problem of finding it on his PC. If you yourself are extremely simple, you just need to click on the link on the “Download” or “Download” website to initiate the download, then finding the download for a computer kettle is somewhat difficult. Let's look at where to find downloaded files from the Internet on your computer. All methods of finding are given using the example of Windows 7, as the most common OS at the time of publication of the material.

Looking for the downloaded file using Windows Explorer

Another way to open File Explorer is to call up the context menu by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting " Open File Explorer».

In the left navigation bar of File Explorer there is " Downloads", opening which you can find the file(s) downloaded from the Internet.

This is not the most convenient way to find it, because... it assumes that the user knows the name of the downloaded file. Usually the user does not try to remember the name, especially since the names of objects downloaded from the Internet often have strange and long names. However, let's look at this method too.

Downloads folder in browsers

Files are usually downloaded using , which by default puts the downloaded content in the “ Downloads", which we discussed above. This folder is located on the system drive, and experienced users designate a different location for downloading, specifying a folder for downloaded files on another one, so as not to clutter the partition with the operating system and programs. Let's also assign a folder for downloading. Let's look at the example of the three most popular browsers at the moment.

Now the files downloaded from the Internet will be located in the location you specified. If in the location settings you move the switch " Always indicate the download location» to the right, then when you start downloading, the browser will always ask you to indicate the location where the file will be saved.

In the Windows operating system, when browsing the Internet in the same Google Chrome browser, or any other browser, downloaded files are automatically saved to the folder Downloads. It is located along the following path: C:\Users\*Your_Username*\Downloads.

It may accumulate a lot of important data that you would not want to lose, say, if you are forced to suddenly reinstall Windows, or it may become clogged with large files, seriously reducing the free space on the C drive if its volume is small. The reasons for changing the storage location of the "Downloads" or "Downloads" folder may be different, but this does not matter.

To move the Downloads folder to another drive, open your user folder:
C:\Users\*Your_Username*\
or
C:\Users\*Your_Username*\

The folder is located in this user folder Downloads. Right-click on it and open Properties.

In the properties window, go to the tab Location.

Here we will see the current location of the downloads folder. To change the storage location to another, press the button Move.

In the dialog that opens, select a new location. Moreover, you need to select a new empty folder, and not the current one with any files.

After that all you have to do is press Apply and in a new window confirm making changes to the system.

You can return everything to its original state in the same way.

Many novice computer users are wondering how to change where they download files from the Internet so as not to search for them in all folders on the computer. Today I will tell and show you how to create your own folder on your desktop for downloading all files from the Internet, and how to configure your browser so that all these files end up in it.

When you download files from the Internet, by default they end up in a special folder, which is located in a not very convenient place. In different versions of Windows, these folders are called differently and are also located in different places.

In Windows XP, this folder is called Downloads and was usually located either among the system files or in the My Documents folder. Everything depended on the build of the operating system. In Windows Vista/7/8/10 this folder is called Downloads and is also hidden. You can find it through Explorer.

It always amazes me how newbies still manage to find their downloaded files. Why did the developers put this folder somewhere far away? Unclear. And we will create our own download folder and place it on the desktop.

Right-click on a field free of files and in the drop-down list, select Create a folder.

Rename it as you wish. I usually call her " Downloads" Now let's change the appearance of this folder so that it is visible. To do this, right-click on this folder and select at the very bottom Properties.

In the window Properties go to the tab Settings, go down to the very bottom, and click on the " Change icon».

Select the folder icon you like and click the button OK, Then Apply, and close the window Properties.

Now go to your browser. I will show the folder settings in four of the most popular ones: Google Chrome, Opera, Mozilla Firefox and Yandex.

In the browserGoogle Chrome

Let's start with the Google Chrome browser. In the upper right corner, click on the three horizontal stripes

And choose Settings

On the settings page, go to the very bottom and click on the link Show advanced settings, and look for a block Downloaded files.

Click on the button Change

Now you can close the settings window and all files will be downloaded to our folder.

In the browserOpera

In the upper left corner, click on the Menu button with the browser icon, and select the item Settings. You can open this menu with hotkeys Alt+P

On the settings page we find the block Downloads, click on the button Change, and indicate our folder.

In the Mozilla Firefox browser

In the upper right corner, click on the three horizontal stripes or at the very bottom of the browser window, select the gear icon Settings.

On the Basic tab, find the block Downloads, click on the button Review, and indicate our download folder.

In the Yandex browser

In the upper left corner, click on the three horizontal stripes and go to record Settings.

On the settings page, go to the very bottom and click on Show advanced settings button. We go down below and find a block Downloaded files, and press the button Change.

In the file selection window, find your folder and indicate it.

This is how you can create your own folder and change the location where you download files from the Internet.

Watch a video on this topic:

Many of us prefer not only to watch movies, read text, listen to music on the Internet. I would also like to download this to my computer or laptop. But where to find downloaded files can be somewhat difficult in some cases.

Although many are gradually abandoning this idea, realizing that any information can be found on the Internet again and again. But, firstly, the Internet is not yet available everywhere. Secondly, Internet access is not always cheap or free. Thirdly, you just want to have your favorite files on your PC or laptop. I want it, and that’s it.

Therefore, the task of downloading is relevant. It seems like it was downloaded, but where did it all go, where can I find the downloaded files? The problem has arisen.

Let's look at 3 (three) ways to find downloaded files from the Internet on your computer:

  1. using Explorer, which is available on computers with the Windows operating system,
  2. via "Search"
  3. using the "Downloads" folder that is found in every browser.

Let's start searching for files using Explorer. This method is suitable for those who have the Windows operating system installed on their computer.

1 Explorer for searching files downloaded from the Internet

Open Explorer. In Windows 7, Explorer is located next to the button:

Rice. 1. Downloaded files from the Internet are located in the “Downloads” folder in Explorer

There is a “Downloads” folder in Explorer (1 in Fig. 1). If you click on it, then in this you can see downloaded files from the Internet.

2 “Search” line to search for the downloaded file

On a computer, the “Search” line can be found, for example, in Windows 7 in the “Start” menu.

Rice. 2. “Search” line to find the downloaded file

1 in Fig. 2 – click “Start”.
2 in Fig. 2 – in the “Search” line you need to enter the name of the file downloaded from the Internet.
3 in Fig. 2 – file search results.

If the file name in “Search” is entered more or less reliably, then it is very likely that the file will be found as a result of the search.

There is no doubt: searching for a file by its name is a convenient service on your computer. But who remembers the name of a file once downloaded on the Internet?

I will take the liberty of saying that most users do not remember it. In addition, files downloaded from the Internet may have strange names that are impossible not only to remember, but even to understand, some kind of gobbledygook. Therefore, we move on to the next method of searching for a file on your computer downloaded from the Internet.

3 “Downloads” folder in different browsers and how to change it

A browser is usually used to access the Internet. Using a browser, users access social networks and visit various sites. Therefore, files from the Internet (pictures, songs, videos, etc.) are most often downloaded through a browser. The browser has a “Downloads” folder in which you can find downloaded files from the Internet.

Below we will look at how to find the “Downloads” folder in the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Yandex Browser, Internet Explorer browsers, as well as how to change the standard download folder for downloaded files to a convenient folder.

So, we will look for downloaded files in the browser, in the “Downloads” folder. To do this, you usually need to go to the menu of any browser and find the “Downloads” option there.

1 in Fig. 3 – in the Google Chrome browser, in the upper right corner, click on the “Customize and manage Google Chrome” menu button.
2 in Fig. 3 – a menu will open in which you need to click on the “Downloads” option.

Rice. 3. Downloads folder in Google Chrome browser

By clicking on the “Downloads” option, we will see the downloaded files.

How to delete download history in Google Chrome?

To delete something unnecessary, just click on the cross next to the irrelevant file:

Rice. 4. Downloaded files in the “Downloads” folder in Google Chrome

In the browser settings there is a “Personal Data” tab, and in it there is a “Clear History” button. This way you can quickly delete the history of downloaded files over a period of time:

  • in the past hour,
  • for yesterday
  • over the past week,
  • for the last 4 weeks, for all time.

This deletes the list of files downloaded using Google Chrome. The files themselves remain on the computer.

How to change the Downloads folder in Google Chrome

By default, in the Google Chrome browser, files are saved in the following folders:

  • Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8: \Users\<имя_пользователя>\Downloads
  • Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\<имя_пользователя>\My Documents\Downloads
  • Mac OS: /Users/<имя_пользователя>/Downloads
  • Linux: /home/<имя пользователя>/Downloads

To change the Downloads folder, open the Google Chrome settings (3 in Fig. 3). At the end of the settings page, click on the “Show additional settings” button and in the additional settings we find the “Downloaded files” option (1 in Fig. 5).

Rice. 5. You can change the location of downloaded files in Google Chrome

If you click on the “Change” button (2 in Fig. 5), the “Browse Folders” will open. In this review you can

  • use the slider (3 in Fig. 5) to find the desired download folder,
  • or create a new download folder (4 in Fig. 5).

After selecting a new download folder, do not forget to click on “OK”.

Screenshots are shown for the Google Chrome 55.0.2883.87 browser.

  • To do this, in the “Downloads” folder, you need to right-click on the file icon (but not the link). Or, on the touch screen, hold your finger on the file icon a little longer. A context menu for the file should appear that contains a list of all valid actions for that file.
  • From this menu, you should click the “Save As” option (for example, maybe “Save Picture As”).
  • The “Save As” window will open, in which you need to find a folder to save the file from the downloads in another location. Instead of a folder, you can select Desktop. Although you need to understand that cluttering the desktop on your computer with files downloaded from the Internet is not a good idea.
  • Once you have decided on the save location, you can change or leave the file name the same.
  • Now that the file storage location (folder) and file name are determined, click the “Save” button in the “Save As” window.
  • You can make sure that the file is saved in a place where it can be easily found later. To do this, find the file in a new location. You can check that it opens and everything is OK with it.
  • You can now remove the duplicate of this file from your Downloads folder.

Where are the downloads in Yandex Browser?

Yandex Browser has the same engine as the Google Chrome browser, so the settings of these browsers have a lot in common.

In Yandex Browser, in the upper right corner, click on the “Yandex Browser Settings” menu (1 in Fig. 6), and in the menu that appears, click on the “Downloads” option.

Rice. 6. Downloads in Yandex.Browser

Open “Downloads” and see the downloaded files. Move the mouse cursor to the downloaded file and click on button 1 in Fig. 7, or you can right-click (right mouse button) on the file. A list of operations that can be applied to the downloaded file will appear. For example, you can delete the file (2 in Fig. 7).

Rice. 7. What can you do with downloaded files in Yandex Browser

Screenshots are shown for Yandex browser version 17.1.0.2034.

How to change the Downloads folder in Yandex Browser

To change the standard Downloads folder in Yandex Browser to another folder, you need to open “Settings” (3 in Fig. 6).

Then on the settings page, click “Show additional settings” and there find the “Downloaded files” option, which has the same as for the Google Chrome browser (Fig. 5).

Opposite the “Downloaded files” option, click on the “Change” button and select the appropriate folder to save the downloaded files.

Downloads folder in Mozilla

Rice. 8. Downloads in Mozilla

The Mozilla Downloads folder looks like a down arrow (1 in Fig. 8). You can click on this arrow and a drop-down menu will appear.

2 in Fig. 8 – By clicking the “Show all downloads” option, we will see all the downloaded files in the Mozilla browser.

To change the default Downloads folder in Mozilla to a different folder,

click “Open menu” (1 in Fig. 9),
then “Settings”, the “Basic” window will open.

You can click on the “Browse” button (2 in Fig. 9) and select another folder so that the downloaded files are saved in it:

Rice. 9. Change the “Downloads” folder for downloaded files in Mozilla

Screenshots are for Mozilla browser version 50.1.

Downloads folder in Opera

Rice. 10. “Downloads” folder in the Opera browser

To find downloaded files in Opera:

1 in Fig. 10 – click “Menu” in the upper left corner of the Opera browser,
2 in Fig. 10 – open “Downloads”.


How to change the download folder in Opera

To change the download folder for downloaded files from the Internet, click “Settings” (3 in Fig. 10). Then, in the “Downloads” tab, opposite “Download folder”, click on the “Change” button and select another folder to upload the downloaded files.

Screenshots for Opera browser version 42.0.2393.137.

Where are the downloads in Internet Explorer?

Rice. 11. Downloads in Internet Explorer browser

To find downloaded files in Internet Explorer:

1 in Fig. 11 – click “Service” in the top menu,
2 in Fig. 11 – click “View downloads”.

Screenshots for Internet Explorer browser version 11.0.9600

What can you do with the files in your Downloads folder?

Video version of the article “Where to find downloaded files from the Internet on your computer”