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Where can I find the downloads folder on my iMac running 12.7?

I'm attempting to "download" a series of photos sent to me. The page says, "Click here to download." It further states when the download is complete that it will appear in "my downloads" folder. What downloads folder? How do I know if I even have a "downloads" folder? And if I do, where would I find it? What would it look like? Should it be listed specifically as a "downloads folder?"


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iMac 21.5″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Jun 5, 2024 8:52 AM

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Posted on Jun 6, 2024 1:59 PM

Open a Finder Window - Click the Go Menu - then click the Downloads. Or you can also use the keyboard shortcut in Finder of Option + Command + L to go directly to the Downloads folder. If you cannot find the items you want the use Finder to sort the items you have downloaded by Date Added, your photos will be the most recent items.


These are all Mac basics, so it seems you just aren't that familiar with how to use Finder. There are LOTS of tutorials available to learn how, I'd recommend getting started by clicking Get to know the Finder on your Mac and bookmark this link so you can find it again.

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Jun 6, 2024 1:59 PM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

Open a Finder Window - Click the Go Menu - then click the Downloads. Or you can also use the keyboard shortcut in Finder of Option + Command + L to go directly to the Downloads folder. If you cannot find the items you want the use Finder to sort the items you have downloaded by Date Added, your photos will be the most recent items.


These are all Mac basics, so it seems you just aren't that familiar with how to use Finder. There are LOTS of tutorials available to learn how, I'd recommend getting started by clicking Get to know the Finder on your Mac and bookmark this link so you can find it again.

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Jun 5, 2024 10:37 AM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

Your post is not very specific so it's tough to tell. Please watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfOwz0DZ1nQ to learn how to locate the downloads folder for your computer. What I would recommend is that once you have located the photos in the downloads folder to please drag them to the Photos app which is likely right on your Dock.

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Jun 5, 2024 6:31 PM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

Look 👀 whatever you want to download in your Mac goes to the download folder 📁 that’s it’s locate in the finder , if the download folder isn’t there you can add it, open finder go to finder settings in the top left corner there you can see the side bar option then you can add download folder and other things if you wants , you can see more details here

Customize the Finder sidebar on Mac - Apple Support (CA)



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Jun 6, 2024 3:36 AM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

Oh, and if you are downloading with Safari, there is this icon at the top right of your window:



If you click it, you can see the files you recently downloaded.

Next to each file is a magnifying glass icon. If you click it, it will open your Downloads folder, with that file already selected.

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Jun 8, 2024 12:05 PM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

When you're viewing the in the email you cn Control (right) - click on the photos and select "Export to Photos" from the contextual menu and they will be added to your Photos Library. There you can examine them closely and delete those you don't want to keep.



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Jun 6, 2024 3:33 AM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

In addition to the good advice by William: the Downloads folder is located directly inside your home folder.

You can access it in several ways, very quickly.

One if via the Go menu, as noted.

You can also access it directly by pressing Command-Option-L

You can open your home folder and then double-click on Downloads

You can add it to the Finder window Sidebar, so it will always be a click away.


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Jun 8, 2024 8:53 AM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

"I received the photos for downloading via email"


Please clarify that.

It looks like you did not actually download the files, but they are attached to e-mail messages. Is that correct?

Or does the e-mail merely have a link that you click on to see or download the files?


In any of the above cases, it is not surprising that you don't see them in Downloads, because they are not there, at least not until you save or download them.


In order for us to give the best advice, we need as precise information as possible.

Perhaps you could post some screenshots, so we can see where you are at. If you do that, take care not to include any private information.


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Jun 6, 2024 2:05 PM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

You can find the Go menu easily by opening a Finder Window then at the top of the screen (move your mouse to the screen's top) and you will see Go - then click Downloads and you should see your downloads. To sort the downloads by the date downloaded in the Finder window click Date Added . The keyboard shortcut to go directly to your Download folder is while in Finder type Option + Command + L.


Also, it seems you are not very familiar with Finder which is a real basic to enjoying your Mac. I would recommend bookmarking and using Get to know the Finder on your Mac to become more familiar with Finder.

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Jun 5, 2024 6:19 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thank you for your response, but it just leaves me with more questions. You stated my post was not very specific.

What or how could I be more specific? What sort of details would make it any clearer? There's a reason for my screen name here...there's just so much I do not understand.

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Jun 5, 2024 10:16 PM in response to ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold

The post wasn't specific in telling us how you received the photos, via e-mail, flash drive, air drop, etc... Also what do you intend to do with them, just dumping them into a folder isn't very organized and robs yourself of the benefits of the Photos app such as organizing the photos, mapping them, editing them, easily getting rid of duplicates, sharing across your different devices etc.. When posting a question, remember we are not there and cannot see what you are doing, what you have attempted, nor can we read your mind to know what your intent is so we rely on you to write a well drafted question so we don't have to play 20 questions to get a good idea of how best to serve you.

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Jun 6, 2024 1:49 PM in response to rkaufmann87

To all who are trying to help me...

I received the photos for downloading via email. I intend to look at them (for the first time) and put them in the "Photos" space on my computer. I have yet to see anything anywhere on my screen that some of you said (at the very top left side of my screen?) is listed as "Go." Is the "Go" thing part of something else? When I go to "Finder" and click on downloads the only thing that comes up on the screen is a list of "downloads" that shows about three dozen or so "downloads." I can't help but to believe I have downloaded way more stuff then is on that download list... I've been using this desktop Mac since 2017. I am using the 12.7.5 OS. The oldest download is dated February 20, 2020, and the most recent one is dated April 15, 2024. When I'm on my Safari page I do not see the download arrow. I'm going to guess though, that if I do find it and click on it, it will take me to the 2/20/20 thru 4/15/24 list I've all ready indicated. Would there be any specific reason anything and everything I ever downloaded wouldn't appear on on that list?

Many thanks to all for trying to help...I do sincerely appreciate it.

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Jun 8, 2024 10:09 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you Luis for your time and patience trying to help me. Always keep this one fact in mind... I know less than zero when it comes to computer/technology protocol. I'm not familiar with terminology, processes, etc. Example: you're asking me to provide "screenshots," I haven't a clue as to how to do that. The photos came on a screen that had a fancy photographic background (and a name, "wetransfer.com" or something like that) that had a small inset that said "download" I click on it but it doesn't tell me exactly what is happening... that the download started, how long it should take, and/or whether or not the download was completed, or, where it was downloaded (if at all) to, on my computer. Anyway, it appears it may have downloaded but I don't know how to "open" the folder(?) it may be sitting in...in order to view what may be there. Is any of this new information helpful to you so you can help me? Let me know...

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Where can I find the downloads folder on my iMac running 12.7?

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