Downloaded files in Downloads not visible when uploading
Newly downloaded files don't show up in the Downloads folder in Finder unless I move them to a different folder. When I open the Finder app, the file appears to be there, but if I try to upload that file somewhere and the application opens a separate Finder window, the file is nowhere to be found. The only workaround I've found is creating a folder and moving it there, but it's annoying to have to do that every time. Opening Finder and dragging the file directly to upload also works, but it's inconvenient to do that every time as well. This is a new problem that came about over the last month.
I want to clarify that the Downloads folder itself isn't hidden anywhere, and the Finder application works. It just seems like when any other application/platform prompts a separate Finder window to open during uploads, the file(s) I'm trying to upload are nowhere to be found. I've attached screenshots of downloading the file, showing its location in Downloads in Finder, and showing its absence when trying to upload from an application (I used Photoshop in this example).
Is there anything that can be done to fix this permanently? Not just for once specific file, but for all files going forward. For reference, I use Google Chrome and can confirm that my settings are set to have downloads save to the Downloads folder.
[Edited by Moderator]
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.5
