Where Are the Downloads on My Phone?

Quickly accessing downloaded files on your smartphone is crucial if you want to get the most of your device. Whether you've downloaded pictures or videos sent in a text message, email attachments, or files while browsing the web, they all end stored somewhere on your phone. If you're an Android user, locating your downloads is similar to using Windows Explorer or Mac's Finder, where folders can be sorted and edited in plain view. If you're an iPhone user running iOS 11 or 12, Apple's Files app connects you with all your device's storage locations, both locally and in the cloud.

Where Are My Downloads on Android

To navigate Android's internal storage, you only need a file manager app such as My Files, or ES File Explorer. Connecting your phone to a computer will also allow you to manage all your phone's files and folders. In most instances, things you download will end up in the Downloads folder. However, depending on the app, the location may be different.

Open Downloads from Google Messages

1. Open your preferred file manager, tap Internal storage (device name), then tap Pictures.

2. Tap Messages.

3. All your downloaded images, videos, and voice clips will be in the Messages folder.

   

Go to Downloads for Samsung Messages

1. Open the My files app, then tap Internal storage.

2. Tap Download.

3. All attachments downloaded via Samsung Messages will be in the Download directory.

   

Downloads Folder for Whatsapp

1. Open your file manager, tap Internal storage, then WhatsApp.

   

2. Tap Media.

3. Your files and attachments get stored in their respective folders within WhatsApp's Media directory.

   

   Videos and pictures downloaded with apps like Hangouts and Textra will be located in its respective folder on your device's internal storage.

Download Folder for Google Chrome

1. Tap and hold on the link or file you wish to download until more options appear, then tap Download link.

2. Open your file manager and go to your Internal storage, then tap Download.

3. All files and attachments downloaded while using Chrome will end up in the Downloads folder.

   

Downloads for Gmail

1. Open your email with the attachment, then tap the download icon next to the Drive icon.

2. Open your file manager, go to Internal storage, then tap Download.

3. All attachments downloaded from Gmail will be in your Download folder.

   

   Apps such as Outlook and Samsung Email also store your attachments in the Download folder.

Downloads Stored on Your iPhone

iPhone users running iOS 11 or newer have more control over where files are stored when downloaded. In the past, downloads ended up in a location based on the file type. However, in iOS 11 and above, you now have additional options when saving files to your iPhone.

My Downloads in Safari on iPhone

1. Open Safari to your desired website.

2. Tap Share in the bottom center of the screen.

3. Tap Save to Files.

   

4. Tap On My iPhone.

5. Select the folder you wish to save your file in.

   

Access the downloads on my iPhone With the Files App

Apple's Files app is a more streamlined approach to accessing the images, videos, and documents saved to your phone applications and cloud services. It's essentially the iPhone's file manager, and requires iOS 11 and up.

1. Open the Files app.

2. Tap an option under Locations to explore your iPhone's downloads.

3. Use the search bar option at the top of the screen to quickly look for an item.