Add me to the list. I lost count how many items are in my downloads folder. Now I know cleaning that up helps the computer but also is very easy to do. 👏🏼
I run a background utility called Hazel. One function of Hazel is to maintain the Downloads folder. Anything that has been left in there for a set number of days will automatically get moved to the trash. A good portion of my downloads do not need to be preserved forever and I know I better properly file something that I do want to keep.
Hi Gary, I just wanna see how much I enjoy your videos and how useful they are. Every time I need to learn something on the Mac I try and search something up on your RU-vid channel. I’ve got probably 1000 or two items of files in my downloads folder. I’m trying to figure out how to go through these. Save what I want and delete the rest in a quick and easy process. It would be nice if you cover that. I’m assuming I just work by file type for instance, I know I don’t want to keep any CSV files, so I’ll sort my file types and just delete those immediately. That’s the only way I know to do it but if you have another idea, it would be great to hear from you. Thanks again.
Just work through them bit by bit. 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there. Don't rush it. There is no easy button when it comes to deleting files as you don't want to delete something you need. Then when you get to 0, keep it clean so the problem doesn't happen again.
I've never really minded my downloads folder having a lot of stuff in it, as i keep it in arrange by kind, sort by date. So when I need to move things to specify locations it's pretty easy to look through various items and figure out what needs to be moved where. Unfortunately arrange by kind on longer functions fully for some reason. and many things are just grouped as "other" so now it's just chaos 😅😑😮💨
Question... what happened to the 'Downloads' being listed when looking in finder? I noticed this disappeared a couple months ago after an ios update. I'm searching for where I can find the spot in preferences to make it appear again, but have not figured it out. Please reply with information. This is maddening and I can't help but think others are having this same problem. Thank you! Love your videos!!
Hello Gary. I’m a relatively new user on Mac’s. I have an old 2015 MacBook Pro (Big Sur 11.6.2) which works fine for me (so far). I keep coming back to your videos because they are to the point, not a lot of junk background music or other fluff, but most importantly because they are very informative. You do a good job instructing and with the up close graphics you use. Anyway, I came across this video and had to ask, where is the “show downloads button” you spoke of at 3:50. When I download stuff, I see it briefly with a little progress bar below it but then it disappears. How do I keep it up there so I can go back to what I've recently downloaded quickly? Thanks for the great videos, I’ll be looking forward to learning lots more from them. Mac (Yes thats my nickname, and yes I've had it since I was a windows user..haha)
Great detail in explaining. Question: What is the big deal if you keep things in "downloads" as opposed to moving to another folder (besides for the organization aspect of it) Wouldn't the items take up the same space no matter which folder they're in? Thanks in advance
I usually don't bother. Apps update regularly, so any installer you download would soon hold an old version of the app. If you need the app installer again later, get a fresh new copy from the developer's site.
Hi Gary, Another awesome video, thank you. I have a question base on how I might start downloading and saving files, lets say I download and save regular files or maybe files that contains program ( Application ) software updates into iCloud, and the main reason for this is because I want to be able to reach those files when I'm on the road with my MacBook, so the question is. Does some especial files need to be save in the internal hard drive of a specific device ( iMac/MacBook ) or those devices can reach those files saved in iCloud ?
The Downloads folder is in on iCloud Drive. So if you want to get to a file you downloaded on other devices, save it to iCloud Drive somewhere. Basically, treat the Downloads folder only as a temporary place to store a download and then move it into your organized folders in iCloud Drive.
Is there a way I can prevent downloads all together? I know I can restrict apps from the App Store with the screen time settings but I what to make share there is no way I can download Applications or anything through Safari or any browser extension. I appreciate your help. God bless.
Hi. Huge fan here. I learned so much fr your videos especially the tricks of iMovie. How do we remove/delete the “Others” files that’s eating up a lot of space on our storage? Thank you
Thanks. I wrote about that here: macmost.com/forum/how-do-i-delete-files-in-the-other-folder.html and also have a video that will help here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4E-sX1NxW9o.html
Thanks, Gary. Commenting on another old vid. I've always wondered why there are two Downloads folders, one on the Mac and one in iCloud. I have chosen to change all my defaults to using the iCloud Downloads folder. That way all my devices are saving to the same place, and I can access them from anywhere. Am I missing something?
Instead, just strive to have an empty Downloads folder. Why leave things in the Downloads folder at all? Download them, view them or file them in a proper place in the Documents folder if you want to keep them, and leave your Downloads folder empty waiting for the next download. Think of it as a temporary holding place, not a long-term storage location.
@@macmost Agreed, and I do strive to empty Downloads asap. I just thought that it made sense to have one Downloads folder to rule them all. Why have two? My Mac's desktop syncs in iCloud. Why not Downloads, too?
@@jacko601 Where is doesn't make sense is to have Downloads sync to iCloud at all. For instance, if you download an app installer for a Mac app, why does that need to be uploaded to iCloud and made available to your iPhone? If you download a PDF (say a user manual) then why does it matter if it is available in iCloud for the 1 minute it is in the downloads folder?
So a file you placed someone else and don't remember where it is? Just do a regular Finder search. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PHuKkqymFE8.html
It is there by default. But you can remove it, so you probably did that at some point. Just go to your Home folder so you see the Downloads folder. Then drag it to the Dock. See ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QpawDjhQIjM.html
How to sync my download folder to iCloud. Only Desktop and Documents shows a sync option. Apple support don’t know even though there is a download folder when you click on iCloud on the Mac in finder
@@271830066 Everything in iCloud Drive "syncs" to iCloud Drive. So just make your own Downloads folder and set Safari and other apps to use it instead of the Downloads folder in your Home folder.
@@macmost Once I selected my download folder in iCloud files were save there, but my current files on my desktop download files want sync to iCloud. I tried signing out of iCloud on my MacBook and then back in files still want sync to iCloud. Any suggestions
@@120Loop Confused by your message there, but if you want to sync the current contents of your Downloads folder to iCloud, just move those contents to your new iCloud Downloads folder. But also maybe consider only keeping things in any Downloads folder temporarily. File things away in your Documents folder if you want to keep them to stay organized.
It would depend on the app. Not sure what Zoom does (never had to download a file from there) but I would assume the right thing to do would be for the app to prompt you each time where to save.
Hey I need help with something but idk if u can fix it it is that my battery wifi and time bar thing is ALLL gone I accidentally deleted system ui folder can u tell me how to get it back? Please
There are video controls that will allow you to adjust the speed in increments from .25x to 2x. Look under the gear icon in lower right corner of the video. Hope that helps.
