How to Change the Default Mac App for a File Type. Kevin Purcell June 5. PDF files open by default in the Mac Preview app. However, if a user downloads and installs Adobe’s Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat DC, the default file type will change so that all PDF files will open with Adobe Acrobat. We’ll show users how to take control of. How to change and/or restore default download folder on Safari web browser. Files just on a temporary basis, you can easily eliminate them from the Mac.

Your Downloads panel and Library keep track of files you download while using Firefox. Learn how to manage your files and configure your download settings.

Table of Contents

  • 2See downloads history
    • 2.1Download protection

You can access your downloadsdownloads from your current browsing session by clicking on the Downloads button (the down arrow on your toolbar). The arrow will appear blue to let you know there are unviewed downloaded files.

  • During a download, the Downloads button changes into a timer that shows your download's progress. The timer changes back into an arrow when your download is complete.
  • During a download, the Downloads button gradually fills with color to show your download's progress.
  • Click on the Downloads button to open the Downloads panel. The Downloads panel displays your three most recently downloaded files, along with its size, source and download time:
  • To see all of your downloads, go to the Library by clicking on Show all Downloads at the bottom of the Downloads panel.
  • Click on the Downloads button to open the Downloads panel. The Downloads panel displays your three most recently downloaded files, along with its size and download status:
  • To see all of your downloads at any time, go to the Library by clicking on Show all Downloads at the bottom of the Downloads panel.
Note: Your toolbar does not include a Downloads button when you have no downloads in your current browsing session. You can use the Library button on your toolbar to access previous downloads (see below).

The Library displays information for all of your downloaded files, unless you've cleared them from your history.

  1. Click the Library button on your toolbar.
  2. Click Downloads in the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Show All Downloads at the bottom of the Downloads panel. The Library window will open showing a list of your downloaded files.
  • The Library displays information for all of your downloaded files, unless you've cleared them from your history.

Download protection

Before beginning a download, Firefox will attempt to protect you from potentially malicious or unsafe downloads. See the Mozilla blog posts, 'Enhancing Download Protection in Firefox' and 'Improving Malware Detection in Firefox' for more information. If something is suspected, the download will not begin, but rather:

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Potentially malicious downloads are detected using Google Safe Browsing Service. A red dot will appear on the Download arrow:

Click on the red-tagged Download arrow to open the Downloads panel. The file name will be displayed along with the warning message,

  • This file contains a virus or malware.

Download nwd viewer for mac. Other files covered under download protection may be potentially unwanted downloads (explained in the Google Policy) that may make unexpected changes to your computer. Or, a download may not be malicious or unwanted but simply not commonly downloaded. A yellow dot will appear on the Download arrow:

Click on the yellow-tagged Download arrow to open the Downloads panel. The file name will be displayed with one of these warning messages:

  • This file may harm your computer.
  • This file is not commonly downloaded.

How do I handle unsafe downloads?

When you see a malicious file or other types of potentially unsafe files in the Downloads panel, click on the right-facing arrow to choose what to do with the file, as shown in this example:

You will be given more information about the type of unsafe file and the option to open or remove the file:

Tip: The (right-click) context menu includes other options for handling any potentially harmful or malicious files listed in the Downloads panel that are pending download:

For example: Right-clickHold down the control key while you click on one of the potentially unsafe files that are pending download and select Allow Download to save the file to your computer.

You can check on past downloads at any time. Click on the Downloads button (alternatively, click the Library button and then click Downloads) to open the Downloads panel. The Downloads panel displays your three most recently downloaded files, along with its size, source and download time.

You can manage your files directly in the Downloads panel or in your library. Options will appear to the right of each file during each stage of the download.

  • Pause: You can pause any downloads currently in progress by right-clickingpressing Ctrl and clicking on the file and selecting Pause. When you want to continue downloading the file, right-clickpress Ctrl and click the file entry and select Resume.
  • Cancel : If you no longer need to download a file, click the X button at the right of the file entry. This button turns into a refresh symbol; click it again to restart your download.
  • Open the file: When a download has finished, you can click on the entry directly to open the file.
  • Open Containing Folder : Once a file has finished downloading, the icon to the right of the file entry becomes a folder. Click the folder icon to open the folder that contains that file.Show In Finder : Once a file has finished downloading, the icon to the right of the file entry becomes a magnifying glass. Click the magnifying glass icon to show that file in the Finder. To set the folder where your downloads go, see Change where downloads are saved, below.
  • Go to Download Page: Right-clickPress Ctrl and click on the file to bring up the menu. Choose this option to visit the webpage where the file came from.
  • Remove the file's entry: If you do not wish to keep a record of a particular download, simply right-clickpress Ctrl and click the file entry, then select Remove From History. This will remove the entry from the list but will not delete the file itself.
  • Retry a Download : If for any reason a file does not finish downloading, click the button to the right of the entry - a refresh symbol - to retry.
  • Clear Downloads: Click the button at the top of the Library window to clear the entire history of downloaded items. This will not delete the downloaded files.

File downloads are saved in the folder specified in Firefox OptionsPreferences. To change that folder:

  1. Click the menu button and select ..
  2. In the General panel, go to the Downloads section find the Downloads section under Files and Applications.
  3. Click the button next to the Save files to entry.
  4. Choose the downloads folder you wish to use.

For more information, see Startup, home page, tabs, and download settings.

Change Download Folder On Mac

From time to time I like to make certain folders on my macOS desktop stand out. For example, I use automation to move screenshots saved to my desktop directly to a special Screenshots folder. Since I’m always looking for the screenshots that I take, I decided to tint the folder purple to make it stand out amongst the other items on my desktop. Here’s how you can go about easily doing the same.

Step 1: Create a new folder.

Step 2: Right click on the folder and select Get Info.

Step 3: Select the image next to the name of the folder and select Edit → Copy.

Step 4: Open Preview and select File → New from Clipboard.

Step 5: In Preview, Click the Markup Tool Bar button followed by the Adjust Color button.

Step 6: Use the sliders to adjust the color of the folder to your liking. If you wish to have more control over the color, you can use an app like Pixelmator or Affinity Photo.

Step 7: Once your changes are complete select Edit → Select All.

Step 8: Select Edit → Copy.

Step 9: Go back to the Info tab mentioned in Step 2 and select the image of the folder.

Step 10: Select Edit → Paste to paste the colored folder, which should alter the look of that single folder.

Conclusion

It’s easy to change folder color on a case by case basis using this handy how-to. It’s a great way to make significant folders stand out on a cluttered desktop. What method do you use to modify macOS folder color? Sound off in the comments below.

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