Where to Find Downloads on Mac

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Where to Find Downloads on Mac
Written by   Tanya Ellis
Published: October 14, 2025

In this article you will find the following:

You should find downloads on Mac easily by opening Finder, where the Downloads folder appears in the sidebar. Still can’t see it? Search for Downloads in Spotlight, or use the keyboard shortcut Option + Command + L for instant access to your misplaced content.

How to get to downloads on Mac?

There are several easy ways to get to downloads on a MacBook with no need for advanced Apple software to accessing files on a Mac:

  • Using Finder
  • Accessing from the Dock
  • Using the downloads shortcut in the Sidebar
  • Using Spotlight search
  • Searching in browser

A note from our experts: 

 

Before we start, we want to highlight our handy Mac cleaner tool. MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup is an Apple-supported feature that can free up space on your device by removing old or unnecessary downloads—no manual file hunting or purging required, as MacKeeper handles it for you.

 

Here’s how to tidy up your computer with MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup:

  1. Download and open the MacKeeper app.
  2. Click on Safe Cleanup.
  3. Press Start Scan.
  4. Once done, look through all the Logs, Cache, and Trash findings.
  5. Tick everything you want to remove, press Clean Junk Files, and Remove.
If you want to tidy up your Mac contents but don’t want to do it manually, then you can rely on MacKeeper to come to your rescue. Just open the app and click on Safe Cleanup. Then you just need to press Start Scan and just watch your junk, it’ll find scattered on your drive, ready for you to declutter.
Step 1. In MacKeeper, open Safe Cleanup and press Start Scan
Once your scan is done, you can look through all the junk and downloads that it’s been able to find. If there are any Logs, Cache, or Trash you no longer want or need, just tick and press Clean Junk Files. To confirm your actions, press Remove and watch your drive be rid of the junk in seconds.
Step 2. Tick all the junk you want to declutter, press Clean Junk Files > Remove

1. Using Finder

A reliable way to find your Downloads folder is by opening up a Finder window and making use of the Go function– this will list all the visible and hidden folder locations on your Mac.

 

Here’s how to open Downloads using Finder:

  1. Open a Finder Window.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Scroll down until you see Downloads.
A quick way to find your Downloads Folder if you can’t see it listed in your Locations list is to open a full Finder Window and click on Go. This will bring up every folder and location on your Mac. From there, you can scroll to Downloads and click on it to open the folder.
In a Finder Window, click on Go > Downloads to open the folder

2. Accessing from the Dock

Another method our team of Clario tech experts recommends is to go to Downloads on Mac directly from your Dock. You'll likely need to add the shortcut to your Dock first, as they won’t appear there automatically.

 

Here’s how to add the Downloads Folder location to your Dock for convenience:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Right-click where it says Downloads in your sidebar.
  3. Choose Add to Dock.
To be able to access your downloaded content without needing to go through Finder or manually searching through your folders, we recommend adding the location to your Dock. To do this, open Finder, right-click on Downloads, and select Add to Dock. Once you’ve added it, it’ll show up in your Dock, ready for you to access with one click on your mouse.
In Finder, right-click on Downloads and choose Add to Dock

An extra hint from us: 

 

Adding Downloads to Dock might be handy, but it doesn’t show how much space your files are taking up. If you want to know how to see how much space is left on your Mac, we invite you to learn how to access your Storage Settings and improve stability and processing speed of your computer.  

3. Using downloads shortcut in Sidebar

One of the quickest ways to see downloads on a Mac is through Finder. This gives you direct access to all your files in one location. It’s perfect if you want to locate your content quickly with ease.

 

Here’s how to easily find your Downloads in Finder:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Navigate to your sidebar and click on Downloads.
Locating your downloaded files via Finder is the easiest way to find your content. You just need to open Finder, which you can do from your Dock. Then look through the sidebar menu and press on Downloads when you see it to access all the content saved in that location.
In Finder, Downloads should be visible in the left-hand sidebar, ready for you to click on

We know how frustrating it can be when your Mac starts running slowly, as it could be a sign of too many apps and demanding processes. Our blog article, which covers how to see what is taking up space on Mac, will help you pinpoint large files that you can remove to help speed up your Mac’s processing.

4. Using Spotlight search

Not having any luck finding and accessing your Downloads in Finder? You can always try a quick Spotlight search. It’s popular with many Mac users as it finds content in seconds.

 

Here’s how to find Downloads via Spotlight search:

  1. Click on the magnifying glass icon.
  2. Type in Downloads.
  3. Look through the results until you see your Download Folder.
To open Spotlight search, begin by clicking on the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of your computer screen. In the search type in Downloads to find your folder, or if you’re looking for a specific item you've downloaded, type that instead.
Click on the magnifying glass icon and type in Downloads into the Spotlight search bar

5. Search in Browser

Sometimes, your downloaded files might not have gone further than your downloads queue in your browser. If that’s the case, we recommend opening your browser to check–in case any failed to save.

 

Here’s how to search and open your recent  downloads in a browser:

  1. Open Safari and click on the downwards-facing arrow.
  2. If it’s greyed out, head to View and click on Show Downloads.
To search in the browser for your downloads, open Safari and look for the downwards-facing arrow. Click on it and that’ll show you your recent downloads.
Step 1. In Safari, click on the downward-facing arrow to find your download
In case the downwards arrow is greyed out, you can click on View and then scroll down until you see Show Downloads. Once you click on it, you’ll see the same pop-up in the right-hand corner of your browser screen with recent downloads.
Step 2. Alternatively, click on View and press Show Downloads

Our helping hand for you: 

 

Now you know how to find your downloads; now they might need organizing. To help, our supporting blog on how to delete downloads on Mac will show you how to sort your downloads, remove clutter, and free up RAM.

How to set the download location on Mac?

It’s likely all your downloads are automatically being saved into a Downloads folder by default, but this location can be changed if you want it to auto-save your content elsewhere, like an external drive or a custom folder.

 

Here’s how you can configure your download location:

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Go to the menu bar and click on Safari > Settings...
  3. In General, go to the File download location.
  4. Press blue arrows to bring up the options, Ask for each download, and Other…
  5. From there, you can choose the location where to save your downloads.
To change the default location of your downloads, you’ll first need to open Safari browser settings.
Step 1. Open Safari settings
In your Safari Settings, click on General and look for where it says File download location.
Step 2. In general, go to the File download location
You can click on the blue arrows to alter where your files are saved once downloaded. You can tick the option to Ask for each download or choose a new place by selecting Other…
Step 3. Click on the blue arrows and change where to save your downloads by default

Finding your downloads on Mac with ease

The quickest solutions to help you find and view downloads on Mac are by utilizing Finder's sidebar or adding your Downloads Folder to your Dock. You can also rely on Spotlight search for even quicker navigation.

 

Still, every Mac user knows how quickly files can pile up. That’s why MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup is so useful. It can help you remove old downloads, unnecessary cache buildup, and clutter automatically. With just a few clicks, MacKeeper can free up vital space on your MacBook or iMac—keeping it fast without the hassle of manual cleanups.

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Written By

Tanya Ellis

Tanya is a versatile Blogger & Copywriter from the UK. With a diverse professional background, she has always been drawn to content creation, copywriting, and digital marketing.

Tanya is a versatile Blogger & Copywriter from the UK. With a diverse professional background, she has always been drawn to content creation, copywriting, and digital marketing.

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