How to Delete Downloads on Mac

This article explains how to delete downloaded files on your Mac. Additional information covers how to clear your browser history for Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

How Do I Find the Downloads Folder on a Mac?

If you removed the Downloads folder from the Dock at some point, either on purpose or accidentally, you can still find it on your Mac. To locate the Downloads folder on your Mac, select Go on the Finder menu bar. The Downloads folder appears in the drop-down menu.

How to Delete Downloaded Files on Your Mac

After you locate the Downloads folder on your MacBook, you can delete the files inside.

1. Open the Downloads folder.

2. Press Command+A to select all the files.

3. Once the files are highlighted, expand the File menu at the top of the screen and select Move to Trash.

   Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Delete.

4. The files are moved to the Trash can.

5. To permanently delete the trash, click the menu labeled Finder and select Empty Trash.

   There is no "undo" from this, so make sure this is what you want to do.

Remove Traces of What You've Downloaded

You've deleted the actual files on your Mac, but you haven't removed all traces of them. If you used a web browser to download the files, there'll be history stored in the browser with that information.

Web browsers, including Safari, Googe Chrome and Firefox, keep a record of all your downloads, making it easy to find where these files are stored. The browser doesn't contain the actual downloaded files, just that you downloaded them.

Here's how to find the download history through Safari, Google Chrome, and Firefox browsers.

Clear the History in the Safari Browser

1. Open the Safari browser.

2. Click History in the menu bar to open the browser history.

3. Click Clear History at the bottom of the menu to wipe out the history of your downloads.

4. In the pop-up window, choose all history to delete it all or one of the other options to be more selective. Select Clear History one more time to complete the process.

Clear the History in the Chrome Browser

Here's how to find where your computer stores any files you have downloaded from Chrome.

1. To wipe out your download history in Chrome, click the Window menu and select Downloads.

2. Now tap the three dots in the upper right side of the downloads page and select Clear all.

3. The download history is wiped clean.

Clear the History in the Firefox Browser

Deleting your downloads history in Firefox is even easier.

1. Open Firefox and click the Tools tab at the top of the screen and select Downloads.

2. A new screen opens showing the downloads with a link to open each file. Click the Clear Downloads button to remove the downloads history.

3. To wipe out your download history in Firefox, click History > Clear Recent History.

4. Select a time range by clicking the drop-down menu next to Time Range to Clear to customize how far back you would like to clear.

5. Finish by clicking OK.

All Clear

Remember, you need to move the files to the trash, empty the trash, and clear the history in the web browser if you want all traces of your downloads to be removed.