How do I set the order of my downloads within the 'downloads' file in Sierra ?

Question

Level 1

6 points

How do I set the order of my downloads within the 'downloads' file in Sierra ?

Every time I download anything, and open my downloads file: either from the dock at the bottom of the desktop, or open it by opening the Mac HD icon and the selecting downloads, I can never find the item I just downloaded,

How do I adjust the order of the downloads 'file' to either be alphabetical ,

or better yet in a chronological order? Where do I adjust the setting for how items

are stored inside the downloads file?

Posted on May 24, 2017 5:23 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

db24401

Level 4

1,564 points

May 24, 2017 5:55 PM in response to Rodmon

With your Downloads folder open (In a Finder Window), then press Command J

which should open a window where you have options to Sort & Arrange.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,524 points

May 24, 2017 8:03 PM in response to Rodmon

If you Sort By Date Added, the most recent download will be first. db24401 showed one way to set the Sort.

You can also access Sort By by holding down the Option key when opening the View menu or using the toolbar button.

You likely don't want to use Arrange By as that groups the icons by date ranges.

You can also sort the Dock stack by Date Added. Right-click on the Downloads folder in the Dock and set it to Sort by Date Added. If it is set to open as a "Fan," the most recent will be at the bottom of the Fan.

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Answer 3

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

May 24, 2017 6:27 PM in response to Rodmon

You could also consider having your downloads appear on your desktop (set that up in your browser and/or Mail preferences). Since those items are only there temporarily as you would no doubt install any apps in the Applications folder and/or other things in the appropriate folders, I find it easier to see the icon on the desktop so I don't forget to deal with it.

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