How to change where AirDrop files are saved on macOS

Problem solved!

Turns out that the problem was related to Dropbox!

After installing Sonoma 14.4, the only Downloads folder on my harddrive was the one pertaining to Dropbox. Seems like MacOS cannot send Airdrop files to this folder - I guess because it's not recognised as a "system" Downloads folder.

I renamed the Downloads folder under the Dropbox tree (I named it "Downloads db") and then created a new "system" Downloads folder in my root directory (I'm not a techie so don't know the right term...but right under the main folder carrying my name).

I then restarted my laptop and now Airdrop nicely sends my files to the "system" Downloads folder and Dropbox automatically created a linked folder to the Dropbox Downloads (db) folder meaning I can easily move files there for Dropbox sharing.

Seems like MacOS and Dropbox were not synchronised for this update which causes the problem in the original thread. As I'm not a techie, I don't know if this explanation is understandable, but it does solve the issue.

Torbinjo wrote:

Why do you think AVG shouldn’t be there? I’ve been using it for virus protection for many years.

There is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  

There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   

Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.

There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  

As mentioned in previous reply, I got the same issue on my MacBook Pro M2 Max running Sonoma 14.4 - as explained, I've uninstalled AVG and I tried starting in Safe Mode with the issue persisting. I've also reinstalled the OS and the issue is still there.

Interesting new development and insight: I have a slightly older MacBook Pro M1 which was running Sonoma 14.3.1 - on this MacBook I didn't experience the problem (before or after uninstalling AVG). Now I upgraded it to Sonoma 14.4 and...the same issue is now occurring on this MacBook!

With causality in mind, I think it's safe to conclude that the installation of Sonoma 14.4 on some MacBooks causes Airdrop to malfunction and no longer send the files to the Downloads folder but to a private/tmp folder!

Thanks for the advice about virus software - this was very helpful and I do feel an improvement in performance after removing it.

But the bottomline is...my Airdrop issue is still for real.

Any case...I now removed AVG and performed the safe mode procedure again...but the AirDrop issue persists to be there...it's dropping my files in the private/tmp folder instead of the downloads folder

Thanks! That's great insight. I now offloaded AVG and only run on native Mac built-in security. Seems like it's something Apple could do a (far) better job at communicating. Still I have my airdrop private/tmp issue though.

Torbinjo wrote:

Can you please expand on that? In which way does it make my Mac less secure and if that's the case, what should it be replaced with?

Anything that can get as deep into the OS to make it effective necessarily introduces vulnerabilities. You don’t need to replace it with anything as the OS takes care of that more effectively than anything else.

As Torbinjo stated earlier, the problem is related to Dropbox. I found the quickest and easiest solution was to disable the Dropbox backup of the Downloads folder.

On Dropbox icon on top menu bar select Backups tab. Select Mac (or whatever your mac backup is called). Select Choose Folders and uncheck Downloads.

This fixes the problem immediately as long as you don't need your Downloads folder to be backed up on Dropbox.

Same issue, my Airdrops go to Home->Private->tmp. I tried the OP's technique, but to be honest it did not make much sense to me, I am not sure what is meant by the Dropbox Tree? I renamed the downloads folder in my user account that Dropbox uses and also created a new downloads folder, but this had no effect. I am surprised these is not more traction on this issue.

If there are more detailed plans for a solution someone can point me to I would appreciate it.

-Henry

rtaylor91355 wrote:

When I Airdrop something it goes in a folder called Private/TMP. I want it to go to Downloads folder. How do I change that? I am using Sonoma.

I never heard this before...

There is no setting to change the default location which you would expect it to be Downloads...

old issue, new issue, what changed?

third-party sync software like: OneDrive, GoogleDrive, BackBlaze or DropBox have options to usurp the Downloads and may be interferring(?)

The current stable release of Sonoma including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 14.3.1

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

The current stable release of iOS including bug fixes, security updates is iOS 17.3.1

Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

To trouble shoot further you can:

—A SafeBoot Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support will sort many anomalies

Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test.

ref: Use AirDrop on your Mac

Try uninstalling AVG. It should not be there, anyway, and could well be blocking the moving of the files to the proper destination.

As the name indicates, /tmp is for temporary files, the system uses this area and then the finished files should be moved to ~/Downloads, but something is preventing that.

Effective defenses against malware and other threats

This is what I know and I will continue after I hear back from DropBox support document regarding MacOS File support

This is listed on DropBox Help center

• AirDrop won't work if Dropbox Backup is enabled.This is a known issue that Dropbox engineers are working to resolve.
  • Contact Dropbox support for help resolving this issue on your device.

I believe the work around that is suggested in this thread is to turn over "selective sync" on the default user Downloads Folder on your DropBox Sync Setup. This did not work for me, The Dropbox support says AirDrop does not work if you are using DropBox Backup and to contact DropBox support for more information. Which is what I have done and will report my findings here

-silsurf

I was unable to get Airdrop to work using the method outlined here, I contacted DropBox Support and this is what they said:

I understand that you would like to clarify the process of Dropbox Backup functioning as expected with Apple Airdrop.

I am happy to look into this for you and assist with your request!

Kindly note that, as the moment there is an issue due to a conflict between the Downloads folder and Dropbox Backup, which our engineers are investigating.

In the meantime, I can walk you through a couple of options to work around the issue:

1. Stop backing up the Downloads folder to Dropbox Backup.

To do this:

• Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.
• Click the Sync and Backups tab.
• Click Mac.
• Click Change folders.
• Uncheck the box next to the Downloads folder.
• Click Save.

2. If you’d like to continue backing up the Downloads folder to Dropbox Backup, you’ll need to delete and re-enable Dropbox Backup.

To do this:

• Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.
• Click your initials or avatar.
• Click Preferences.
• Click Backups.
• Click Manage backups.
• Click Disable backup.
• Click Keep content in folders on this Mac.
• Click Delete backup. 
• Restart your computer.

To re-enable Dropbox Backup:

1. Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.
2. Click your initials or avatar.
3. Click Preferences.
4. Click the Backups tab.
5. Click Manage backup.
6. Under Add a backup, select the computer you’d like to back up.
7. Click Let’s get started.
8. Check the boxes next to the folders you’d like to back up.
9. Click Set up or Back up.
10. Click OK when prompted to give Dropbox permission to access your folders

Notes:

• If you see Set Up instead, it means Dropbox Backup is already off.
• If you have more than one computer, we recommend you follow the steps to delete and re-enable Backup for all your devices for a consistent experience.

Thank you for posting the solution!

Torbinjo wrote:

Problem solved!

Turns out that the problem was related to Dropbox!

This was already included in the 1st post above to the OP.

Thank you for posting this solution. After spending more than 2 hours chatting with Apple Support, they still hadn't resolved it. But your solution worked immediately.