Downloaded Files invisible (MacOS Catalina)

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Level 1

6 points

Downloaded Files invisible (MacOS Catalina)

After successfully upgrading my iMac (Late 2013) to macOS Catalina, I have discovered a serious (for me!) issue.

Any file that I download is not visible. It is not visible even if I use the Cmd-Shift-Period shortcut. If I try to download the file a second time I get a message saying that it already exists. If I click on the Downloads folder in the dock, the fan shows the file but Finder doesn't. If I open a terminal window I can list them. I just cannot see them in Finder.

Even stranger, if I do a search for the invisible files and the search finds them then they are suddenly visible in Finder.

The issue is the same in Safari, Chrome or Firefox so I do not think it is browser related.

Is there a setting or a preference that I have missed?

HELP!!

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Oct 9, 2019 2:48 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

73,242 points

Oct 14, 2019 3:05 AM in response to Community User

1) Press command-shift-G to open the "Go to Folder" window

2) Type or paste the following:

~/Library/Preferences

3) Press enter

4) Drag the com.apple.Finder.plist file out of the Preferences folder and to your desktop (for example)

5) Press command-option-escape to open the Force Quit window

6) Select the Finder on the list and click Relaunch

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2019 2:22 AM in response to Dave Bondy

Try deleting the Finder preferences, then force-quit the Finder and try again

This is a problem with Finder that is not specific to Catalina, a few users reported this in Mojave. Clearing Finder preferences seems to be the solution.

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Answer 3

Dave Bondy Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 9, 2019 3:32 AM in response to Dave Bondy

I have just upgraded another Mac (this one a 2014 MacBook Pro) and I do not see the same issue.

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Answer 4

Dave Bondy Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 14, 2019 5:10 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Yes! Worked for me! Thank you!!

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Answer 5

Oct 14, 2019 1:06 AM in response to Dave Bondy

I also have an older MacBook Pro. My downloaded files are invisible to me.

I also created a presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint. The file exists, but I cannot see it in finder. To see these files, I need to reboot the notebook.

If I use a different file tool, the files are visible...

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Answer 6

Oct 14, 2019 2:25 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

How to delete preferences???

How to force quit???

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Answer 7

Oct 14, 2019 5:09 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you! That worked.

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Downloaded Files invisible (MacOS Catalina)

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