It’s where your Mac stores files downloaded by Safari, attachments you download from Messages, and where many other apps save files when you download them from the internet or other devices on a local network. This setting can be changed: in Safari, for example, go to Safari Preferences, click General, choose Other from File download. Jul 24, 2016 How to Access Downloads Folder on Mac from the Dock. The Downloads folder exists in the Dock of Mac OS by default, so unless it has been removed it will be there for all users to have quick access to by accessing the Dock at the bottom of the Mac screen. It will be located on the right side of the Dock near the Trash can.

Sep 08, 2021 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

Go to the /Applications folder on your Mac, find the installer file and Option+Drag it to another folder like /Downloads to make a copy that will stay even after the machine is restarted. For minor updates, like OS X 10.10.8 or 10.10.9 updates, Apple releases standalone installers as.dmg files that you can download once and install on.

The download folder on Mac can often contain important files. We have all deleted quite a lot of folders in a bid to get back some precious space on our Macs, and the in-built utility for disk cleanup is a handy tool in such cases. However, the problem here is that it is quite possible that these tools also delete your downloaded files. That is not all - many other reasons can lead to the deletion of the downloads folder on your Mac, including accidental deletion by using the wrong commands on the shell, improper or interrupted copy-paste functions, and so on.

Generally, the trash bin has any deleted files - but once you have deleted them from there, then recovery may not be so obvious. This is where you need software to recover the deleted download folder in Mac.

How is it possible to get back the deleted downloads folder?

Once you have emptied the Trash Bin as well, then the files do not just disappear from your Mac. That specific area is juts marked to be overwritten - and unless any other files or folders are placed there, your files are still in the Mac, and there for you to recover. However, you cannot access them as easily- but to make it all simpler for you, a Mac data recovery software is what you need.

Part 1: Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac Recover lost Data

You cannot just use any Mac data recovery software. You need one that helps you to recover the deleted download folder on Mac with ease and is reputed as a data recovery tool for Mac. This is where Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac comes in.

Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac is amongst the most trusted Mac recovery software and can help you to recover the deleted download folder on Mac without any difficulty. Some of the reasons as to why it is the best in the area include:

In addition to recovering deleted download folder on Mac OS X:

• Retrieve downloads folder due to deletion and inaccessibility.
• Recover various file types like videos, images, archives, documents, songs, etc
• Only read and recover data, no leaking, modifying, or things like that, 100% safe.
• Allows you to rescue data from Macbook, iPod, Mac desktop, USB drives, digital cameras, mobile phones, and other storage media.

Part 2 Guide to Recover Deleted Download Folder on Mac

As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest benefits of using Recoverit Mac data recovery software is the simplicity and ease of use that comes along with it. Using it to recover the deleted download folder on Mac is as simple as 1-2-3!

Step 1. Selecting a disk

To recover deleted files on Mac, you can select the hard drive partition where you lost your important downloads.

Step 2. Scan for deleted files

Recoverit will start scanning deleted files, which will display some recoverable files after the first scan.

Step 3. Select specific files for recovery

When the scan completes, the results will be displayed in the form of a list of files that can be recovered from the drive/partition. You can search, sort, and filter through these results to find the specific files or folders that you want to recover. Once done, click on Recover, enter the path of the place where you want those files to be saved.

Part 3 Tips for Recover Download Folder files on Mac

How to maximize the chances of recovery

Even the best Mac data recovery software does not guarantee a 100% recovery rate to recover the deleted download folder on Mac. For maximizing the chances of recovering your deleted data on a Mac, a few tips like the ones given ahead can be helpful:

• Once you realize that you have deleted a folder or file that you need to recover, avoid using the particular memory area or partition to avoid the deleted folder from being overwritten.
• The memory scan may take a lot of time- you should avoid using your Mac during that time to speed things up.
• Do not install any non-trusted or non-genuine recovery software, as they could do more harm than good.
• Do not use any software for ‘permanent deletion’ since they could make recovery hard or even impossible.

How to avoid such situations in the future

No matter how careful you may be, recovery will never be 100%. You should avoid situations that need you to recover the download folder on Mac. A few tips on doing the same are:

• Before you delete any file from the Trash, be sure that it will not be required in the future. A period of at least 30 days should be there between sending a file to the recycle bin and deleting it.
• When you are using shell commands, especially for deletion, be very careful about what you are typing. A simple error like typing ‘c’ instead of’ could have disastrous consequences.
• If you are using any utility for deleting files and disk cleanup, then avoid automatic cleanups. Be aware and sure about what it is deleting to have better control over it all.

Deleted Downloads Folder Mac

Thus, with all the knowledge above, you should not only be able to recover the download folder on Mac with ease, but also avoid any such situation in the future.

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These advanced steps are primarily for system administrators and others who are familiar with the command line. You don't need a bootable installer to upgrade macOS or reinstall macOS, but it can be useful when you want to install on multiple computers without downloading the installer each time.

What you need to create a bootable installer

• A USB flash drive or other secondary volume formatted as Mac OS Extended, with at least 14GB of available storage
• A downloaded installer for macOS Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, or El Capitan

Download macOS

• Download: macOS Big Sur, macOS Catalina, macOS Mojave, or macOS High Sierra
  These download to your Applications folder as an app named Install macOS [version name]. If the installer opens after downloading, quit it without continuing installation. To get the correct installer, download from a Mac that is using macOS Sierra 10.12.5 or later, or El Capitan 10.11.6. Enterprise administrators, please download from Apple, not a locally hosted software-update server.
• Download: OS X El Capitan
  This downloads as a disk image named InstallMacOSX.dmg. On a Mac that is compatible with El Capitan, open the disk image and run the installer within, named InstallMacOSX.pkg. It installs an app named Install OS X El Capitan into your Applications folder. You will create the bootable installer from this app, not from the disk image or .pkg installer.

Mac Os Downloads Folder Path

Use the 'createinstallmedia' command in Terminal

1. Connect the USB flash drive or other volume that you're using for the bootable installer.
2. Open Terminal, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
3. Type or paste one of the following commands in Terminal. These assume that the installer is in your Applications folder, and MyVolume is the name of the USB flash drive or other volume you're using. If it has a different name, replace MyVolume in these commands with the name of your volume.

Big Sur:*

Catalina:*

Mojave:*

High Sierra:*

El Capitan:

* If your Mac is using macOS Sierra or earlier, include the --applicationpath argument and installer path, similar to the way this is done in the command for El Capitan.

After typing the command:

1. Press Return to enter the command.
2. When prompted, type your administrator password and press Return again. Terminal doesn't show any characters as you type your password.
3. When prompted, type Y to confirm that you want to erase the volume, then press Return. Terminal shows the progress as the volume is erased.
4. After the volume is erased, you may see an alert that Terminal would like to access files on a removable volume. Click OK to allow the copy to proceed.
5. When Terminal says that it's done, the volume will have the same name as the installer you downloaded, such as Install macOS Big Sur. You can now quit Terminal and eject the volume.
   

Open Download Folder Windows 10

Use the bootable installer

Determine whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, then follow the appropriate steps:

Apple silicon

Mac Os Downloads Folder Location

1. Plug the bootable installer into a Mac that is connected to the internet and compatible with the version of macOS you're installing.
2. Turn on your Mac and continue to hold the power button until you see the startup options window, which shows your bootable volumes.
3. Select the volume containing the bootable installer, then click Continue.
4. When the macOS installer opens, follow the onscreen instructions.

Intel processor

1. Plug the bootable installer into a Mac that is connected to the internet and compatible with the version of macOS you're installing.
2. Press and hold the Option (Alt) ⌥ key immediately after turning on or restarting your Mac.
3. Release the Option key when you see a dark screen showing your bootable volumes.
4. Select the volume containing the bootable installer. Then click the up arrow or press Return.
   If you can't start up from the bootable installer, make sure that the External Boot setting in Startup Security Utility is set to allow booting from external media.
5. Choose your language, if prompted.
6. Select Install macOS (or Install OS X) from the Utilities window, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

Where Is My Download Folder

Learn more

Mac Desktop Folders Disappeared

A bootable installer doesn't download macOS from the internet, but it does require an internet connection to get firmware and other information specific to the Mac model.

Mac Os Downloads Folder

For information about the createinstallmedia command and the arguments you can use with it, make sure that the macOS installer is in your Applications folder, then enter the appropriate path in Terminal: