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Troubleshooting, how to change safari download location on iphone & ipad.

Do you frequently download files from the web using Safari to your iPhone or iPad ? Have you ever wondered where all these files are stored, and if you can change the default download location? If you want to adjust the download location that’s used for Safari downloads on your iPhone or iPad, then read on.

With modern versions of iOS and iPadOS, Apple added a download manager to Safari to make it easy for users to download files from the web. Although downloading files from Safari is pretty straightforward like any other browser, you don’t get to choose the location when you’re trying to download a file.

By default, Safari downloads are stored in iCloud Drive, but you may want to store the downloads on your iPhone, or maybe a different cloud storage service like Google Drive.

Fortunately, changing the default location for file downloads is a lot easier than you think. We’ll cover how you can change Safari’s download location on your iPhone and iPad.

Before you go ahead with the following procedure, make sure your device is running a modern version of iOS or iPadOS, as Safari download manager isn’t available on older versions pre 13. Let’s take a look at the necessary steps.

Now you know how easy it is to change the default download location for Safari on iPhone and iPad.

From now on, any file you download using Safari will be stored in the new location you selected, whether it’s a directory on your iPhone, or Google Drive.

You can follow the same steps to revert back to your original download location at any time if you’d like to change back to the default download destination on the iPad or iPhone.

This is obviously aimed at Safari, but other browser apps like Chrome and Firefox have different methods for downloading files, and you may find it’s more challenging to get things from the web other than images or videos. This will likely change as web browsers evolve over time to gain more features, but for now if you wish to have a full download manager on iOS or ipadOS then using Safari is the way to go.

All of this is about the iPad and iPhone, but if you use a Mac as your primary computing machine, you may be interested in learning how you can change the default download location for Safari on macOS as well. You just need to head over to Safari Preferences and choose a specific folder as your download location, similar to how we did here on the mobile side of things. Or, if you use Google Chrome as the default browser on your Mac, you can learn how to change Chrome’s download location here on the desktop versions of the browser too.

We hope you were able to set a new destination or folder as the default download location for Safari on your iPhone and iPad. Did you change where to store the downloaded files locally on your device, or to use a different cloud storage service? What are your overall thoughts on Safari’s download manager? Share your valuable opinions and experiences in the comments section down below.

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I find it strange that one of the alternative places to save a download on my iPad Pro is OpenTerm, a Unix utility similar to the Mac Command Line, which I believe Apple removed from the App Store. However, Pocket Drive, a popular app which can be used as a repository for any file type, is not included. It even included HP Smart, another useful app. Apple should allow users to select from any of their capable apps. Of course I can open the app and download directly, but still…… ‘Jus ‘sayin…..

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How to change your Safari downloads folder on iPhone and iPad

By Charlie Sorrel • 1:00 pm, March 4, 2020

• Top stories

By default, Safari on iOS downloads all files to a folder in your iCloud. This means you can access those files from all your devices. But it also means those files fill up your iCloud Drive. Worse, every megabyte you download also gets uploaded back to iCloud, doubling your bandwidth usage.

Today we’ll see how to change the location of your Safari downloads folder in iOS 13.

How to change the Safari downloads folder

To change the downloads destination on your iPhone or iPad, head to the Settings app , and scroll down the left-hand list until you reach Safari . Tap that, and then tap Downloads . In this new screen, you’ll see three options for the download location: iCloud, On My iPhone, and Other…

To switch from iCloud storage to local storage, tap On My iPhone or Other… . If you tap Other…, you will see the familiar iOS file-picker, which lets you navigate to any folder on your device. Do this, tap Done , and you’ve chosen the new location.

The alternative is On My iPhone . The first time you tap this, you will also see the file-picker, but you can just ignore this and tap Done . In this case, your iPhone will automatically create a folder called Downloads on your iPhone, and use that. And that’s it. Now, whenever you download a file in Safari, it will be sent to this folder. You can come back and change the folder at any time.

What about Dropbox or other storage providers?

iOS 13 used to let you pick your Dropbox as a download destination, but now, according to my iPhone and iPad, this is no longer the case. When you install the Dropbox app on your iPhone or iPad, it creates a “storage provider.” These are the special folders that show up at the top of the sidebar in the Files app, the ones you have to switch on and off.

Any app can create a storage provider. This lets it expose and share its own internal storage with any other app. You used to be able to select any of these as a download destination, but now they are grayed out.

Manage your downloads via Safari

Finally, don’t forget that if you do want to make that downloaded file available to your other devices via iCloud, you just have to open up the Files app, and move the file into an iCloud folder. And you don’t even have to find the Files app and open it. You can just tap the download-list icon in Safari, then tap the magnifying glass next to your target file, and it will be revealed in the Files app.

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How To Change Location For Safari Downloads On iPhone And iPad

iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 bring a brand new Downloads Manager to Safari browser. This new feature makes it possible for iPhone and iPad users to download and manage multiple files on their iOS device, something that was not possible for before.

By default Safari will download and store files either in iCloud Drive or in the Downloads folder that is accessible through the Files app, however users are also given the choice to change the location where downloaded files are stored. By following a few simple steps users can change the location of their iPhone or iPad downloads and have them saved in a different folder on their iCloud Drive, Files app or even an SMB location .

How To Change Download Location On iPhone or iPad

You can choose a different folder or download location for Safari Downloads on iOS 13 or later by following the simple instructions below.

1. On your iPhone or iPad launch Settings and go to Safari Settings.

2. Once on the Safari Settings page tap on ‘Downloads’ option.

3. Tap on either iCloud Drive, On My iPhone or ‘Other…’ to choose another folder.

4. If you chose ‘Other’ option, then tap on ‘On My iPhone’, iCloud Drive or SMB location and then tap on the folder you want to save the downloaded files in. You can also create a new folder by tapping on the new folder button from top right side of the screen and then select it as your download location.

5. After choosing your desired folder simply tap on ‘Done’ button.

Doing so will change the target location for your downloads and save your downloaded files in that location.

As you may have noticed you also get the option to choose your SMB connected Mac as the download target, in which case files downloaded from an iPhone will automatically get stored on your Mac, which can be very helpful in different use cases.

• iOS 13 features
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Where to find downloads on your iPhone or iPad

If you download a file onto your iPhone or iPad from the internet, you can find it in your Downloads folder in the Files app.

Find downloads in the Files app

Open the Files app. Don't have the blue Files app icon on your Home Screen? Swipe down from the center of your Home Screen, then search for the Files app.

Tap the Browse tab.

Tap iCloud Drive.

Tap the Downloads folder to see your downloaded files.

If you just downloaded a file from Safari

Tap the Downloads button.

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

How to access downloaded files on iPhone and iPad

If you download files to your device from the internet often, then you’re used to the routine. You may have even changed your download location to a specific spot. But if you’ve never downloaded a file on iOS, then you’re probably wondering where those files went!

Here, we’ll show you how to access downloaded files on iPhone and iPad.

Access your downloads in Safari

If you use Safari as your browser of choice on iOS, then that’s the easiest spot to grab your downloads.

To open the Downloads Manager , tap the Show Downloads button in Safari’s toolbar, which looks just like it does on Mac. You can then select your file to open it or tap the magnifying glass to see it in its folder.

Note: In iOS 15, the Safari address bar is moved to the bottom. You will see the download icon in the bottom left unless you have reverted back to the old design .

If you don’t see the Show Downloads button, Safari may have already removed your downloads. Check the Remove Downloads setting in Settings > Safari > Downloads which can be set to After one day, Upon successful download, or Manually.

Access your downloads in the Files app

Your downloads on iPhone and iPad go to your Files app by default in a folder names Downloads. So if you’re unable to use Safari to see your downloads, just open Files > Browse , and in iCloud Drive , select the Downloads folder.

To pick a different location, see our tutorial for how to change where the downloaded Safari items are saved in iOS . And if you’re interested, take a look at how to change the Safari download spot on Mac too.

Are you going to catch up with all of those files and images you’ve downloaded now? And do you plan to change the location to a more convenient spot for future downloads on iOS? Let us know!

Related Safari tips:

• How to customize and personalize Safari on iPhone and iPad
• How to stop name, address, email, and payment autofill suggestions in Safari
• 4 quick ways to open Safari Private Tab on iPhone

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While surfing the web or accessing our email, we tend to download files on our iPhone and iPad. Initially, it all looks good. Eventually, with the files piling one after another, you start feeling the need to manage Safari downloads.

But wait… don’t rush to a third-party download manager. Managing your download, that too in a separate file manager app, is a tricky and daunting business. So, here’s good news, with iOS 13 and the changes made to Safari, you can manage your chaos (or should I say Downloads?) easily!

Here are some quick ways to manage your Safari downloads on your iPhone and iPad effortlessly. Let’s begin!

How to download files in Safari on iPhone

• Pause/Resume/Cancel your downloads in Safari 

Change default Safari downloads location on iPhone

Delete downloaded files in safari, auto-delete safari downloads on your iphone.

• Locate the file/item you want to download and tap it.
• Confirm download when prompted through the popup window.

Note : There’s also an alternate way to access your downloads. You can go to the Files application and select Downloads .

How to manage your downloads in Safari on the iPhone

Pause/resume/cancel your downloads in safari.

• Tap the download icon at the top right corner of Safari.
• Tap the ‘X’ symbol to pause or cancel your download.

Note : You can directly reach the downloaded location of a file by tapping the ‘ Search ‘ icon next to the file name.

• In the Settings app, tap Safari and select Downloads .

Note : iCloud Drive will let your downloads be available across all connected devices, whereas the iPhone/iPad option will only save the file to the respective device.

However, if you want to delete the file permanently, there are two ways to do it.

• Tap the arrow icon and swipe left the file you want to delete.

You can also choose to auto-delete files.

• Open the Settings app and tap Safari .

• Here, you have three options : After one day, Upon Successful Download, or Manually.

I hope the steps were quick, easy, and helpful. In case you have any other trouble, feel free to connect with me in the comments below. For further help related to the Safari browser, consider reading Dhvanesh’s guide on How to troubleshoot common Safari problems .

Read more: 

• How to install Safari extensions on Mac in just 4 easy steps
• Safari Not Opening t.co Short Links from Twitter? Quick Fixes
• Restore Deleted Safari Bookmarks on​ Mac
• How to disable Safari tab previews on Mac (Quick guide)

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Where Do Downloads Go in Safari on iPhone or iPad?

While browsing the web using Safari on your iPhone or iPad, you can download images, documents or PDFs by tapping links on websites. When you tap a link, a popup will appear saying, “Do you want to download ‘file.name’?” When you tap the Download option, the item will be downloaded onto your iPhone or iPad, and it will be saved to your default download location, which you can change.

It appears that some users are having trouble locating downloaded files. So how can you find them? Where is the Downloads folder?

Where to find Downloads in Safari

You can easily see the items that you have downloaded by tapping the AA icon at the left end of the Smart Search field in Safari and selecting Downloads, as you can see in the screenshot below. If you do not see the Downloads option, it means that your download list is empty. Depending on your settings, your list may be emptied automatically by Safari.

You may also notice a blue arrow. This blue arrow may appear next to the AA icon. This blue arrow icon indicates that you have recently downloaded an item.

As explained above, you can access the downloaded items in Safari. After you open Downloads, you can share, save, AirDrop, print or annotate the downloaded item. This is called the Downloads list. By default, this list will be emptied after one day. Note that just items in the list will be removed. Your downloaded file will still exist somewhere on your iPhone. There are a few settings you can customize.

Where are downloaded files saved on your iPhone or iPad?

By default, downloaded items will be saved in the Downloads folder in the Files app. This folder can be located in either iCloud Drive or On My iPhone. You can also change the location. Here is how:

• Open Settings .
• Tap Safari .
• Tap Downloads .
• iCloud Drive – Downloads. If you select this option, your downloaded items will be available on your other devices too, if you are signed in with the same Apple ID.
• On My iPhone or iPad – Downloads. If you select this option, your downloaded items will only be stored on your iPhone or iPad.
• Or tap Other to select another location of your choosing in iCloud or on your device.

How to customize when items are removed from the Downloads list

By default, Safari will remove an item from the list after one day. However, you can change this. Here is how:

• Tap Remove Download List Items .
• After one day : Your list will be cleared after one day.
• Upon successful download : This will make it so there will be no Downloads list in Safari. Any item you download will directly go to the download folder.
• Manually : This will make it so the list will stay intact unless you clear it. To clear it, open the Downloads List (tap AA, then Downloads in Safari), then tap Clear to delete all. If you want to delete individual items, swipe left and tap Delete.

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Dr. Serhat Kurt worked as a Senior Technology Director specializing in Apple solutions for small and medium-sized educational institutions. He holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from the University of Illinois at Urbana / Champaign and a master’s degree from Purdue University. He is a former faculty member. Here is his LinkedIn profile and Google Scholar profile . Email Serhat Kurt .

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How to Change the Download Location for Safari on Your iPhone

Are Safari downloads taking up all your iCloud storage? Follow these steps to save downloads to your iPhone instead.

All Safari Downloads on your iPhone go to the dedicated Downloads folder in the Files app. However, did you know that you can change the download location for Safari on your iPhone?

This article details a simple way of changing where Apple's Safari browser stores your iPhone downloads.

Why Do You Need to Change the Download Location in Safari?

Before jumping into the "how" to change the download location, you may need some convincing as to "why." The primary reason you might need to change the download location in Safari is to save storage on iCloud.

If you open the Files app, you'll realize the Downloads folder is under iCloud Drive and not On My iPhone . So whatever file you download, your iPhone will instantly upload it to your iCloud storage. That will easily gobble up your iCloud storage, especially if you're on the free 5GB plan. Sooner rather than later, you'll have to pay to upgrade your iCloud storage .

Another reason to change download location might be out of preference. Or, perhaps, because you have more than enough storage on your iPhone.

How to Change the Download Location in Safari on iPhone

Follow these steps to change the default download location in Safari on your iPhone:

• Open the Settings app.
• Scroll down and select Safari from the application list.
• Under General , select Downloads . This will take you to the Store Downloaded Files On: page, where you can change your download preferences.
• Tap On My iPhone to change your download location. Safari will now store downloads in a local Downloads folder.
• If you wish to select another folder on your iPhone, tap Other and select your folder of choice, then tap Done .

Safari will immediately start storing new files in your custom folder, but it won't move any existing downloads.

Read More: What Is the Reader View in Safari and How Do You Use It?

Store Safari Downloads in Your Folder of Choice

By default, Safari stores downloads in iCloud Drive. But it doesn't have to be so, especially if you don't plan to start paying for additional storage. Just follow the steps above and change your download folder.

If your iCloud storage has already taken a hit due to downloads, we have some tips on how to free up space.

How-To Geek

How to change the location of safari's download folder.

By default, when you download something using Safari, it gets saved in your Mac's main Downloads folder.

By default, when you download something using Safari, it gets saved in your Mac's main Downloads folder. If you'd rather save your files somewhere else, you can change the default save folder. Here's how to do it.

With Safari open, click the "Safari" menu and then click "Preferences."

On the General tab of the preferences window, click the "File download location" drop-down menu and then click "Other."

Browse to--or create-- a new folder and then click "Select."

And that's it. It's a super simple change to make, but if you don't know the option is there in the first place, you might not even think to look for it.

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How to Change Where Safari Downloads Are Saved on Your Mac

In macOS, Apple's Safari browser includes a download manager that you can use to keep track of any currently downloading files, restart partially downloaded files, and reveal downloads in Finder.

If you've downloaded files recently, you can access Safari's download manager at any time by selecting View -> Show Downloads in the menu bar, or by pressing the keyboard shortcut Option-Command-L .

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Apple to unveil AI-enabled Safari browser alongside new operating systems

Safari getting new AI tools in iOS 18

The software — expected to debut as Safari 18 later in 2024 — is currently undergoing evaluation alongside internal builds of Apple's next-generation operating system updates, namely iOS 18 and macOS 15, according to people familiar with the matter. Should all of the new features make it to the release candidate stage, users will be treated to a new user interface (UI) for customizing popular page controls, a "Web eraser" feature, and AI-driven content summarization tools.

Intelligent Search - AI-enhanced browsing and text summarization

Engineers evaluating the latest builds of Safari 18 can find a toggle for the new page controls menu within the browser's address bar. The menu consolidates — and provides quick access to — old and new page control tools, among them being the browser's new "Intelligent Search" feature.

This feature is not automatically enabled in test builds of Safari 18 and instead requires manual activation from the page controls menu. Once enabled, it's believed the tool leverages Apple's on-device AI technology — specifically the Ajax language-learning model — to identify topics and key phrases within a webpage for which to base the summarization.

In selecting key phrases, Apple's LLM software identifies sentences that provide explanations or describe the structure of objects, depending on the text in question. Words repeated within a text and key sentences are recognized as text topics.

These early indications suggest Apple is striving to deliver text summarization alongside Safari 18 later this year, though the exact implementation of this feature remains fuzzy.

Apple's text summarization features could be a response to rival generative AI tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. But Apple's on-device models and technologies like Private Relay could make the experience much more secure for users. Intelligent Search is also likely to be the same AI browser assistant that one X user hinted at a couple of weeks back.

Web Eraser for better content-blocking

Also accessible from the new page controls menu is a feature Apple is testing called "Web Eraser." As its name would imply, it's designed to allow users to remove, or erase, specific portions of web pages, according to people familiar with the feature.

The feature is expected to build upon existing privacy features within Safari and will allow users to erase unwanted content from any webpage of their choosing. Users will have the option to erase banner ads, images, text or even entire page sections, all with relative ease.

The erasure is said to be persistent, rather than limited to a browsing session. This means that Safari will remember the changes even after the original tab or window has been closed.

When visiting a web page with previously erased content, Safari will inform the user that the page has been modified to reflect their desired changes. The browser will also give the user the option to revert changes and restore the webpage to its initial, unaltered state.

As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear.

Updated UI will move key tools into one easy location

The new page controls menu referenced throughout this article will attempt to offer Safari 18 users quick and easy access to several options previously located across different menus and the Share Sheet. Running on pre-release versions of macOS 15, for instance, the menu also pulls in the "Aa" menu common on existing iPadOS versions of the browser. These include zoom options, webpage settings for privacy controls, content blocking options, extension shortcuts, and access to the new AI and erasure tools.

These various options existed previously on macOS, but were found by navigating through the Safari settings menu. Having all of these controls in one central location in the Address Bar will make these options more discoverable for end users. Other options like on-page text search and reader mode are also in this menu.

This all suggests Apple intends to unite the iPadOS and macOS Safari UI paradigms when it unveils its new OS releases during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

AI-enhanced Visual Lookup feature could be available in 2025

Simultaneously, Apple is also working on a much more powerful visual search feature scheduled for integration sometime in 2025 that will allow users to obtain information on consumer products when browsing through images. People familiar with the tool say it's similar to the Visual Lookup feature, through which Siri can identify plants, pets and landmarks from photos.

Visual Search could be implemented as a system-wide feature. So, instead of surfacing search results in the Photos app, the user may be able to use Visual Search directly in Safari by selecting an image.

Given development of this tool is in the earlier stages, it remains unclear how Apple will ultimately go about implementing it. It also remains to be seen whether or not the feature will make it through internal testing.

The iPhone maker has expressed significant interest in artificial intelligence and more recently published research related to on-device language learning models. This goes hand in hand with widespread rumors about several other AI-powered software features, many of which are expected to make their debut later this year with iOS 18.

Another big year for Safari

From its inception, Safari was always meant to rival existing web browsers.

Safari was originally added to macOS as a means of replacing Microsoft's Internet Explorer for Mac, which was the default browser. Over the years, the app made its way to the iPhone , and has since received various upgrades over the years.

More recent versions of Safari provide users with personalized web suggestions, and allow for greater privacy protection with features such as iCloud Private Relay.

This latest set of enhancements only serves to better position Safari against the competition, in an ever-increasing landscape of generative AI tools and third-party ad-blockers.

While Apple tests many such features during different development stages, it is important to remember that not all of them make it to release. Apple has been known to delay features or cancel them entirely, so there's always a chance we may not see these new Safari features after all.

Along with Safari 18 and its associated improvements, we should also see a revamped Calculator with Math Notes make its way to iPadOS 18. Freeform Scenes and Adaptive Voice Shortcuts are new OS features, which are also expected to debut later this year.

Apple is expected to introduce various AI-related enhancements as part of iOS 18 and macOS 15, both of which should be announced at the company's annual WWDC on June 10.

24 Comments

"As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear." They may also have been inspired by Simplified Page....

As long as I can turn it off/hide it they can knock themselves out. 

Will the web eraser feature remove pop up videos, such as the ones that appear on this site?

I use the 'Reader' function in Safari quite a bit, but sometimes it doesn't work very well. Seems like something that AI could help make better. 

Web ads suck but how else do you think your favorite websites will stay in business? Are you prepared to pay a subscription to every site? I doubt it…

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