Safari "Ask for each download" not working.

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Ciao Amico Author

Level 1

5 points

Safari "Ask for each download" not working.

iMac info:

Safari info:

I have selected in Safari/Preferences/File download location - Ask for each download.

Problem:

When selecting to download a file from a website, Safari always downloads to the Download folder even with this option set.

Expectation is for Safari to prompt the user where to save the file. Obvious bug. Searched on web and communities and seen suggestions from deleting plists to reinstalling OS (which seems to be a hammer approach and a pretty sorry solution). I have attempted to delete the plist but to no avail. I will send this to Apple support but thought I would give a try on the community site to help others if they have the same issue/solution. Thanks for any help on this in advance!

Posted on Mar 24, 2020 9:24 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Ciao Amico Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 29, 2020 10:07 AM in response to MoonJ.

Hi MoonJ and thanks for the reply.

So I was able to contact Apple and did both these items while on a call with them. Neither changed the behavior.

However on the call they wanted to view my screen so they had asked me to download an app to allow screen sharing. When downloading the app (in Safari) I noticed that the dialog to ask where to save the download appeared! (I had the "Ask for each download" option selected). So I did a bit more investigating on this.

My original testing involved downloading a pdf file from Xfinity, which worked on Google Chrome when set to "ask where to save the download", but not on Safari with the aforementioned setting). That PDF was at this location:

https://secure.xfinity.com/anon.comcastonline2/support/help/faqs/wireless_gateway/HOW5220_TC_8717_User_Guide.pdf

So going to different websites, I discovered that I can download different formats and some cases PDF where the dialog does appear and ask me where to download.

I also noticed that the link for the pdf user guide puts the web browser in a pdf "viewing mode" (and when you bring your pointer towards the bottom of the current page an image appears with 4 selectable buttons where one is for downloading the pdf.

When selecting the download option in Chrome, the browser asks where to download, in Safari it saves it to the last selected folder I had chosen in settings (before setting the option to "Ask for each download".)

I tried this test on 3 different Macs. Two with the latest Safari/OS and the other with an older version of both. All behaved the same.

Not sure why this happens in Safari for this particular browser viewing mode, but the workaround to this is by right clicking on the link (instead of clicking and going to the link), there is an option to download the file

in this case, Safari will ask where to download the file.

So not sure if this is a Safari issue or some setting elsewhere that is related to downloading a pdf when Safari is viewing the pdf. All I know when either Chrome of Safari are in this viewing mode and both browsers are set to ask where to place downloads, Chrome works and Safari does not.

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Answer 2

MoonJ.

Community Specialist

Mar 25, 2020 10:34 AM in response to Ciao Amico

Hi there, Ciao Amico.

I see that you want to be ask where to place a file you've downloaded using Safari. You've set the preference to ask for each download, and I'm glad to help with this.

How to use safe mode on your Mac -- Restart your Mac in safe mode and see if it gives the option to select where it's downloaded. If it works while in safe mode, reboot normally and test again in your own user account. If you're able to select a download location, check out the information under "If the issue doesn't continue in safe mode". If it happens while in safe mode, continue on below.

How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac -- If the issue is also happening in safe mode, use this article to create and test a new administrative user account. This will demonstrate if the issue is isolated to your account, or if it's system wide. Be sure to change the File download location in Safari in this new admin user account.

Let me know how that goes, and take care!

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Safari "Ask for each download" not working.

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