Safari download will not replace file when asked

Question

Safari download will not replace file when asked

I'm downloading a CSV file from my cloud-based finance system and want to replace the old version on my local drive with an updated file of the same name. Safari has complied in the past, but is now writing a new file with a version number suffixed, e.g.

ss-list-trans.csv

ss-list-trans-2.csv

ss-list-trans-3.csv

I have done the same with Chrome and Firefox and they simply replace the base file as asked, which is necessary as I have Excel references to the base filename.

Has anyone else seen this and is there a way to restore the old behaviour?

Macbook Pro 2018, 16GB RAM, 512 GB SSD (APFS Encrypted volume)

macOS Version 10.15.7

Safari Version 14.0.1 (15610.2.11.51.10, 15610)

System Software Overview:

System Version: macOS 10.15.7 (19H15)

Kernel Version: Darwin 19.6.0

Boot Volume: Macintosh HD

Boot Mode: Normal

Computer Name: XXXXX

User Name: XXXXX

Secure Virtual Memory: Enabled

System Integrity Protection: Enabled

Time since boot: 2 days 23:31

Posted on Dec 3, 2020 7:28 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Sharhari

Level 5

6,293 points

Dec 5, 2020 1:45 AM in response to Peter Sinclair

Ok, Double checking the folder permissions where you are saving the files has "Read & Write" and not just "write only (Drop Box)".

Check saving in different location "/Users/<username>/Desktop/TestFolder/"

Please check if this is same behaviour in safe mode. (How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support)

Please send a feedback to apple.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/safari.html

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Answer 2

Dec 7, 2020 1:05 PM in response to Sharhari

Permissions are rwx------ the folder is under OneDrive, not Dropbox.

I have tried saving to my Downloads folder which is not replicated to a Cloud service - same issue.

I have tried in Safe mode - same issue.

Note that Chrome does not behave this way!

I'll flag this as you suggest; perhaps also as a support call.

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Answer 3

Dec 7, 2020 7:00 PM in response to Sharhari

I have just tried this on Big Sur, running in a VMware Fusion virtual machine, and it replaces the file correctly. Note the Safari version is quite similar to that on Catalina.

VMware Fusion 12.1.0

macOS 11.0.1

Safari 14.0.1 (16610.2.11.51.8)

I'm not quite ready to move to Big Sur on my production machine.

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Answer 4

Dec 4, 2020 7:22 PM in response to Sharhari

I click on a link on the web page and that brings up a Save dialog box. I then click on the filename I want to overwrite in the folder and click Replace, but the file is saved as ps-list-trans-2.csv.

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Answer 5

Sharhari

Level 5

6,293 points

Dec 4, 2020 1:13 AM in response to Peter Sinclair

Are you downloading these files by just clicking on the link ? OR

Do you use ctrl+click menu and then choose "Download Linked File As…" ?

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Answer 6

Dec 30, 2020 6:50 PM in response to Sharhari

I have sent feedback.

I have also just tested the latest Safari release Version 14.0.2 (15610.3.7.1.10, 15610) - problem is still there :-(

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Answer 7

Tombikos

Level 1

13 points

Feb 6, 2021 3:12 PM in response to Peter Sinclair

Hi there, from a certain point onwards I have this issue too with files replacing the existing one being only renamed and saved aside from the original one. Running the latest 11.3 Beta.

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Safari download will not replace file when asked

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