How to clear your downloads folder

Updated: 07/06/2021 by Estimator Promise

Downloading from Internet to computer

When you download a file from the Cyberspace, information technology is saved in your operating system's downloads folder. Additionally, there is a record of it in your Cyberspace browser. When a file is in the downloads binder, it tin have upward unnecessary storage space. Also, as information technology shows the files you lot've downloaded, it could exist a security or privacy risk. To clear your downloads folder or download history, click a link in the list below and follow the instructions.

Windows logo

Windows Vista, 7, eight, and 10

To articulate the files in the Downloads binder in Windows, follow the steps below.

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Downloads, and press Enter.
  2. In the window that opens, highlight all the downloaded files using your mouse or printing Ctrl+A. If y'all exercise non want to delete all files but select the downloaded file you want to delete.
  • How to select or highlight multiple files and folders.
  1. Press Delete to send the files to the Recycle Bin.
  2. To permanently delete the files, right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin in the drop-down menu that appears.
Finder icon in macOS.

macOS and Safari

To clear the files in the Downloads binder on your Mac computer, follow the steps beneath.

Note

Equally it's built in to macOS, these steps are the same for those using the Safari browser.

  1. Select Finder from the Dock at the bottom of your desktop.

Finder icon in the Dock.

  1. In the window that opens, select Downloads from the list on the left side of the screen.

Choose downloads

  1. Right-click each entry and select Move to Trash in the drop-down card.

Move to Trash selector.

Chrome logo

Google Chrome

To articulate the files in the Downloads folder for Google Chrome, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Google Chrome browser.
  2. Click the Customize and command Google Chrome Chrome browser settings push button in the upper-correct corner of the screen.
  3. Select Downloads from the drop-down menu that appears.
  4. In the new window that opens, click Google Chrome remove x next to each entry you want to remove.
  5. To clear all entries, click the More deportment Google Chrome more actions icon icon in the upper-correct corner of the screen and select Clear all.

Clear all selector in Chrome.

Tip

In Chrome, press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+Shift+J (macOS) to view a list of your downloaded files.

Tip

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also meet our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Firefox logo

Mozilla Firefox

To clear the files in the Downloads binder for Firefox, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Mozilla Firefox browser.
  2. Click the Library Firefox Library icon icon nearly the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. Select Downloads in the menu that appears.

Downloads selector in Fire fox.

  1. At the lesser of the expanded menu, click Show All Downloads.

Show All Downloads button in Firefox.

  1. You may delete each file individually using the Delete key. To remove them all at one time, right-click in the downloads section and select Clear Downloads in the driblet-downwards bill of fare.

Clearing downloads folder in Firefox.

Tip

In Firefox, press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (macOS) to view a listing of your downloaded files.

Tip

If you're using Microsoft Windows, yous can too see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge

To clear the files in the Downloads folder for Microsoft Edge, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
  2. Click the Settings and more icon Microsoft Edge More menu in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  3. In the drop-downwards menu, select Downloads.
  4. You can remove files individually by clicking the X icon in Edge icon, or delete all files by clicking Articulate all.

Clearing downloads folder in Edge.

Tip

In Edge, printing Ctrl+J to view a list of your downloads.

Tip

If y'all're using Microsoft Windows, you tin can as well see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Microsoft Edge Legacy logo

Microsoft Edge Legacy

To articulate the files in the Downloads folder for Microsoft Edge Legacy, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
  2. In the upper-right corner, select the Hub Edge hub button button.
  3. Click the icon that looks like a downward arrow.
  4. Y'all can delete each file individually by clicking Microsoft Edge remove x side by side to the file entry, or click Clear all to delete all files.

Tip

In Edge Legacy, press Ctrl+J to view a list of your downloads.

Tip

If you lot're using Microsoft Windows, you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Internet Explorer logo

Microsoft Net Explorer

To clear the files in the Downloads binder for Internet Explorer, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Internet Explorer browser.
  2. Click the Gear IE tools icon icon in the upper-correct side of the window.
  3. Click View downloads in the driblet-down card that appears.
  4. You may delete each file individually by clicking the 10 next to the file entry, or click Clear list to delete all files.

Clearing downloads in Internet Explorer.

Tip

In Internet Explorer, press Ctrl+J to open your Downloads binder.

Tip

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.

Opera browser logo

Opera

To articulate the files in the Downloads binder for Opera, follow these steps.

  1. Open the Opera browser.
  2. Click Menu button in Opera. in the upper-left corner of the window.
  3. In the drop-down carte du jour that appears, select Downloads.
  4. In the tab that opens, y'all may delete each entry individually by clicking the Opera kebab icon icon on the correct side and selecting Remove in the bill of fare. To delete all files, click the Clear downloads button button in the upper-right corner.

Tip

In Opera, press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (macOS) to view a list of your downloaded files.

Tip

If you're using Microsoft Windows, you can also come across our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows.