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Change default destination of AirDrop files/content

This is not a question but rather an answer to an earlier question that had to be reopened. The earlier question, how to change the default destination of AirDrop files or content, was not answered in this thread:


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251677878


It is important to understand that there is no way to change the default location of content sent to your Mac via AirDrop (using Catalina - I have not tested this with Big Sur although Automator's Folder Actions should work the same way). Instead, this process will immediately and completely move any content that is in the Downloads folder to whatever folder you choose.


It is also important to understand that this process does not discriminate between files sent via AirDrop and files downloaded to your Downloads folder via some other method (e.g., downloading a file from a web site by clicking a link). If you're okay with ALL files being moved from the Downloads folder to a folder of your choice - which would also include AirDrop files - then this will work for you. If you want more granular control to select only certain types of files or only files delivered to the Downloads folder via AirDrop this will NOT work for you. This is an all-or-nothing solution... but it absolutely does work.


The simple and straightforward answer to this problem takes about five minutes to set up. It requires a very basic use of the Mac's built-in Automator application with only two "steps" in it. Here's how you can ensure that all content automatically downloaded to your "Downloads" folder is moved to the folder of your choice:


  1. Open Automator on your Mac. It's in the main Applications folder. When you open it you will be presented with a choice of what kind of "document" you want to create. Choose "Folder Action" as shown here:
  2. Click the "Folder Action receives files and folders added to:" dropdown menu as shown below:
  3. First find the "Get Selected Finder Items" action and drag it into the window on the right. Then find the "Move Finder Items" action and drag it to the window on the right below the "Get Selected Finder Items" action. The end result should look like this:
  4. Note the red text and arrow in the image above (in #3). That's the dropdown menu that allows you to designate which folder you want files that are added to the Downloads folder moved TO. In this case I want the files that are added to the Downloads folder (whether by AirDrop or some other method) to be moved to my "Downloaded" files, which I have inside my Dropbox and send all other downloaded files to.
  5. Save the Automator Folder Action that you have created by choosing Save from the File menu (or Cmd-S). You will not have a choice of where this file is saved but that doesn't matter.


From that point forward, any files that are downloaded or AirDrop'd to your Downloads folder will immediately and automatically be moved to the folder you've chosen in #4 above. If you ever want to change any of the file locations you can just open Automator and choose the Folder Action you want to modify. It is stored here:


/Users/YourUserName/Library/Workflows/Applications/Folder Actions/NameYouSavedFolderAction.workflow


You can also use the "Search" field in the upper-right corner of the Open dialog box that appears when you choose "Open An Existing Document…" and enter the name of the action you saved.


That's it. The Mac's Automator Folder Action works immediately, every time, without errors. It's a built-in ("native") application and this is exactly the kind of thing that it is designed to do.

iMac 21.5″ 4K, macOS 10.15

Posted on Feb 20, 2021 7:37 AM

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Change default destination of AirDrop files/content

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