Download files in Safari on iPhone or iPad: this is how you do it
You can download files in Safari with your iPhone and iPad. But where do your Safari downloads end up and how do you adjust them? In this tip you can read everything about the Safari download manager of iOS and iPadOS.
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Download files in Safari on iPhone and iPad
Did you come across a file in Safari that you want to save? Then you can download it – just like on the Mac. By default, the files are stored in iCloud Drive, but you can change this. Here’s how downloading works in Safari with an iPhone or iPad:
- On your iPhone or iPad in Safari, tap a link to a downloadable file, such as a document or ticket;
- Select ‘Download’ or ‘Download Linked File’ to download the file;
- Tap the blue arrow in the address bar and choose ‘Downloads’;
- Select the magnifying glass to find the download.
Where is my Safari download?
By default, Safari saves your downloaded file in iCloud Drive. This is Apple’s cloud service and is something like Dropbox. To access your files in iCloud Drive, open the Files app. This is an application from Apple that comes standard on your iPhone and iPad.
So open the Files app and in the ‘Browse’ tab, tap ‘iCloud Drive’. Your Safari downloads are saved Downloads folder; tap it to open the folder. Do you have more Apple devices, such as another iPad or Mac? Then you will also see them appear there at iCloud Drive in the Download folder.
Adjust location of Safari downloads
So by default, your Safari downloads end up in the Download folder of iCloud Drive. You can also adjust this. This way you can save your downloads in a different folder of iCloud Drive, or you can choose to save the files locally. That’s how you do that:
- Open the Settings app and tap ‘Safari’;
- Choose ‘Downloads’;
- Tap “On My iPhone” to save your downloads locally, or “Other” to save them to a different folder.
Remove Safari Downloads Automatically
The new download manager is nice and clear, but not when it contains dozens of files. It is therefore possible to delete downloads automatically. To do this, tap the bottom option: ‘Remove items from download list’. You can then indicate whether downloads should be deleted after a day, after the download is successful or manually.
Want to read more tips to get the most out of your iPhone or iPad? Check out our tips on iOS 15:
