If i delete a file from my downloads

Thank you for sharing this. I have always been curious about deleting downloads and you explained it very well in this article. Comments violating those rules will be removed. Comments that don't add value will be removed, including off-topic or content-free comments, or comments that look even a little bit like spam.

All comments containing links and certain keywords will be moderated before publication. I want comments to be valuable for everyone, including those who come later and take the time to read. Search Ask Leo! Can you safely delete set-up files of programs or updates you have downloaded from the internet? Since these were set-up or update files, I assume they were zipped, and that upon installation, the electronic carapace for lack of a better word became discardable?

Is this correct, or is the downloaded file necessary to the proper functioning of the file or update that has been downloaded like a Jack-in-the-Box that would stop being a Jack-in-the-Box if you removed the box?

Which types of downloaded set-up files or updates are safe to delete, and which must remain if any must remain? Do this Subscribe to Confident Computing! I'll see you there! Podcast audio. Related Video.

I'll show you how to find it and how to delete it. Here's a 4-step plan to managing that size and getting it back under control. Thanks You Reply. I remember my first computer loading dos up and then loading the program you would use, one at a time… No windows to switch programs with, at least not until Atari came out with a better unit and hard drives… Reply.

Everything is now back in working order. Because I had my old exe files. Thank you, Mark and Leo. There appear to be a number of other executable files in the Program Files folder.

The target of the shortcut on my desktop also points to the Program Files. So I'm guessing it's Ok? Go to Solution. Hi, JNohKuhn. I'm here to help if you see this icon:.

Its simply the QuickBooks Installer. You're free to delete or unistall that at anytime. I'm here if you have any other questions. If there isn't a Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, you can restore it. To clear the files in the Downloads folder on your Mac computer, follow the steps below. You may also clear download history entries by highlighting them and pressing Delete. If you're using Microsoft Windows , you can also see our Windows steps for deleting downloads using Windows. To clear the files in the Downloads folder for Microsoft Edge Legacy, follow these steps.

Browse All News Articles. TikTok Samsung TV. Spotify Shuffle Play Button. Windows 11 Performance. Edge Shopping Features. Spotify Lyrics. Windows 11 Mute Keyboard Shortcut. Edge Buy Now Pay Later. Windows 10 November Update. Apple Self Service Repair. Find Downloaded Files on an iPhone.

Use Your iPhone as a Webcam. Hide Private Photos on iPhone. Take Screenshot by Tapping Back of iPhone. Should You Upgrade to Windows 11? Browse All Windows Articles. Mac programs are downloaded as DMG files, which are disk image files that contain the program. When you install a program, the DMG file remains in your Downloads folder, taking up space.

In the search bar in the upper-right corner, type disk image and select "Disk Image" from the "Kinds" section. This will limit the display to just DMG files, allowing you to quickly clear a lot of space. Safari - Click the "Window" menu and select "Downloads". Click the Magnifying Glass button next to the file you want to delete. Drag the file to your Trash.

I want to delete all records of my file downloads. OS X keeps a log of all of your downloaded files. If you're concerned about the security of your system and prying eyes, you can manually clear this log file using the terminal. Open the Terminal in your Utilities folder. If OS X will not let you delete the file, it is likely because it is in use by another program.

Method 3. Download and install a file manager app. There are a variety of free file manager apps available for Android. These can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Your device may come with a file manager installed already. Navigate to your Downloads folder.

When you open your file manager app, you will be shown a list of all of the directories on your phone. Look for the one labeled "Downloads". You may have to move up a directory to see it. Note: Downloaded pictures may be located in your Pictures folder, and downloaded videos may be located in your Videos folder.

Press and hold the file you want to delete. The process varies depending on the file manager, but usually you can press and hold the file and then tap "Delete" from the menu that appears. You may also be able to select multiple files and tap a Delete button.