safari downloads on mac

Where to Find Downloaded Files in Safari on a Mac and How to Manage Them

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While browsing the web in Safari, it’s common to need to download files from different websites. But sometimes it can be a challenge to find where these Safari downloads are saved.

Below are several ways to find and manage Safari downloads on your Mac.

How to Download Files Using Safari

There are different ways to save items from Safari to your Mac , depending on the type of item you want to save. While some items in webpages can’t be downloaded, files, images, software, and apps often come with a dedicated download button. Otherwise, Control-click or two-finger tap an item to save or download it.

It’s best not to download software or apps if they aren’t from a trusted source.

Where to Find Safari Downloads on a Mac

Unless you’ve chosen otherwise, items that you’ve downloaded from Safari automatically go to your Downloads folder. To find this, open Finder and click Downloads from the sidebar or press Cmd + Option + L .

You can change where your downloaded files save, if you want:

• Head to Safari > Preferences .
• Click the General tab. Go to File download location , then choose from the popup. Select Ask for each download if you want to be in more control of each download.
• If you want to select a specific destination, click Other and select your desired folder.

Use the Downloads Button in Safari

Quickly access your downloads in Safari by clicking the Downloads button, a downward arrow enclosed in a circle icon on the top-right of the Safari window. Note that this won’t appear unless you’ve recently downloaded an item.

Open the Downloads Stack in the Dock

Another way to immediately access your downloaded files is through the Dock. Your recent downloads are often found on the right side of the Dock in a stack. Hover over it to preview the contents or click to expand it.

Open the Downloads Folder in Finder

As we already mentioned, you can also find your Safari downloads using Finder. This is a valuable utility to locate items on our Mac. Simply click the magnifying button on your menu bar and type "downloads," or go to your Dock and click Finder to open the Finder window.

You can usually find the Downloads folder in the sidebar, under Favorites.

How to Manage Your Safari Downloads

There are several ways to manage your in-progress or completed downloads in Safari. To perform these actions, open the Downloads menu in Safari itself. Here’s what you can do:

• Pause Downloads: If you’re currently downloading, click the stop button beside the file name to pause the download, then click the resume button to resume it again.
• Remove a downloaded item: If you want to remove a single item from the list, Control-click the item and select Remove from List . You can also remove all your recently downloaded items by clicking Clear in the top right of the popup.

By default, Safari automatically deletes downloaded items after a day. If you want to change this:

• Go to Safari > Preferences .
• Click General , then go to Remove download list items . Choose from After one day , When Safari quits , Upon successful download , or Manually .

Manage Your Safari Downloads

There is a lot of content you can download on the web, and simply knowing how to download it is usually half the battle. But once you’ve done that, you can use the tips in this guide to find and manage your Safari downloads with ease, even customizing your download preferences to get fuller control over where your files save and when they get deleted.

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How to Change Where Safari Downloads Are Saved on Your Mac

In macOS, Apple's Safari browser includes a download manager that you can use to keep track of any currently downloading files, restart partially downloaded files, and reveal downloads in Finder.

If you've downloaded files recently, you can access Safari's download manager at any time by selecting View -> Show Downloads in the menu bar, or by pressing the keyboard shortcut Option-Command-L .

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Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Performance

More with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

• JetStream /
• MotionMark /
• Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

Privacy is built in.

Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect. That’s why Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. Upgrading to iCloud+ gives you even more privacy protections, including the ability to sign up for websites and services without having to share your personal email address.

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

How-To Geek

How to change the location of safari's download folder.

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By default, when you download something using Safari, it gets saved in your Mac's main Downloads folder. If you'd rather save your files somewhere else, you can change the default save folder. Here's how to do it.

With Safari open, click the "Safari" menu and then click "Preferences."

On the General tab of the preferences window, click the "File download location" drop-down menu and then click "Other."

Browse to--or create-- a new folder and then click "Select."

And that's it. It's a super simple change to make, but if you don't know the option is there in the first place, you might not even think to look for it.

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How to Manage Safari Downloads on a Mac

Catalina Quick Tip

In macOS Catalina’s Safari web browser, you can choose where downloaded files are stored. By default, they’re deposited in your Downloads folder.

Safari Download Folder Location

You can find the Downloads folder by going to the Users folder on your Mac’s hard drive and clicking User. You’ll see it listed along with folders for Applications, Movies, Music, Pictures, Public, and Sites.

Change Safari Download Folder

If you wish to change where downloads go, go to Safari’s Preferences and select General. You’ll see a dialog box that allows you to select a new download location by choosing Other or have Safari ask you where you want a file deposited with each download.

Remove Safari Downloads

You can also choose when you wish to remove downloaded items: after one day, when Safari quits, or after a successful download. Or you can choose to do it manually by dragging files from the Downloads folder in your Users folder to the trash.

Open Safe Files After Downloading

Finally, you can choose whether or not to automatically open “safe” files after they download. Such files usually include movies, pics, PDFs, text documents, and archives — which are usually safe to download. However, life is rife with complications, so proceed with caution.

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Your instructions are a little confusing. Most novice users do not see the Users folder (other than in a file dialog box) because it is a level above their home folder. Then, when you say, “You can find the Downloads folder by going to the Users folder on your Mac’s hard drive and clicking User,” that should say to click on the name of your own home folder, as there is nothing with the name “User.”

But really, there is no reason to discuss the Users folder. Most novice users only see the folders/files within their own home folder, and these instructions are only to change where your own downloads go. So the instructions should just point out that there is a Downloads folder in your own home folder.

The screenshot you provide is not what one see in the Preferences dialog to set the preferred download location. You should provide a screenshot of what one sees when setting the download location preference.

This has been a feature of Safari as far back as I can remember. It’s not unique to Catalina. I’ve been using an alternate downloads folder for many years—on an external hard drive to save space on my internal drive. Your article implies that this is a new feature in Catalina, which is very far from the truth.

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Where to find Safari’s downloads list

A few readers have asked about the downloads list in macOS Safari—in particular, how to find it when the button is missing and where to find entries for older downloads.

While it seems like a simple matter of clicking a button and scrolling, Apple added some sophistication that has tripped people up. In earlier versions of Safari, the Downloads button was always present and all previous downloads appeared in a list. You could click a button to clear the list or use other history-wiping tools to erase it.

In the most recent Safari releases for OS X and macOS Sierra, the Downloads only appears when there are items in a list, and you can choose to age out the entries.

Safari lets you expire the downloads list in three ways, or keep it around until you opt to clear it.

In Safari > Preferences, the General tab offers Remove Download List Items as a pop-up menu with choices of After One Day, When Safari Quits, Upon Successful Download, and Manually. While I don’t recall ever changing this option, it’s set to After One Day on my main computer; Apple may have chosen that for us as an option when the item was added as a preference.

Thus, if you have any of the options except Manually checked, the Downloads button will routinely disappear. If you’re relying on that list as a record of what you’ve downloaded in the past, make sure the option is set to Manually.

This has something to do with privacy, of course. By dumping the list routinely or in certain cases, Apple ensures that less information about your behavior gets retained for later examination—although if someone can get close enough to my machine to check out my Downloads list, they’re also likely to be able to access my Downloads folder.

Ask Mac 911

We’ve compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions we get, and the answers to them: read our super FAQ to see if you’re covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to [email protected] including screen captures as appropriate. Mac 911 cannot reply to email with troubleshooting advice nor can we publish answers to every question.

Author: Glenn Fleishman , Contributor

Glenn Fleishman’s most recent books include Take Control of iOS and iPadOS Privacy and Security, Take Control of Calendar and Reminders, and Take Control of Securing Your Mac. In his spare time, he writes about printing and type history. He’s a senior contributor to Macworld, where he writes Mac 911.

Recent stories by Glenn Fleishman:

• Should you shut down your Mac when away for long periods?
• How to stop Safari from opening links or files when you use a different Mac browser
• ‘Show Sidebar’ option turned off in the Finder? Here’s how to bring it back to macOS

Mac: How to always allow downloads in Safari

The default privacy and security settings on Apple devices are definitely dialed in relatively high and while that’s a great default, you may want to customize yours to best suit your workflows. Follow along for how to always allow downloads in Safari for specific websites or even across the board.

The default setting for downloads from websites on  Mac  is for Safari to ask. That’s a nice approach for security and privacy but for specific websites you may trust and download from frequently, it’s handy to set Safari to always allow downloads without asking first.

• Open Safari on your Mac
• Click Safari in the menu bar (top left corner) then choose  Preferences…
• At the top of the window, click  Websites
• Now on the left-hand sidebar click  Downloads
• Click the Ask/Deny/Allow drop-down on the right-hand side next to sites to dial in your preferences
• Use  When visiting other websites  to change download settings for all websites

Here’s how these steps look:

Once you’ve opened Safari Preferences here’s what you’ll see in the Websites > Downloads section:

The three sections to look out for are Currently Open Websites , Configured Websites , and When visiting other websites .

As shown above, click the Allow, Ask, or Deny drop-down button to change your settings.

If you’re looking to change your Safari download preferences for all websites, click the drop-down at the bottom of the window next to  When visiting other websites .

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Apple Safari for Mac

Apple's Web browser.

Apple Safari overview

Apple Safari is Apple's web browser that comes bundled with the most recent macOS. Safari is faster and more energy efficient than other browsers, so sites are more responsive and your notebook battery lasts longer between charges. Built-in privacy features are stronger than ever. It works with iCloud to let you browse seamlessly across all your devices. And it gives you great ways to find and share your favorites. Put it all together, and no other browser offers such a rich web experience.

Safari for Mac has a condensed and minimalistic interface that offers mac users faster, private browsing with fewer interruptions and extended battery life.

When you download Safari for Mac you will get enhanced protection against invasive malicious software and customizable private browsing options to protect your information.

While browsing privately in Safari, pages that you visit in private mode will not appear in your browsing history list.

The Safari browser uses fewer system resources and allows extended browsing times while iCloud allows you to sync all your web activity seamlessly across devices.

A vast library of extensions available to enhance usability and productivity in the workplace or at home.

How to Update Safari on a Mac?

• Open "System Preferences" and click on the "Software Update" icon.
• If you have an update available it will list the version of macOS that you will be updating too, and what is going to change.
• To start the update there will be an "Update" button.

Note: this is on macOS Catalina as older versions require that you use the "App Store" to update Safari.

Safari Features

• Intelligent Tracking Prevention - enhanced privacy protection
• Reader mode - read without ads and other distractions
• Safari App Extensions - to customize the browsing experience on macOS
• Web Inspector - create custom audits with the new audit tab for running tests against web content
• Use iCloud to sync seamlessly across all your devices
• Browse Desktop sites with Ipad or iPhone
• Enhanced support for the most popular productivity websites
• Dark mode support for websites
• Enhanced password protection
• Sign in With Apple account to Safari now supported
• New Changes sidebar in the Elements tab
• Added the Device Settings menu
• New Security tab in the resources view
• Safari Developer Tools
• Pay with Apple Pay
• Customizable RSS feeds

Compatibility

The default browser for Apple devices and there are no official versions of Safari for other devices. Apple no longer supports Mac OS 10.14 for Macbooks older than 2012.

Known Issues

• No support for WebSQL
• No support for Legacy Safari Extensions
• Can't update Safari on OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or earlier
• no support for windows
• Poor support for new web technologies and open source formats

What’s new in version 17.5

Resolved issues.

• Fixed the proximity calculation for implicit @scope. (124640124)
• Fixed the Grid track sizing algorithm logical height computation avoid unnecessary grid item updates. (124713418)
• Fixed any @scope limit making the element out of scope. (124956673)

Full list of changes available here

• Launch Safari
• Clear History
• Clear cache
• Remove extension
• Turn off plugins within Safari
• Delete plugins
• Your browser will be restored to its factory settings.
• Launch Safari and click on the menu
• Select the "Preferences" option.
• Go to the "General" tab.
• Select the default browser to use.
• Close Preferences.
• Quit Safari.

What customer like

What needs improvements, apple safari qualities, write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment, ( 964 reviews of apple safari ).

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Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Where is the Safari Download button?

My download button disappeared from the Safari Toolbar three days ago. I have tried all of the 'solutions' online (including from the Mac Techs on here)but none of them work. Here's what I've tried:

• Go to 'Customise Toolbar' and drag the downloads icon to the toolbar = There is no downloads icon in the Customise Toolbar window.
• Go to preferences and set 'Clear Downloads' to 'Manually' = Nothing changes- still no button (even after quitting Safari/ restarting Mac.
• Download something. This will keep something in the list and the button will remain = I have lots of items in downloads and have not cleared it. This simply is not true.

I note from a previous post that this has been an issue for some time but Apple have provided no solution. There is plenty of space on the toolbar, so why remove this? It is an important part of my workflow. I don't want to go to the dock every time.

Any ideas, which don't include the same tired 'no work' solutions (as posted above)?

Posted on Mar 30, 2020 6:05 AM

Posted on Mar 30, 2020 7:00 AM

Hi, thanks for your reply.

The download button does re-appear while Etrecheck downloads but then disappears immediately afterwards. The downloads icon does not re-appear in the customise toolbar set.

I am looking for a solution where the downloads button is permanently located on the toolbar, as it always has been.

Thanks for your efforts to help me to solve this, though.

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Mar 30, 2020 7:00 AM in response to dominic23

Mar 30, 2020 9:19 AM in response to dominic23

I am reposting the link I posted earlier.

https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/download-items-from-the-web-sfri40598/mac

Apple clearly states and I quote:

• By default, Safari automatically removes an item after one day. To change when items are automatically removed, choose Safari > Preferences, click General, then click the “Remove download list items” pop-up menu and choose an option.

Mar 30, 2020 10:11 AM in response to DonkeyShed

DonkeyShed Said:

"Where is the Safari Download button?: Hi, thanks for your suggestion.: As previously mentioned, I do not have 'Downloads' in the Customise Toolbar set. Lots of people are also reporting this.[...] "

You are welcome.

As a Last Resort...

Try Reinstalling the macOS:

Safari is built into the macOS . So downloading it as a plugin would not be an applicable/available option. You would need to reinstall the macOS

Reinstall the MacOS:

Reinstalling your  macOS  may be the way to go about solving this. Sometimes installed apps ( Safari  in this case) become manipulated, technically. And with  Safari  being a part of the  macOS , it cannot be uninstalled itself. Reinstall the  macOS  to fix corrupt-installed items. Missing files will be reinstalled, and moved items with be placed back to where they should be. So, reinstall the  macOS.

As for   Reinstalling the Mac OS:

Nothing would be lost. It’s just that all misconfigured files would be fixed and placed back where they should be, with the Safari app being replaced.

Go Here:   How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support .

Backing Up your Mac:

Are you Concerned of Losing Data?

• If not, just move ahead and erase the disk and then install the  macOS
• If so, back up your  Mac : (using  Time Machine)

How to Use Time Machine:

Create  a  Time Machine backup  of your Mac, so that you can have something to  restore  your  Mac  from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall.

Mar 30, 2020 11:49 AM in response to TheLittles

I think this is probably the way to go. Not what I'd ideally want to do but at least it's a different option from the constant echoing of the 'don't clear the downloads'/ 'set to manual' you hear everywhere (which works for no-one).

Out of curiosity, do Apples tech support people ever actually respond on here?

Thanks for your input.

Mar 30, 2020 8:01 AM in response to DonkeyShed

Mar 30, 2020 6:39 AM in response to DonkeyShed

As a test, try this.

Sure. There is no down download button in the Safari Toolbar and in "Customize Toolbar dropdown sheet.

Try downloading a little app from web.

I Downloaded Etrecheck from Etrecheck.com

Downloads button appeared in the Safari Toolbar.

Downloads button is also added to Customize Toolbar default set.

Before clearing the list.

After clearing the list by clicking the "Clear" button, Downloads button disappeared.

Mar 30, 2020 7:25 AM in response to DonkeyShed

" I am looking for a solution where the downloads button is permanently located on the toolbar, as it always has been. "

View the Two Screenshoots Below.

• Use: View Menu
• Select: Customize Toolbar "
• Select: Downloads
• Drag: "Downloads" to the bottom (Screenshot 1)
• DragL the toolbar the top (Screenshot 2)
• Click: Done Button

Screenshot 1:

Mar 30, 2020 10:09 AM in response to DonkeyShed

" Where is the Safari Download button?: My download button disappeared from the Safari Toolbar three days ago. I have tried all of the 'solutions' online (including from the Mac Techs on here)but none of them work. [...] Any ideas, which don't include the same tired 'no work' solutions (as posted above)? "

Create and Use a New Administrator:

Create a new administrator-type user (Go To: System Preferences > Users & Groups > and create a new administrator-type user). If it works, then it is obviously something misconfigured in your current user. So, you could, in that case, create the new user, move everything from this current user to the new user, and then rid of this current user.

If that is N/A, then reinstall the macOS , as I've mentioned below .

Mar 30, 2020 9:09 AM in response to DonkeyShed

Mar 30, 2020 9:27 AM in response to DonkeyShed

As one final note, the list will only appear after setting to manual once you download a new item. Prior to setting to manual, all the downloaded items were removed from safari's cache. Therefor, setting to manual will only affect the behavior of the button and it's contents after the setting change is made. No old downloads will show up in the list.

Mar 30, 2020 11:38 AM in response to RSKC_support

Hi, I do appreciate you trying to help, but this simply does not work. I have had this same advice from several sources and have tried this countless times. It hasn't worked for other users either. My download list is not empty. I have set to manual after a new download and nothing changes. The button just disappears.

Thanks for trying.

Mar 30, 2020 11:42 AM in response to dominic23

Sorry mate, I know you want to help but if you read my original post, this has already been tried (countless times). It makes absolutely NO difference if I 'click the “Remove download list items” pop-up menu and choose an option.'

This is the advice everyone gives. And it simply does not work.

Apr 7, 2020 3:18 PM in response to DonkeyShed

It sounds like you need to reinstall macOS then as something isn't working correctly.

Go ahead and start a reinstall, make sure to back up everything first.

Once you are all set up again, make sure to change your settings in system preferences to manually removed items and then download something and see if the icon appears and stays. You can google for "test files" to download a small file.

Apr 7, 2020 5:23 PM in response to DonkeyShed

” Where is the Safari Download button?: Out of curiosity, do Apples tech support people ever actually respond on here? “

So word has it, Apple Support rarely reads these forums in their own time, as it is. But, as for their responding, that I would not know.

Mar 30, 2020 7:53 AM in response to TheLittles

Hi, thanks for your suggestion.

As previously mentioned, I do not have 'Downloads' in the Customise Toolbar set. Lots of people are also reporting this.

Here is my version of Customise Toolbar:

Where to Download Safari

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Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 197 for macOS 15 Sequoia

Right on schedule, Apple is rolling out Safari Technology Preview 197 update with support for the upcoming macOS 15 Sequoia. It comes hot on the heels of the second developer beta of macOS 15 Sequia , released alongside second developer betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18 , visionOS 2, tvOS 18, and watchOS 11.

The latest Safari Technology Preview 197 update includes improvements in several areas like Canvas, CSS, Forms, JavaScript, Media, Rendering, Security, SVG, Web Inspector, WebDriver, and WebGL with fixes and updates. It’s compatible with the current macOS Sonoma and macOS Sequoia beta versions.

Apple launched Safari Technology Preview to gather input from both developers and users during the browser’s development. It can be used alongside the regular Safari browser and doesn’t need a developer account to install.

The latest ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update can be downloaded using the Software Update in System Preferences or System Settings. It’s accessible to anyone who has the browser installed. You can find detailed release notes attached below.

Canvas Resolved Issues: Fixed a detached OffscreenCanvas to not transfer an ImageBuffer. (279775@main) (129270155) CSS Resolved Issues: Fixed custom counter styles disclosure-open and disclosure-closed to point to the correct direction in right-to-left. (279404@main) (109014745) Forms Resolved Issues: Fixed form controls drawing with an active appearance when the window is inactive. (279458@main) (127391198) JavaScript Resolved Issues: Fixed fractionalDigits of Intl.DurationFormat to be treated as at most 9 digits if it is omitted. (279632@main) (129145390) Media Resolved Issues: Fixed multiple cases of audio distortion occurring when using AudioWorklets. (279409@main) (128551401) Rendering Resolved Issues: Fixed min-content calculation for unstyled only-child inlines elements. (273633@main) (128348427), Fixed ellipsis rendering multiple times when position: relative and top are used. (279645@main) (128394449), Fixed a bug for inline elements inserted in reverse order after a block in a continuation. (279422@main) (128826228), Fixed the flash of a page background-colored bar in the footer when the window is resized. (279562@main) (128940179) Security Resolved Issues: Fixed CORS bypass on private localhost domain using 0.0.0.0 host and mode “no-cors”. (279835@main) (125913679) SVG Resolved Issues: Fixed error handling for invalid filter primitive references. (279421@main) (104262208), Fixed SVGLength to sync with the WebIDL specification. (279659@main) (129169603) Web Inspector Resolved Issues: Fixed Web Inspector to show nested workers. (279793@main) (108322385), Fixed Accessibility inspector for switch controls to report “State: on/off” instead of “Checked: true/false”. (279772@main) (128952449) WebDriver Resolved Issues: Fixed retrieving titles containing multibyte characters. (279767@main) (123987149) WebGL Resolved Issues: Fixed OffscreenCanvas.transferToImageBuffer() to clear the WebGL drawing buffer. (279434@main) (126738038)

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• Abhinav Anand

Vidnerix unlocks video downloads via Safari on jailbroken devices

While the Safari app on iPhones and iPads allows for file downloading, one area where it falls short is the ability to download embedded video files from websites.

This limitation affects stock devices, but if you’re jailbroken, then you can take advantage of a new jailbreak tweak called Vidnerix by iOS developer foxfortmobile to unlock the capability.

As noted in the tweak’s depiction page in the Havoc repository, Vidnerix supports downloading both mp4 and m3u8 video types from the Safari web browser only. The video must be played in full screen for the Vidnerix download button to appear.

Once downloaded, m3u8 video files are automatically transcoded into the more compatible mp4 file format for easier sharing and viewing.

Just as you’d come to expect, Vidnerix supports background downloads (as long as the Safari app isn’t forcefully closed), notifications when downloads complete or fail, an option to save videos to the Files or Photos apps, and the ability to copy direct video URLs.

It’s probably self-evident, but Vidnerix can’t be used to download DRM-protected media from content providers such as Disney+, Hulu, Netflix , and others. Live video streams also can’t be downloaded with Vidnerix.

As for video quality, the developer tells us that the video will be downloaded in the same quality that it’s being viewed in. If higher quality is available from the video provider, it’s important to select the higher quality before playing the video in order to download it in that same higher quality.

Vidnerix supports the latest rootless jailbreaks on iOS & iPadOS 15 and 16, including Dopamine and palera1n . If you’re interested in giving it a try, then you can purchase the tweak for $2.99 from the Havoc repository via your favorite package manager app.

Are you going to enhance your Safari downloading capabilities with the new Vidnerix jailbreak tweak? Let us know why or why not in the comments section down below.

Safari Support

Update Safari

Get the latest version of Safari for your Mac, iPhone,  iPad, or Apple Vision Pro.

• Learn how to update Safari

Clear your browsing history

Remove all records that Safari keeps of where you've browsed during a period of time you choose.

• Learn how to clear your browsing history

Block pop-ups

Block pop-up windows and handle persistent ads on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

• Learn how to block pop-ups

Clear Cookies

See the websites that have stored cookies and website data, and remove some or all of it.

• Learn about cookies on iPhone and iPad
• Learn about cookies on Mac

Websites aren't loading

Resolve issues if websites aren't loading or Safari quits unexpectedly.

• Resolve issues on iPhone or iPad
• Resolve issues on Mac

Increase your online security

Avoid phishing and other scams , and get warnings about suspected phishing websites.

• Change security settings on iPhone and iPad
• Change security settings on Mac

Privacy Report

See a list of known trackers Safari has blocked from tracking you across the websites you’ve visited.

• View your Privacy Report
• Manage your privacy

Safari User Guide

Learn about all the features and settings in Safari for iPhone , iPad , and Mac .

Search for more topics

Apple Communities

Find answers, ask questions, and connect with other Apple users.

• Ask or search now

Get Support

We can help you find the best support options.

Support app

Get personalized access to solutions for your Apple products.

• Download the Apple Support app

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You Can Download iOS 18 Beta 2 on Your iPhone Right Now

The second iOS 18 developer beta adds iPhone Mirroring for Mac and upgrades to SharePlay screen sharing.

iOS 18 will be available to the general public starting this fall.

Nearly two weeks after releasing the first developer beta for  iOS 18 , Apple has now dropped iOS 18 beta 2.

The second iOS developer beta offers two new features, including the ability to remotely mirror your iPhone on your Mac , which Apple showcased at WWDC , and improvements to SharePlay screen sharing.

But if you don't want to wait for the general public release later this year, you can download iOS 18  right now -- as long as you're fine with running a developer beta on your iPhone .

Read more :  iPhone Mirroring Has My Attention: Here's How Apple Says This New Feature Will Work

Apple earlier this month announced iOS 18 at the  Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) , its yearly developer seminar. The latest iOS update brings new features like a redesigned home screen, a customizable control center , locked and hidden apps,  scheduled text messages , a new password manager app, text messaging via satellite and a huge redesign to the Photos app.

Plus, there are all the new AI features .

While iOS 18 for everyone is slated for fall, Apple has already issued the first and second iOS 18 developer betas, which you can download immediately, as long as you're enrolled in the Apple Developer program.

The Apple Developer program has long required a fee to join, at $100 per year. Last year, with the release of the iOS 17 developer beta, Apple created a free tier of the Apple Developer program, which allows you to download any developer betas for free as long as you have an Apple ID.

If you want to try out iOS 18 today, here's how.

Why you might not want to download the iOS 18 developer beta

Just because you can download the iOS 18 developer beta for free doesn't mean you need to, or should.

Early developer betas, such as this one, are intended for developers to test their apps on upcoming versions of iOS. It's also a way for developers to identify and report bugs, which helps Apple improve the software before it's released to the general public. That's a major reason why you may not want to download the iOS 18 developer beta on your phone: the bugs.

A software bug, or any other glitches, can make your phone unstable. You may not be able to use some of your favorite apps, and even if you can, you may deal with apps that crash unexpectedly. The performance of your entire phone could be affected; the developer beta could make your phone lag or lead your battery to drain faster than usual or even overheat.

Avoid an Overheated Phone This Summer With These Tips

I've downloaded developer betas on my personal iPhone for the last decade, and haven't faced any major issues. It's mostly just annoying when an app crashes or my battery dies quickly, but I've always managed.

If you have a backup iPhone, you should definitely use that for the iOS 18 developer beta, because you won't need it every day, so you won't feel the full effects of any bugs or other issues. If you don't have one, running iOS 18 developer beta on your primary should hopefully be fine.

In case you still want iOS 18 but don't want to deal with the developer beta, there's always the more stable public beta for iOS 18, which should be released later this month. You can sign up here for that.

What to know before you download the iOS 18 developer beta

Before you start downloading the iOS 18 developer beta, there are a few things you should know:

• You need a supported phone . iOS 18 will run on the iPhone XS and later.
• Update your phone . It's best to update to the latest general release before updating to a developer beta. The latest iOS version is currently 17.5.1. You'll at least need to be running iOS 16.4 if you want to download the iOS 18 developer beta as an over-the-air update.
• Also, back up your phone. You need a backup if you ever want to go back to iOS 17. To back up your phone, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now . You can also back it up to your computer.

If your iPhone doesn't automatically back up, you can do it manually through your settings.

Now, you're ready to sign up for the Apple Developer program.

How to enroll in the Apple Developer program for free

As I mentioned, there's now a free tier of the Apple Developer program, which allows you to download any developer beta without paying. Using the Apple ID that's connected to the device you want to update to iOS 18, do the following:

1. Go to the Apple Developer website , hit the three-dash menu in the top-left and then tap Account in the menu that appears.

2. Sign in with your Apple ID.

3. Finally, read through the Apple Developer Agreement, check all the boxes and hit Submit .

You won't get full access to the development tools that the paid Apple Developer program membership offers, but you'll have access to the iOS 18 developer beta. If you're a developer, you should consider signing up for the paid version.

You can then scroll to Software Downloads to check out everything you can install, including the iOS 18 developer beta.

Install the iOS 18 developer beta over-the-air on your iPhone

You can download the iOS 18 developer beta manually, but the easiest way to do it is with an over-the-air update -- just like you would download and install your regular iOS update. After you sign up for the Apple Developer program, you should see the option to download the iOS 18 developer beta in your settings.

To download the iOS 18 developer beta over-the-air, here's what you need to do:

1. On your iPhone, go to the Settings > General > Software Update .

2. Next, go into Beta Updates and tap the iOS 18 Developer Beta option.

3. Finally, go back and tap Download and Install under the new "iOS 18 Developer Beta" option that appears.

Note : If you don't see the iOS 18 beta option, you'll need to wait.

Enter your passcode, agree to the terms and conditions and then just wait for the update to install on your iPhone. Depending on your internet connection, the entire process should take about 10 or 15 minutes.

Once your phone reboots, you should be running the iOS 18 developer beta.

You can also download the iOS 18 developer beta with your Mac

The problem with an over-the-air update is that it requires a certain amount of storage, so if your storage is nearly full, you won't be able to use the option in the previous section. Fortunately, you can use your computer to update to the iOS 18 developer beta.

1. On your Mac, go to this Apple Developer Program download page , find "iOS 18 beta," click Download Restore Images and download the iOS beta software restore image for your iPhone model.

2. Connect your phone to your computer and enter your device passcode or hit Trust This Computer .

3. Open a Finder window and then click your device in the sidebar under Locations .

4. Finally, hold down the Option key, click Check for Update and choose the iOS 18 beta software restore image you just downloaded from the Apple Developer website.

If you have no storage on your iPhone, this is the way to go to get iOS 18.

The iOS 18 developer beta software will begin to install on your iPhone. Wait for a few minutes and when your phone reboots, you should have access to iOS 18.

For more, check out how you'll soon be able to use your iPhone on your Mac .

More from WWDC

• WWDC 2024: Everything Apple Announced
• WWDC 2024 Live Blog: iOS 18, AI, Siri and More
• Apple Intelligence Brings New iPhone Features, ChatGPT Integration

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• New Coverage on Operating Systems

macOS Sequoia: A new Siri, window snapping, and everything else you need to know

Apple previewed its upcoming desktop operating system, macOS Sequoia , at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10. The headlining feature for macOS Sequoia is obviously Apple Intelligence, which is what Apple is calling its new portfolio of AI features. There are other big additions to the next version of macOS that have nothing to do with Apple Intelligence, too. For the first time, macOS Sequoia will bring proper window snapping to the best Macs , finally rivaling the Snap feature built into Windows 11 . There are other neat tricks like iPhone Mirroring, gaming improvements, and better Mac Virtual Display support.

If you're already excited about loading up macOS Sequoia on your Mac desktop or laptop, this is the place to be. We're going to round up everything you need to know about macOS 15, from the operating system's availability, feature set, and supported devices.

Which Macs will support macOS Sequoia?

The purge of intel macs slowly continues.

Apple dropped support for two years of Intel Macs when it cut the 2018 and 2019 MacBooks Air from the macOS Sequoia compatibility list. However, this is actually less alarming than macOS Sonoma, which saw numerous 2017 models lose support across multiple product lines. Here's the full list of computers compatible with macOS Sequoia :

• 2019 or later iMac
• 2022 or later Mac Studio
• 2018 or later Mac Mini
• 2019 or later Mac Pro
• 2017 iMac Pro
• 2020 or later MacBook Air
• 2018 or later MacBook Pro

There is a different set of compatibility requirements for the Apple Intelligence features included in macOS Sequoia, though. Luckily, it's quite simple. Any Apple Silicon Mac — that's a device with either an M1, M2, or M3-series system-on-a-chip — can use Apple Intelligence. Intel Macs won't get the latest artificial intelligence features.

Apple M3 vs. M2: Major changes, upgrades, and downgrades

When will macos sequoia be released, you can download a developer beta now if you're brave enough.

The first developer beta for macOS Sequoia released the same day it was announced, June 10, but that doesn't mean you should install it now. These early developer betas come with instability and carry a lot of risk, so we highly recommend waiting for public beta availability, which should come in July. The longer you wait, the more time Apple has to fix bugs and the better experience you'll get. We won't see the full release of macOS Sequoia for the masses until the fall, likely sometime after Apple's usual September event. However, if you're willing to take the risk, we have a guide to installing the macOS Sequoia beta . And if things go awry, here's how to switch back to a stable version .

Everything new in macOS Sequoia so far

We're still uncovering everything there is to know about the next version of macOS, because Apple doesn't always announce every feature or change. Nonetheless, here's what we know from the WWDC keynote and our early sleuthing through the macOS Sequoia developer beta.

Apple Intelligence

Of course, the big thing from WWDC is Apple Intelligence, and it's coming to macOS with Sequoia. There are writing tools throughout the operating system that'll help you improve your writing no matter where you're working. It's sort of like how Google's Help me write in Gemini for Workspace and Chrome work. Aside from writing, Apple Intelligence can also help you summarize text and figure out what notifications should be prioritized. There are other typical AI features, too, like image generation.

But the Apple Intelligence feature that'll make a difference to macOS users is an enhanced Siri. With artificial intelligence, Siri looks to be useful enough to replace Spotlight in your workflow. Usually, if you want to find a document, you'll ask Spotlight to search your Mac or iCloud. Now that Siri has been supercharged with Apple Intelligence, it might be a better option.

The new and improved Siri seems to understand context better, making it more helpful when trying to search your system or take actions in macOS. We'll need to test this ourselves before we make the claim that Siri can truly replace Spotlight. However, there are reasons to be excited about the new Siri in macOS Sequoia.

For all the details on Apple Intelligence, check out our breakdown below.

Apple Intelligence is bringing generative AI to your iDevices

Continuity improvements.

Apple added two big Continuity upgrades to macOS Sequoia, and one is a highly-requested feature and the other is something we didn't know we needed. Your iPhone's notifications will now show up on your Mac, which is something users have been clamoring to have for quite a while. Better yet, with iPhone Mirroring, you can completely control your iPhone from your Mac. It's neat for when you need to do something you can only do on your iPhone, but you don't want to leave your computer. Finally, later this year, Apple will introduce a macOS Sequoia feature that'll let users drag-and-drop files between iPhone and Mac.

Finally, window snapping

Pretty much every best Mac apps roundup we put together includes some sort of window management tool, because macOS was sorely lacking proper window snapping utilities in the past. Now, Apple has finally put macOS Sequoia on-par with Windows 11. Apple calls it "window tiling," but it's effectively the same as the Snap feature offered by Microsoft. You can drag windows to the top, bottom, sides, or corners of the screen to arrange them into tiles. Believe it or not, this is something you had to do manually on prior versions of macOS.

New presentation tools

macOS Sonoma was already the best operating system for video calls , and Apple builds on that with macOS Sequoia. There's a new feature called Presenter Preview that lets you see what you're about to share before you do it, preventing those awkward moments before they happen. Additionally, macOS will now support OS-level background replacements. That means you can set a custom background for macOS Sequoia, and it can follow you throughout any app that uses your computer's webcam. It joins existing background adjustment tools, like portrait mode and studio light.

New Safari Reader & Highlights views

Safari is mostly unchanged from prior versions of macOS, but there are two new views that aim to make it easier and simpler to view complicated webpages. The standard Reader mode gets a boost, adding a table of contents and an overview summary for what's on the page. With the new Highlights view, you can see the most important information straight from the address bar. For example, the address of a hotel when you're viewing the hotel's website. In addition to appearing on macOS Sequoia, these new views are also on Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Passwords app

Apple supported iCloud Passwords for a while, but it's now becoming a true password manager with the addition of a dedicated Passwords app. It's the new place to find all your usernames and passwords across all Apple platforms, including macOS Sequoia. The Passwords app on macOS Sequoia will also give you security warnings and provide verifications as needed.

Metal 3 and Game Porting Toolkit 2.0

Apple already introduced the Game Porting Toolkit with macOS Sonoma, which makes it easier for game developers to figure out if their titles will run on Apple Silicon. Now, with macOS Sequoia, we have the GPTK 2.0. According to Apple, this updated Game Porting Toolkit supports a larger set of game technologies, improved graphics and compute compatibility, ray tracing, the AVX2 instruction set, and increased performance overall. Metal tools, like Metal HUD, Metal GPU capture, and Metal System Trace, can all be used while evaluating games with GPTK 2.0.

Apple's Game Porting Toolkit unlocks a whole new world of gaming on your Mac

Plenty more features from ios and ipados 18.

Many of the features included in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will also make their way to macOS Sequoia. There are new ways to send and reply to iMessages in the new Messages app, like Send Later , which allows users to schedule a message for later. Tapbacks can now include any emoji or sticker, too. The Apple Notes app is getting collapsible sections for easy organization. Other minor updates can be seen in the Calculator, Photos, Calendar, Freeform, Weather, and Home apps.

iOS 18: Apple Intelligence, customizable Home Screens, and everything else you need to know

What's next for macos sequoia, time to find out what apple intelligence really means for the mac.

Unfortunately, the Apple Intelligence features won't be available until the fall when they are released in beta. We'll likely get a glimpse of Apple Intelligence before then through a developer or public beta of macOS Sequoia, but it isn't available as of now. That means we don't know exactly how Apple Intelligence will change the way you use your Mac, aside from what Apple showed us. Looking ahead, the next step for most people will be to wait for a public beta or an official rollout of macOS Sequoia. That is, unless you decide to take the risk and give the developer beta a shot right now.

Should I install the macOS beta version on my Mac?

Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, macos sequoia 15 beta 2 available to download.

MacOS Sequoia beta 2 has been released for users participating in the MacOS Sequoia 15 beta program for Apple Developers.

Technically speaking, anyone can enroll in the dev program and install MacOS Sequoia beta , but due to the nature of beta system software that is not advised for anyone who is not an advanced user or developer.

MacOS Sequoia 15 beta includes iPhone mirroring (assuming the iPhone is running iOS 18 beta as well), and has other new features like improved window tiling, dedicated Passwords app, AI Apple Intelligence features, changes to Safari and Photos app, and more.

Separately, iOS 18 beta 2, iPadOS 18 beta 2 , watchOS 11 beta 2, tvOS 18 beta 2, and visionOS 2 beta 2, are also available for developers to test.

How to Download & Install MacOS Sequoia 15 Beta 2

As always, you’ll want to backup your Mac with Time Machine prior to beginning any system software update, even beta updates.

• Go to the  Apple menu and choose “System Settings”
• Choose “General”
• Choose “Software Update”

You’ll need to restart the Mac to finish installation of the latest beta.

*Note that some users are not yet seeing the MacOS Sequoia beta 2 update available yet, you might try refreshing the software update screen if so.

MacOS Sequoia Beta 2 Download Not Showing? Try This

If the download for MacOS Sequoia Beta 2 is not showing up in Software Update after you have tried refreshing the preference panel, open the Terminal and execute the following command:

softwareupdate --download --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.0

Hit return, and this will download the full installer for the latest beta version of MacOS Sequoia (currently beta 2). The installer will appear in the /Applications folder when the download has complete.

macOS Sequoia 15 Beta 2 Installer Direct Download Link & IPSW File

Users can also download the package installer for Sequoia beta 2, or the IPSW file for MacOS Sequoia beta 2, directly from Apple:

• MacOS Sequoia 15 Developer Beta 2 InstallAssistant.pkg
• MacOS Sequoia developer beta 2 IPSW

These files may be useful for advanced users who are looking to install MacOS Seqouia betas into a virtual machine, onto multiple Macs, restore Macs, create boot disks, and more.

Speaking of virtual machines, if you’re having trouble getting Sequoia beta to install into a VM, make sure you follow this trick to resolve that issue by installing the Xcode 16 beta onto the host Mac beforehand.

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