How to delete downloads on Mac – Setapp

Managing Downloads on Your Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

It's easy to accumulate digital clutter on a Mac. Between work files, memes, and app installers, downloads quickly fill up your hard drive. This guide shows you how to reclaim valuable storage space by efficiently clearing downloads on your Mac.

Locating and Clearing the Downloads Folder

Most downloaded files reside in either your Desktop or the Downloads folder. Access the Downloads folder via the Finder (Dock icon), the Finder's "Go" menu, or the Option ⌘ L shortcut.

Deleting everything (⌘ A, then Delete) is risky. A better approach is to organize files by size to identify and delete large, unnecessary files efficiently. Right-click in the folder, select "Group By ➙ Size," and delete the largest files (⌘ Delete or right-click ➙ Move to Trash).

Tackling Hidden Download Folders

Applications often have their own download locations. For example, Zoom recordings might be stored in a non-obvious location. To find these hidden folders:

1. Open the application's Preferences (⌘ ,).
2. Locate the download settings (e.g., Zoom's Recording settings).
3. Identify the download location and delete unnecessary files.
4. Consider changing the default download location to your main Downloads folder.

Repeat this process for other apps that download files.

Eliminating Duplicate Files

Duplicate files are a common space hog. Utilize a dedicated duplicate file finder like Gemini to quickly identify and remove these. Gemini scans for identical files, even if their names differ, and intelligently pre-selects safe files for deletion.

1. Launch Gemini.
2. Click the plus icon.
3. Select your Home directory.
4. Click "Scan for Duplicates."
5. Click "Smart Cleanup."

Clearing Unused Files Across Your Mac

Beyond the Downloads folder, other large, unused files can accumulate. A simple Finder search for "." (a dot) followed by sorting by size (right-click ➙ Sort By ➙ Size) helps reveal large files. However, for a more thorough cleanup, consider using a dedicated optimization tool.

CleanMyMac X offers a "Large & Old Files" feature to identify and remove space-consuming, infrequently used files.

1. Launch CleanMyMac X.
2. Select the "Large & Old Files" tab.
3. Click "Scan."
4. Review and select files for removal.
5. Click "Remove."

Clearing Browser Download History

Clean up your browser's download history for a fresh start. Instructions vary by browser (Safari: click the Downloads icon, select "Clear"; Firefox: Tools ➙ Downloads (⌘ J), click "Clear Downloads"; Chrome: Window ➙ Downloads (Shift ⌘ J), three-dot menu ➙ "Clear all"). CleanMyMac X can also clear download history across multiple browsers simultaneously.

By following these steps and utilizing helpful apps like Gemini and CleanMyMac X, you can efficiently manage your Mac's downloads and free up significant storage space. Consider exploring Setapp for a free trial of these and other productivity-enhancing Mac applications.

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