Tired of your Chrome downloads either cluttering your desktop or disappearing in a folder you have to hunt down again and again? Find out here how to change the default downloads folder in Google Chrome.
First, Make a Big Pile
Pile up snow in the form of a dome higher than the tallest person around. Now wait.
Waiting allows the piled snow to settle and its crystals to bond. After some two hours, the snow is ready for digging—and so are you, I hope.
Dig first a tunnel as an entrance, slightly lowered into the surrounding snow if possible; then hollow out the dome-shaped pile to also be a dome inside with a wall some 25 cm (10 inches) thick all around. The quinzee is ready for shelter from the snows and cold.
So, this is where we are going to go when it has snowed. With that settled, let’s also agree on where files should go in Chrome when they have downloaded:
How to Change the Folder Where Downloads Are Saved in Google Chrome
Time needed: 2 minutes
To pick the folder where downloaded files are saved by default in Google Chrome:
- Click the three dots Google Chrome menu button.
- Select Settings from the menu.
Mac keyboard shortcut: On a Mac, you can press Command , (comma) to open Chrome settings.
- Go to the Downloads category.
Chrome shortcut: You can open
chrome://settings/downloadsin Chrome to go to Downloads settings directly. - Click Change for Location under Downloads.
- Go to the folder you want to use for downloads.
Highlight: You can also select a folder in its parent.
- Click Select or Select Folder.
How to Change the Folder Where Downloads Are Saved in Google Chrome: FAQ
Can I save an individual download to a different folder?
Yes.
To save an individual linked file or document to a folder different from your default Chrome download location:
- Click on the link with the right mouse button.
- Select Save link as… from the context menu that has appeared.
- Navigate to the folder in which you want to save the download.
File name: You can also change the default file name, but you need not do so. - Click Save.
How can I open the downloads folder quickly?
To open the folder used for a specific download quickly from Google Chrome:
Using the Toolbar
- Click Downloads in the Chrome toolbar.
- Hover of the downloaded file in the list.
- Click the Show in folder icon that appears as you hover.
Using the Download History
- Select Downloads from the Chrome three-dots menu.
Chrome keyboard shortcut: You can also press Ctrl J (Windows and Linux) or Command J (Mac) to open the download history. - Click the three dots menu icon for the file you are trying to locate.
- Select show in folder from the context menu.
Can I change the default downloads folder in Chrome for Android or iOS?
No.
In the Chrome apps, you can use the respective OS’s Files app to manage, find and open downloads. Chrome does not have default settings for its downloading location.
(How to change the default folder where downloads are saved tested with Google Chrome for desktop 126–131; first published July 2024, last updated December 2024)