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How to manage my downloads in Google Chrome?

August 14, 2009 20:30 PDT
14

Posted by Andrew.

Download a file in Google Chrome

When you download a file from a website in Google Chrome, a downloads bar appears at the bottom of the tab where you can monitor the progress of your downloading file. If you're downloading an executable file (such as files with .exe, .dll, or .bat extensions), first accept the download by clicking Save on the downloads bar. This step helps prevent malicious software from automatically downloading to your computer.

To view your downloads history, click Tools menu, then select Downloads, open the Download page (you can also press the hotkey Ctrl + J or type chrome://downloads/ in the address bar), as it is shown in the screenshot:

Screenshot: Chrome Download Page

Screenshot: Google Chrome download Manager page

  • Pause a download

    • Open the Download page, click the Pause link for the download.

  • Cancel a download

    • Open the Download page, select the downloaded file, then click Cancel.

  • Clear download history

    • Open the Download page, click the Clear all link.

Change the default download location for Google Chrome

By default, Google Chrome sets your download location to /Documents and Settings/<user>/My Documents/Downloads. To set a specific location, please follow these steps:

  1. Click Tools menu, then select Options.
  2. Click the Minor Tweaks tab (or Under the Hood if you're using Google Chrome Beta).
  3. Click the Browse button in the Downloads section and choose a download location.
  4. If you'd rather choose a specific location for each download, please check the Ask where to save each file before downloading option.
  5. Click the Close button.

Automatically open downloaded files

If you want files that have the same file type as the one you're downloading to always open after they're done downloading, click the menu arrow next to the file button in the downloads bar, then select Always open files of this type, as it is shown in the screenshot below:

Screenshot: Chrome Download - Automatically open downloaded files

Screenshot: Automatically open downloaded files in Google Chrome

To prevent potentially malicious files from automatically downloading to your computer, this option isn't available for executable file types, such as those with .exe, .dll, or .bat extensions.

Other resources about Google Chrome and Downloads


Comments:
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#1  posted on March 14, 2010 08:31 PDT
How do i see my downloads

#2  posted on May 19, 2010 23:08 PDT
how to change my dowmload setting i dont want google chrome to dowmload any file that i try to download i have free internet download manager to do that for me

#3  posted on October 26, 2010 10:25 PDT
This is a load of crap because in the beta version there is NO "download section" listed in the Under The Hood section therefore you cannot choose where you want downloads to go. You have no choice.

#4  posted on July 01, 2011 08:18 PDT
Downloading is a kind of dissapointment in Chrome. The download manager must show the progress in percentage using a bar indication so it is easily monitored

#5  posted on July 28, 2011 06:27 PDT
I want to view downloads without actually putting them on the hard drive. How do I set Chrome to do that? Thank you.

#6  posted on August 12, 2011 02:47 PDT
CTRL+J is a fantastic short-cut!

#7  posted on October 01, 2011 05:20 PDT
I Love Google Chrme

#8  posted on November 16, 2011 17:09 PST
One of my downloads was interupted, but there's no option to resume it. There should be a "resume" option like in Opera.

#9  posted on November 27, 2011 00:01 PST
I DOWN LOADED IMAGES, GAMES, SOFTWARE AND SONGS, HOW DO I ACCESS THEM AND HOW DO I PUT THEM ON THE HARD DRIVE. CHROME IS HARDER THAN THE NORMAL GOOGLE BROWSER, CANT SEEM TO GET ANYTHING DONE AND ITS SLOWER I NOTICED. I JUST WANT THE STUFF I DOWNLOADED AND THEN I'LL SWITCH BACK.

#10  posted on November 30, 2012 00:16 PST
Even if I choose to "Ask where to save each file before downloading", it still directing me toward the location where is pointed in the bar above.
Is there a way to be empty?
I want different settings for different things, not all things in the same location.

#11  posted on February 25, 2013 07:59 PST
I want to be able to preview the file before deciding if it is to be saved to my hard drive. Is there a way to do that?
replied on February 25, 2013 23:06 PST:
No. This extension doesn't support for this feature.

#12  posted on March 04, 2013 07:38 PST
I want to make all my downloaded documents open on my secondary monitor. However, I am downloading and opening excel files while working in an excel file on my main monitor. So, the trick with opening the program on the secondary screen and then downloading and opening does not work. Is there seriously no option for this?

#13  posted on September 10, 2013 17:42 PDT
Is there any way I can set the Chrome downloader to automatically do a virus check with my Antivirus software, for each download?

At this point, I am not able to figure out how.

Tell me if it's possible.

Thanks

#14  posted on December 06, 2014 18:33 PST
when i try to open an app the windows media player pops up,it,s doing it with everything,please help.sonya.

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