My Downloads Folder always empty!

I've downloaded various items from the internet but when I look for them in my Downloads Folder there is NEVER anything in it. I've looked in all the other places like Documents etc. but the downloads are nowhere to be found!


It only seems to be since I upgraded to Sierra.


Would someone please help me on this problem.

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), macOS Sierra (10.12.4)

Posted on Jun 1, 2017 4:00 AM

Reply
23 replies

Jun 1, 2017 6:08 AM in response to makey

As per this article : Safari for Mac: Download items from the web using Safari

  • Download an item: Click anything identified as a download link, or Control-click an image or other object on the page, then choose Download Linked File. (Some webpage items can’t be downloaded.) Safari decompresses files such as .zip files after it downloads them.Note: If you download an item that you previously downloaded, Safari removes the older duplicate so it doesn’t take up space on your Mac. To learn more, see Optimize storage on your Mac.
  • In safari preferences > General make sure the settings in file download location as downloads .

User uploaded file

Jun 3, 2017 6:43 AM in response to tygb

Thanks for your reply.


I've tried following the link but I can't find where to locate this toolbar the link refers to:-

User uploaded file

Or this one:-

User uploaded file

Looking in the Downloads all I've got is this Toolbar:-

User uploaded file

I'm still struggling to find things with Sierra so would you please tell me how to locate the right places.


makey.

Jun 4, 2017 3:07 AM in response to makey

With the Safari app open click Safari on the top left of your menubar and click Preferences, from the dialogue that

appears click on General, look down to File download location, what is yours set to? Normally it would be Downloads, has another folder been selected, if so you can just reselect Downloads.


User uploaded file

Sierra is no different in this respect as to previous versions of Mac OS X.

Jun 7, 2017 6:41 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Yes, I am pretty clueless when it comes to using this confounded Sierra. I've actually been working on Macs for many years without difficulty - until Sierra. I'd love to go back to Mountain Lion, but feel I should persevere with Sierra.


Anyway here is the app I should be seeing in the Applications:-

User uploaded file

I've got this Application on my desktop and when I click the blue "Move to Applications Folder" that's what SHOULD happen but it don't.

Jun 7, 2017 7:11 AM in response to makey

So you are not using the Finder to copy or move the application.

You are double-clicking the CCC icon on the desktop, and CCC is suggesting you move it.


Since you say you are familiar with the mac, I suggest you do it the mac way. This, incidentally, has NOT changed in Sierra. All the knowledge of how the mac works is valid in Sierra.


Open a new Finder window (command-N). In the sidebar, you'll see "Applications". Click it.


User uploaded file


User uploaded file

Jun 4, 2017 3:14 AM in response to makey

As per this article : Disk Utility 12.x: Create a disk image

You can use Disk Utility to create a disk image, which is a file that looks and functions like a disk: It contains other files and folders, and appears with a disk icon on your desktop when you open it. You can use a disk image to archive old data, share files with others, encrypt sensitive information, and make copies of disks.

To access the data in a disk image, double-click it. It appears on your desktop, and you can add, remove, and edit files on it just like you would with a disk.

Jun 3, 2017 9:55 AM in response to tygb

I'll have to give up on this because it's impossible to find ANYTHING in Sierra. It doesn't matter where I look I can't find where you're trying to guide me to.


I have got a disk Image on my desktop but clicking it as you describe just opens it to its application and doesn't take it into the Downloads.

Jun 4, 2017 2:16 AM in response to makey

makey wrote:


I'll have to give up on this because it's impossible to find ANYTHING in Sierra. It doesn't matter where I look I can't find where you're trying to guide me to.


I have got a disk Image on my desktop but clicking it as you describe just opens it to its application and doesn't take it into the Downloads.


You need to learn the basics of using the mac. Of course double-clicking a disk image file mounts it. Nothing special in Sierra about that, or how the file system works.


If Spotlight doesn't find things, which sometimes happen, one has to force it to reindex the drive.

This is easy to do.

Jun 4, 2017 9:24 AM in response to Eau Rouge

I was actually saying that an item I'd downloaded from the internet is in the form of a disk image and I can't understand why it, and any others, don't automatically show up in the Downloads.


I tried just dragging the item, with the alt key, from the desktop into the Downloads Folder and it worked. But what's the point in doing that? As all my downloaded items appear on my desktop, why bother with a downloads Folder at all?

Jun 6, 2017 3:44 AM in response to Eau Rouge

Thank you, I've done that but the situation gets worse! This time I had an Application item on my desktop which I moved to the Applications window - but it never appeared in there and I'd lost it!


How can I remedy this for Applications and all the other sidebar items that don't appear where they should? Is this also something to do with Safari Preferences?

Jun 6, 2017 8:45 AM in response to makey

It is hard to help when people don't articulate their problems clearly.

Thank you, I've done that but the situation gets worse! This time I had an Application item on my desktop which I moved to the Applications window - but it never appeared in there and I'd lost it!

Either there is something very wrong with your mac, or you are very clueless about how the mac works - and your last confusing statement seems to suggets the latter:



How can I remedy this for Applications and all the other sidebar items that don't appear where they should? Is this also something to do with Safari Preferences?


It is completely different to drag something to a folder or to the Finder sidebar. You say one thing, then talk about another...


If you don't see "Applications" in your sidebar, you can locate the folder and drag.

But you started saying you dragged an "Application Item" from the desktop... what was it? Where did you drag it to?

Jun 8, 2017 6:23 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Since I last posted you on this I've discovered, by chance, that the application in question IS in the applications folder - but, it's about halfway down in a very long list of items! I was looking, obviously, in the alphabetical area of "C"s which, because the item is comprised of three "C"s, one would expect that's where to see it. At least I found out for myself that the item went in there (I've no idea why it should appear in that position).

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My Downloads Folder always empty!

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