Downloading Files from the Internet

Downloading Files from the Internet and Finding them on your Computer
 

Relevant To: ESC Faculty, Staff and Students

Introduction

This article reviews how to download files from the internet as well as how to find them once they have been downloaded.

Chrome

• Navigate to the file you would like to download.
• Right-click the file and choose Save As.
• Choose where you want to save the file and click Save. We recommend saving to your desktop. You can do this by selecting Desktop on the Windows Explorer screen that appears after choosing Save As.
• When the download is complete you can locate the file on your desktop and double-click to open.

If you happen to misplace the file you can locate it at the bottom of your Chrome window. You can also click on the three dots at the top-right of the page to find the downloaded file. After clicking the three dots, choose Downloads.

Sometimes files, like ZIP files, will download and save themselves to your browser. If this happens in Chrome:

• Click the three vertical dots in the upper right-hand side of the screen.
• Double-click the file and Windows Explorer/Finder will appear.
• You'll see the file in the downloads area. You can double-click that file to open in it.

The file may also appear at the bottom of the browser. Double-click the file and Windows Explorer/Finder will appear. You'll see the file in the downloads area. You can double-click that file to open in it.

To prevent files from automatically downloading to your Chrome browser:

• Click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right hand side of the screen.
• Click Settings.
• Click Advanced Settings.
• Under Downloads check 'Ask where to save each file before downloading' so that you can easily find your downloaded files.

Firefox

• Navigate to the file you would like to download.
• Right-click the file and choose Save As.
• Choose where you want to save the file and click Save. We recommend saving to your desktop. You can do this by selecting Desktop on the Windows Explorer/Finder screen that appears after choosing Save As.
• When the download is complete you can locate the file on your desktop and double-click to open.

If you happen to misplace the file you can locate it by clicking on the arrow in the upper right-hand side of the screen.

Sometimes files, like ZIP files, will download and save themselves to your browser. If this happens in Firefox:

• Click the downward facing arrow in the upper right-hand side of the screen.
• Double-click the file and Windows Explorer/Finder will appear.
• You'll see the file in the downloads area. You can double-click that file to open in it.

To prevent files from automatically downloading to Firefox:

• Click on the three horizontal lines in the upper-right hand side of the screen.
• Click the preferences.
• Click 'Always ask me where to save files.

Internet Explorer

• Navigate to the file you would like to download.
• Right-click the file and choose Save As.
• Choose where you would like to save the file and click Save. We recommend saving to your desktop. You can do this by selecting Desktop on the Windows Explorer screen that appears after choosing Save As.

Sometimes files, like ZIP files, will download and save themselves to your browser. If this happens in Internet Explorer:

• Click the gear icon in the upper right-hand side of the screen.
• Click View Downloads. Double-click the file and Windows Explorer/Finder will appear. You'll see the file in the downloads area.
• You can double-click that file to open in it.

To prevent files from automatically downloading to Internet Explorer:

• Click on the gear icon in the upper-right hand side of the screen.
• Click View Downloads.
• Click Options.
   
• You can click Browse, to select where you want your files saved to. We recommend your desktop.

Safari

• Navigate to the file you would like to download.
• Control-click or right-click on the file and choose Download Linked File As
• Name your file and select where you would like to save the file. We recommend saving to your desktop. You do this by selecting Desktop to the right of the Where column.

If you happen to misplace the file, you can locate it by clicking on the downward facing arrow in the upper right-hand side of the screen.

Sometimes files, like ZIP files, will download and save themselves to your browser. If this happens in Safari:

• Click the downward facing arrow in the upper right-hand side of the screen.
• Double-click the file and your finder will appear.
• You'll see the file in the downloads area. You can double-click that file to open in it.

To prevent files from automatically downloading to Safari:

• Click Safari in the upper-left hand side of the screen.
• Click Preferences...
• Click the General Tab. We recommend choosing Desktop for the 'File Download Location.