How do you delete a download on a Mac? Clear Safari Downloads on Mac: Open Safari on the Mac. Click the gear icon beside the search bar. In the drop down menu, choose 'Downloads'. Click 'Clear' button at the left bottom to delete all the downloads. How do you open downloads on a Mac? View downloads on an Apple Mac. It's actually quite easy to delete music from iTunes, whether you are using a PC or Mac. To delete one song from iTunes: Step 1. Open iTunes and go to 'Songs.' Right-click the item you want to remove and choose 'Delete from Library.' In the popup, click 'Delete Song' to confirm the deletion.

Are you a new Mac user who wants to learn how to delete downloads on Mac? If yes, this article is just for you. Many individuals want to learn this process and get their Macs back on the proper performance level.

One of the main reasons for people to opt for Macs is uncompromised speed. However, you cannot expect the maximum amount of speed unless you maintain it properly. There are various tips and tricks to keep your Mac working at its top speed. One of the most widely used and effective ways to maintain your Mac’s optimal speed is proper space management. That means you have to get rid of unwanted files in a timely manner to maintain its speed. Otherwise, the limited space of the Mac can be filled with unnecessary files and cause it to run slower. This is particularly true when it comes to the ‘Downloads‘ folder of your Mac.

If you don’t take care of the ‘Downloads’ folder properly, it will become a mess eventually. Once the ‘Downloads’ folder is filled, you will be notified that you cannot download files anymore. Also, the system will become noticeably slow. So, if you wonder how to delete downloads on Mac and get the speed back, keep reading.

PS: If your Mac Running Slow, learn more about how to clear cookies on Mac, and how to clear the cache on Mac with ease.

What does ‘My Downloads Folder’ contain?

Before learning how to delete downloads on Mac, it is better to get a general idea about it. The ‘Downloads‘ folder is the destination on which the files you download from the internet are saved by default. In other words, all the files you download from the internet go to the ‘Downloads’ folder. Pictures, PDF, music, movies, apps, attachments, and anything else you download go in the ‘Downloads’ folder.

This folder is allocated to save downloaded files by default. As time goes by and you download files every day, this folder will get filled.

Besides, here, you will find out the best Clone Files Checker. And learn more about how to fix the Mac Keeps Crashing issue with ease.

How to delete downloads on Mac (the manual methods)

Let’s get into the real question here. How to delete downloads on Mac? The good news is that this section provides six methods for you to do it. All six methods mentioned here are manual ways so they can become somewhat difficult for beginners.

Method 01: Use ‘Finder’ to delete downloads

One of the popular ways to delete downloads on Mac is through the ‘Finder’ option. Mentioned below are the steps to follow.

• Select the option called the ‘Finder‘ located on the menu bar (towards the top of Mac’s screen).
• Select go, and it will display a drop-down with several options.
• From the options displayed, choose ‘Downloads.’
• You will be able to see all the downloaded files that are saved within the ‘Downloads‘ folder. If necessary, you can re-arrange the files depending on the size so you can delete the heavier files first.
• Now, choose the files that should be gone. You can choose all the files at once simply using Command + A keys. Then, drag all those files into Trash Can.

If you are using a Mac with macOS 10.6 or a newer version, you can jump into Method 03.

Besides, here, you will learn more about how to fix Time Machine stuck on preparing backup or How to Delete Time Machine Backups on Mac easily.

Method 02: Use ‘Terminal’ to delete downloads

‘Terminal‘ is another path you can use to access the ‘Downloads’ folder and delete the contents. Although it is rather a tricky option, the following steps will take you there comfortably.

• First of all, you should move the targeted files into desktop so you will access it easily.
• Go to ‘Utilities‘ or ‘Applications‘ folder and then go to ‘Terminal.’
• When you are in the ‘Terminal,’ you are required to type the text ‘cd~/Desktop.’ You are now guided to desktop.
• Type in ‘rm‘ followed by the file name to delete it. If you type ‘rm fly.jpeg,’ it will delete the file named ‘fly.jpeg,’ for instance.

Method 03: Use ‘Go Menu’ to delete downloads

This is another file that can allow you to delete ‘Downloads.’ Here are the steps to achieve that.

• First, you should access the option called ‘Finder‘ (you can repeat the steps mentioned in Method 01).
• Click on the option ‘Go Menu.’
• Select the option called ‘Go To folder.’ This will prompt a window.
• Then, type in ~/Downloads within the window. You will then be guided into the download folder, and you can delete any file.

Please note that this method only works for macOS 10.2 or newer.

Method 04: Use Browser to delete downloads

If you want to know how to delete downloads on Mac using a browser, follow the steps mentioned below. Please note that the method will slightly differ depending on the browser you are using. Mentioned below are the steps to do it.

For Chrome

• Launch the Google Chrome browser on your Mac.
• Click on the ‘Menu‘ icon (three horizontal lines) located at the top-right corner.
• Then, find the ‘Downloads‘ button and click on it.
• Just click on the ‘Clear all‘ option so the downloaded files will be deleted.

For Safari

• Launch the Safari browser on your Mac.
• Locate the gear icon on the menu bar and click it.
• Go to the ‘Downloads‘ option on the next tab.
• Click on the button labeled ‘Clear,’ and then the downloaded files will be gone.

For Firefox

• Launch the Firefox browser on Mac.
• Click on the ‘Firefox‘ button to open the menu (top-left corner).
• Go to ‘Downloads.’
• Click on ‘Clear List‘ so the downloads on the Firefox browser will be deleted.

For Opera

• Launch the Opera browser.
• Click on the three-dotted icon (top-right corner).
• Choose the option labeled ‘Downloads‘ and hit delete.

Method 05: Delete the downloads using Email Account

There is no shortage of occasions in which we receive attachments that should be downloaded before opening. Over time, these attachments can consume a considerable amount of space of your hard disk. Interestingly, users don’t need most of these attachments to have on their hard disks. So, learning how to delete those mail attachments is important for you.

Mentioned below are the steps to do it.

• Go to Spotlight, which is located in the menu bar.
• Type in the text ‘Mail Downloads‘ in the search bar. Then, click on the folder to get it opened.
• Now, you will see a list of files that are saved from your email.
• You can select the files you intend to delete and then just delete them.

Method 06: Delete the downloads in Software

In certain cases, apps such as µTorrent and Skype aren’t getting downloaded to the local download folder. Deleting those files can be somewhat trickier. Mentioned below are the steps to do it.

For Skype

• Open Skype app on your Mac.
• Choose the option called ‘Preferences.’
• On a separate window, you will see the download location related to all the Skype files.
• Open the folder and then delete the files you want to get rid of.

for µTorrent

• Launch µTorrent.
• Go to the option called preferences.
• Choose the directories to see the download location.
• Delete the files.

What if you have accidentally deleted important files?

If you have deleted an important file or multiple files by accident, what can you do about it? Are they gone forever? Or, is there a way to get them back? The good news is that there is a way to get the deleted files back. There are two ways to get deleted files back in your Mac.

Use Trash

If the files are deleted normally, recovering them is easier. Normal deletion sends the deleted files to the trash instead of erasing them from the Mac. To recover the files, you should go to the trash folder and retrieve the deleted filed once again.

Use Time Machine

If you are creating backups as a habit, you are very lucky when it comes to recovering deleted files. You can access Time Machine on your Mac and recover the deleted files from the utility conveniently.

As you would notice, manual deletion of files can erase important files. Also, you are required to spend extra time on recovering those files. If you intend to avoid such mistakes, we highly recommend using Umate Mac Cleaner, a professional software.

How to delete downloads on Mac using Umate Mac Cleaner

Manual deletion of files can lead to costly mistakes. Therefore, using special software to clear the download folder is a very smart approach. This is an exceptionally efficient software developed to optimize and clean your Mac. As a result of using this software, you can experience better performance.

How to use Umate Mac Cleaner and delete the files in ‘Downloads’?

In this section, let’s learn how to delete the files saved in ‘Downloads‘ without making any mistakes. Umate Mac Cleaner offers you two cleaning methods. The first one is ‘Quick Clean‘ mode, and it automatically identifies the obsolete files. With Quick Clean, you can get rid of the files with a single-click operation. It also cleans the system junk, installation packages, app junk, iTunes junk, etc.

If you prefer a deeper cleaning and free up more disk space, go to the ‘Deep Clean‘ option. This option will scan the disks thoroughly and identify all the unnecessary files and delete them. Although it takes a slightly longer time than the ‘Quick Clean‘ method, it frees up more space. Also, it lets you decide what sort of files to be removed. Compared to the competitors, Umate Mac Cleaner performs three times faster.

How to clean your Mac using Umate Mac Cleaner

Using Umate Mac Cleaner is a very simple process. However, we explain it in a step-by-step method for better understanding.

• Download and install Umate Mac Cleaner on your Mac and launch it to see the home screen.

• Start the scanning process, and it will suggest what to clean through the ‘Quick Clean‘ feature.
• Click on ‘Clean‘ to get rid of all the junks in your Mac.

• To perform a deeper clean up and gain more space, choose ‘Deep Clean.’ Choose the files you intend to delete and then choose the ‘Clean‘ option.

Once the ‘Deep Cleaning‘ is deployed, you should see a significant performance improvement on your Mac. Compared to manual deletion, Umate Mac Cleaner is efficient, accurate, and fast.

Conclusion

So, that’s how to delete downloads on Mac using different methods. As you noticed, the manual method requires you to engage in a lengthy process that consumes time. Also, it lets you do a lot of guesswork. However, if you use a tool like Umate Mac Cleaner, things can be very easier for you. It identifies the junk files automatically and deletes them to free up space and optimize Mac’s performance. So, Umate Mac Cleaner is a very handy, powerful tool that can save plenty of time.

Deleting downloads on Mac can be a pain because It involves two separate things: cleaning up your Downloads folder and then removing the downloads history from your browser. So, in short, you'll need to: find your Downloads folder, remove your downloads, clear your downloads history in your browser, and (finally) empty your Trash.

How to delete downloads on Mac via Finder

Finder is the first place you should look for downloads in on your Mac. If you have a mountain of download files stored, it’d be smart to sort your items and see which of them are the heaviest.

1. Open Finder.
2. Press Cmd+Shift+G.
3. Type in: ~/
4. Open Downloads folder.
5. Righ-click anywhere in the window and select Use Groups.
6. Finder will then gather your downloads in groups such as Applications, PDF documents, Images, and others, so you can quickly look through them and delete files you don’t need.

How Do You Delete Downloads On A Macbook Air

Then you can sort downloads by size: right-click in Finder, click Group By pop-up menu and choose Size.

If you want to remove multiple downloads from your Mac at once, you can do that with CleanMyMac X. This app has a Large and Old Files feature that detects all massive files and lets you delete them all. I will explain how to quickly get to downloads on your Mac using CleanMyMac X later in the article. You'd be surprised at how many GB of space you can reclaim!

How to delete downloads from software (e.g. Skype) which are hard to find

It can be a challenge to find the files you downloaded from different apps, such as Skype, on your Mac. By default, all the items you want to save go into the Downloads folder. But, if you have changed these settings, your files would be stored elsewhere. So, how to find those downloads on your Mac.

If you search for Skype downloads, here’s how to locate them:

1. Open Skype.
2. Go to the Skype menu and choose Preferences.
3. Select Messaging from the list on the left.

In the end, there’s “When I receive a file” setting. It’s set to Downloads, which means all files you download from Skype automatically go into this folder. Open it to locate the files Skype saved and delete them. You can change directory to save your Skype files elsewhere.

The pretty similar route applies to all other apps you save files from. For example, to find out the Slack downloads location, I opened the app and then navigated to its Preferences.

To make it easier to find files you saved, choose one download location for all your apps. You will eliminate clutter in lots of folders and will be able to delete many files at once.

Once you’re done deleting your downloads, it’s time to clear the downloads history from the browser you use. Select the section below based on the browser you use.

The easy way to delete large and old files on Mac

However, if you’re looking for a solution that makes clearing out your large downloads (including your Skype downloads history) simple, check out a cleaning utility like CleanMyMac X.

Large and Old Files feature scans your storage for heavy files piling up on your Mac for a long time. It shows how much space each file takes and helps to quickly get rid of all old documents, .dmg files, and archives that clutter your storage.

Large and Old Files helps you clean up your Downloads folder with just a few clicks. Here's how to clear old downloads on your Mac:

1. Download the free version of CleanMyMac X.
2. Install and launch the app.
3. Click Large & Old Files.
4. Scan your Mac and then select whatever you wish to remove.
5. Click Remove.

And you’re done. As you can see, it’s incredibly easy to remove your downloads on Mac with CleanMyMac X.

But, if you’d still like to clean up your downloads and download history manually, just follow the steps below.

How to delete old .DMG files on Mac

On macOS, the majority of apps you download come in .dmg format. '.dmg' is a disk image that contains a compressed download file. These files work like hard drives: they can be mounted and ejected.

When you open the .dmg file, you’ll see the application you’re about to install. After installing the application (dragging it to the Applications folder), the .dmg file will stay on your Mac until you delete it. Imagine how many .dmg files you may have unintentionally stored on your Mac. Now, let’s see how to delete them.

Completely Remove Apps From Mac

First, you need to eject those .dmg files that are still open.

How To Delete Downloads

1. Open Finder.
2. Under the Locations you will see the list of all .dmg files.
3. Press the Eject icon to eject a disk image.

How Do You Automatically Delete Downloads On A Mac

To delete .dmg files:

1. Open Finder.
2. Type “.dmg” in the search field and press Return.
3. Move the unneeded files to the Trash.

Voila! Now, your Mac is much cleaner.

How to clear downloads history in Chrome

To clear downloads history in Google Chrome browser manually:

1. Launch the Chrome browser.
2. Type chrome://history/ in the search field and press Enter.
3. Select Clear browsing data.
4. Select the time range and check the 'Download history' box.
5. Click Clear data.

How to clean downloads history in Safari

To clean downloads history in Safari browser:

1. Launch the Safari browser.
2. Click View in the menu bar and select Show Downloads.
3. Safari will show you all the files you downloaded. Press Clear to remove downloads history.

You can alternatively press the arrow down button (↓) to see and clear downloads.

Clearing your Mac of downloads once in a while helps to save some space. If you are up to a full spring cleaning of your MacBook, CleanMyMac X has another useful feature — Space Lens. It analyses your storage and shows precisely how much space each folder takes. If your Mac is short on space, Space Lens can help you to locate the heaviest folder and remove it. Download the app for free, to try it yourself!

How to remove downloads history in Firefox

To remove downloads history in Firefox directly:

1. Launch the Firefox browser.
2. Click History, in the menu bar.
3. Select Clear Recent History.
4. Select the time range.
5. Check the “Browsing & Download History” box.
6. Click Clear Now.

Now, your Mac is probably clean of old downloads that used to take space. Keeping your digital space tidy and organized will help you locate files faster and avoid clutter in your folders.