Deleting Downloads On Mac

I have had my mac for a year and I never deleted anything from the Downloads folder...which I am sure has taken up a lot of space on my computer.

Here are the steps on how to delete downloads on Mac: Open Finder. Go to the Downloads folder. Select all files in the Downloads folder. Move selected files into the Trash. Another quick solution to remove downloads from Mac is to use MacCleaner Pro. The application automatically finds downloads, as well as other types of junk files on your Mac. How to Delete Download History on Mac with MacClean: Step 1. Run MacClean and choose Internet Junk. Select a browser with download history or junk files you want to clear. After the scan is over, choose the browser you need to find the download history. Delete Download History on Mac with MacClean-1.

Throughout the year, I have downloaded hundreds of powerpoints and Word documents from my school website for class lectures....and I have saved them to my computer.

BUT, I am worried that if I delete the original file from the Download folder...that my saved file will be deleted too.


So, I am wondering if it is safe for me to delete the original download or not?

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Sep 21, 2012 7:32 PM

How to remove downloads from my Macbook Pro? I have installed the apps, but do not want the installation package to take up my Mac storage.

Apple Mac gains lots of users for its clean interface and smooth running. However, like Windows computer or desktop, one thing Mac also suffers from is that everyday's downloads of music, videos, apps, etc. have taken up the space and can also slow down your Mac.

In this post, we will share you 3 ways to delete downloads from your Mac directly, empty download folders from your Safari, Chrome and Firefox, and clean up your Mac downloads with the Mac cleaners.

Delete Downloads on Mac

Part 1. How to clean up Mac downloads permanently and securely

The above ways will help you delete downloads from your Mac manually. However, if you think it a little complicated, you can use the Mac Cleaner to help you delete downloads on Mac automatically. It can helps you delete everything in the folder, including videos, music, files, apps, etc. Moreover, it deletes downloads permanently with recovery.

Step 1. Run Mac Cleaner

How to delete downloaded programs on mac

Download Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner and launch it. Check the system status of your Mac.

Mac

Step 2. Scan download folder

Click the section you want to scan in the left sidebar, Here we can choose 'Privacy'. Click the 'Scan' button to scan your Mac download history.

'Uninstaller' enables you to delete download apps from your Mac.

Step 3. Delete downloads on Mac

When the scanning done, you can click 'Review' button to review the scan results. Checkmark the items that you want to delete, and click 'Clean' button to start to delete downloads from your Mac.

Deleting Downloads On Macbook Pro

Note: You can hit 'Re-scan' to scan your Mac computer again to get a deep downloads deletion.

Part 2. How to delete downloads from Mac directly

Once you download the files or apps to your Mac, then you can find the downloads and delete them manually by yourself. You should note that this way is available for Mac OS X 10.2 or above.

Step 1Find and click 'Finder'.

Step 2Press the hotkeys 'command + Shift +G' to go to the pop-up of 'Go to Folder' and then type in '~/' and click 'Go'.

Step 3Click 'Downloads' from the left sidebar, and view the detailed downloads in the right window. Find a download or downloads that you want to download, right click it with your mouse, and click 'Move to Trash'. Then go to your Trash, to empty the trash.

Part 3. How to delete downloaded programs on Mac from Safari/Chrome/Firefox

Commonly, most downloads are from your browser on Mac, so in this method, we will share the way to delete downloads from Safari, Chrome and Firefox on your Mac. This method will be available for your iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, etc.

Clean up the downloads from Safari

Safari, as the default browser, brings many downloads to your Mac without doubt. Follow the steps as below to delete download history from Safari.

Step 1Run Safari browser, and click 'History' in the menu bar on the top side of your screen.

Step 2Select on 'Clear History' > 'All history' from the drop-down as the time range you wish > 'Clear History' to clear up all download history from your Safari.

Remove download history from Chrome

Deleting Downloads On Mac

Chrome is also the browser used widely by many of you. So downloads from Chrome will be not less. Take the steps as the following to delete the downloads on Mac from Chrome.

Step 1Launch the Chrome browser on your Mac.

Step 2Click 'History' in the menu bar > 'Show Full History' > 'Clear browsing data…' > Select 'the beginning of time…' for the time period you wish to erase > Check the deleting content to select 'Cache images and files' > 'Clear browsing data' to delete the downloaded pictures and other files on your Mac.

Empty the download folder from Firefox

Firefox, similar to Chrome, is also popular among users. Check the solution below to empty the downloaded apps or files from Firefox on Mac.

Step 1Run Firefox on your Mac.

Step 2Click 'History' in the menu bar > 'Clear Recent History…' > Select 'Everything' as the time range to clean > Click on the 'Details' arrow to checkmark the 'Browsing & Download History' box > Click on 'Clear Now'.

Here you also delete the download history from your Mac. For more details to delete history from Mac, visit here.

Way 3. How to clean up Mac downloads permanently and securely

The above ways will help you delete downloads from your Mac manually. However, if you think it a little complicated, you can use the Mac Cleaner to help you delete downloads on Mac automatically. It can helps you delete everything in the folder, including videos, music, files, apps, games like Fortnite, etc. Moreover, it deletes downloads permanently with recovery.

Step 1. Run Mac Cleaner

Download Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner and launch it. Check the system status of your Mac.

Mac

Step 2. Scan download folder

Click the section you want to scan in the left sidebar, Here we can choose 'Privacy'. Click the 'Scan' button to scan your Mac download history.

'Uninstaller' enables you to delete download apps from your Mac.

Step 3. Delete downloads on Mac

When the scanning done, you can click 'Review' button to review the scan results. Checkmark the items that you want to delete, and click 'Clean' button to start to delete downloads from your Mac.

Note: You can hit 'Re-scan' to scan your Mac computer again to get a deep downloads deletion.

Delete All Downloads Mac

Conclusion

Here are 3 ways to delete downloads on Mac. You can use the first and second method to remove downloads from Mac manually. Moreover, you can use the last recommended way to clean up downloads on Mac permanently and securely. Last reminder is that you had better backup Mac before deleting everything to avoid any regret.

Deleting

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June 04, 2019 15:55 / Updated by Louisa White to Mac Cleanup

Deleting Downloads On Macbook Air

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