How to manage downloaded files in Safari on iPhone and iPad

You want to sort the files downloaded from Safari on iPhone or iPad? Here’s how Manage downloads in Safari on iPhone or iPad.

What is Safari download manager?

Apple has added a download manager to Safari since iOS 13. Thanks to this, you can easily download files from the web and manage them right in the Safari browser on iPhone and iPad.

Here are some key features of the Safari download manager:

• Track the download process
• List of downloaded files
• Pause, resume, or cancel downloads
• File management
• Automatically clear download list
• Compatible with cloud storage services such as iCloud Drive and Dropbox.

Location to save downloaded files on Safari for iPhone and iPad

Files you download through Safari are stored in iCloud Drive or in local storage on your iPhone. However, you can select your desired storage location through the Settings app.

Why should you manage downloaded files on Safari?

• Avoid clutter: If you download a lot of files via Safari, the folder where the downloaded files are stored can become the most cluttered place in Files. However, by regularly managing your downloads — such as choosing different storage locations for each file type — you can keep them more organized and easier to find when you need them.
  
• Save storage space: Downloads often take up a lot of space on your device, much of which may no longer be needed. Therefore, managing them is very important; Thanks to this, you can remove excess files and free up storage space.
  
• Privacy guarantee: If you share your iPhone or iPad with others, managing your downloads helps protect your personal files from prying eyes. With features like auto-delete, you can ensure that no one knows about the files you’ve downloaded to your device over time.
  
• Keep your device safe: Sometimes you may accidentally download malicious files from the internet. By regularly checking the list of downloaded files, you can easily detect and promptly delete these files to protect your device from threats.

How to manage downloaded files in Safari on iPhone and iPad

Access and view downloaded files in Safari

You can access and view your downloaded files in both Safari and the Files app. Here’s how to do it for each app.

In Safari:

1. Tap the Downloads button located next to the search field.
2. Tap Downloads to view the files you’ve downloaded.
3. Tap the downloaded file to open it. Or tap the search icon next to the file to open the file storage location in the Files app.

In the Files app:

1. Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Select Browse, tap iCloud Drive, then open the Downloads folder. If you changed the download location, open that folder instead of the Downloads folder.

Pause, resume, and cancel downloads in Safari

You can also pause, resume, and cancel downloads in Safari as follows:

In Safari, tap the arrow icon in a circle in the left corner of the address bar, then select Downloads.

Tap the X icon on the downloading file to pause. To continue downloading, tap the curved arrow on the file.

Although there’s no dedicated button to cancel the download, if you still want to do it, you can swipe left on the download and select Delete.

Change where downloads are saved in Safari on iPhone or iPad

By default, Safari lets you save downloads to iCloud or local storage. However, you can also choose any other location. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
   Find the Apps section, click on it, then select Safari from the application list.
2. Click on the item Downloads in section General settings (General).
3. On the page that appears, select where you want to save your downloads from the available options: iCloud Drive, On My iPhone/iPad, or Other.

Delete files downloaded from Safari on iPhone

You can delete files downloaded from Safari on iPhone and iPad by going to the file’s location in the Files app and deleting the file. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Access the location where Safari downloads are saved.
3. Tap the menu with the three dots icon in the upper right corner.
4. Next, tap Choose, then select the downloaded files you want to delete and tap the trash icon at the bottom.