How to remove downloads from my Macbook Pro? I have installed the apps, but do not want the installation package to take up my Mac storage.
- How To Clear Downloads On Mac Book
- How To Delete Downloaded Files On Mac
- How To Clear Downloads On Macbook
- Clean Downloads Folder Mac
- How To Clear Downloads On Macbook Air
A download is pretty much useless if you can't find it on your Mac. But that won't be a problem for you, because we're about to discuss multiple quick and easy ways to locate files on your. Optimized Storage in macOS Sierra and later. can save space by storing your content in iCloud and making it available on demand. Clear Out Temporary Files. Your Mac’s hard drive probably has temporary files you don’t need. These files often take up disk space for no good reason. Mac OS X tries to automatically remove temporary files, but a dedicated application will likely find more files to clean up.
Apple Mac gains lots of users for its clean interface and smooth running. However, like Windows computer or desktop, one thing Mac also suffers from is that everyday's downloads of music, videos, apps, etc. have taken up the space and can also slow down your Mac.
In this post, we will share you 3 ways to delete downloads from your Mac directly, empty download folders from your Safari, Chrome and Firefox, and clean up your Mac downloads with the Mac cleaners.
Delete Downloads on Mac
Part 1. How to clean up Mac downloads permanently and securely
The above ways will help you delete downloads from your Mac manually. However, if you think it a little complicated, you can use the Mac Cleaner to help you delete downloads on Mac automatically. It can helps you delete everything in the folder, including videos, music, files, apps, etc. Moreover, it deletes downloads permanently with recovery.
Step 1. Run Mac Cleaner
Download Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner and launch it. Check the system status of your Mac.
Step 2. Scan download folder
Click the section you want to scan in the left sidebar, Here we can choose 'Privacy'. Click the 'Scan' button to scan your Mac download history.
'Uninstaller' enables you to delete download apps from your Mac.
Step 3. Delete downloads on Mac
When the scanning done, you can click 'Review' button to review the scan results. Checkmark the items that you want to delete, and click 'Clean' button to start to delete downloads from your Mac.
Note: You can hit 'Re-scan' to scan your Mac computer again to get a deep downloads deletion.
Part 2. How to delete downloads from Mac directly
Once you download the files or apps to your Mac, then you can find the downloads and delete them manually by yourself. You should note that this way is available for Mac OS X 10.2 or above.
Step 1Find and click 'Finder'.
Step 2Press the hotkeys 'command + Shift +G' to go to the pop-up of 'Go to Folder' and then type in '~/' and click 'Go'.
Step 3Click 'Downloads' from the left sidebar, and view the detailed downloads in the right window. Find a download or downloads that you want to download, right click it with your mouse, and click 'Move to Trash'. Then go to your Trash, to empty the trash.
Part 3. How to delete downloaded programs on Mac from Safari/Chrome/Firefox
Commonly, most downloads are from your browser on Mac, so in this method, we will share the way to delete downloads from Safari, Chrome and Firefox on your Mac. This method will be available for your iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, etc.
Clean up the downloads from Safari
Safari, as the default browser, brings many downloads to your Mac without doubt. Follow the steps as below to delete download history from Safari.
Step 1Run Safari browser, and click 'History' in the menu bar on the top side of your screen.
Step 2Select on 'Clear History' > 'All history' from the drop-down as the time range you wish > 'Clear History' to clear up all download history from your Safari.
Remove download history from Chrome
Chrome is also the browser used widely by many of you. So downloads from Chrome will be not less. Take the steps as the following to delete the downloads on Mac from Chrome.
Step 1Launch the Chrome browser on your Mac.
Step 2Click 'History' in the menu bar > 'Show Full History' > 'Clear browsing data…' > Select 'the beginning of time…' for the time period you wish to erase > Check the deleting content to select 'Cache images and files' > 'Clear browsing data' to delete the downloaded pictures and other files on your Mac.
Empty the download folder from Firefox
Firefox, similar to Chrome, is also popular among users. Check the solution below to empty the downloaded apps or files from Firefox on Mac.
Step 1Run Firefox on your Mac.
Step 2Click 'History' in the menu bar > 'Clear Recent History…' > Select 'Everything' as the time range to clean > Click on the 'Details' arrow to checkmark the 'Browsing & Download History' box > Click on 'Clear Now'.
Here you also delete the download history from your Mac. For more details to delete history from Mac, visit here.
Way 3. How to clean up Mac downloads permanently and securely
The above ways will help you delete downloads from your Mac manually. However, if you think it a little complicated, you can use the Mac Cleaner to help you delete downloads on Mac automatically. It can helps you delete everything in the folder, including videos, music, files, apps, games like Fortnite, etc. Moreover, it deletes downloads permanently with recovery.
Step 1. Run Mac Cleaner
Download Aiseesoft Mac Cleaner and launch it. Check the system status of your Mac.
Step 2. Scan download folder
Click the section you want to scan in the left sidebar, Here we can choose 'Privacy'. Click the 'Scan' button to scan your Mac download history.
How To Clear Downloads On Mac Book
'Uninstaller' enables you to delete download apps from your Mac.
Step 3. Delete downloads on Mac
When the scanning done, you can click 'Review' button to review the scan results. Checkmark the items that you want to delete, and click 'Clean' button to start to delete downloads from your Mac.
Note: You can hit 'Re-scan' to scan your Mac computer again to get a deep downloads deletion.
Conclusion
Here are 3 ways to delete downloads on Mac. You can use the first and second method to remove downloads from Mac manually. Moreover, you can use the last recommended way to clean up downloads on Mac permanently and securely. Last reminder is that you had better backup Mac before deleting everything to avoid any regret.
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June 04, 2019 15:55 / Updated by Louisa White to Mac Cleanup
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One of the biggest draws of using a Mac is the fact that they're seen as much better protected than Windows devices - some argue that antivirus software is completely surplus to requirements.
However, while that's true to an extent, Apple PCs aren't immune, and that perceived safety also often leads users to take more risks and feel 'invincible'.
Whether your Mac's running suspiciously slowly or you've noticed strange tasks running in the background, using a malware removal tool to check and clean your Mac is the single best thing you can do to protect your device and your data.
Here, we'll be running down all the steps you should take if you're thinking about cleaning up malware on your Mac, and how to remedy the situation should you discover something malicious.
- Stay even safer: discover today's best Mac antivirus
Malwarebytes Premium is today's best anti-malware tool Save 25% on your security: Sometimes free software just isn't enough. Malwarebytes Premium is reasonably priced and uses heuristic analysis to identify new strains of malware, cleans up existing infections, helps protect you from phishing scams, and helps stop you downloading further malicious software.
1. Back up your files
Before undertaking any sort of large task, like updating your OS or cleaning up malware, you should back up all of your essential files and data. It's advice that's often given and often ignored, but in this situation it's a crucial part of the process.
You may well have a regular Time Machine back up set up, so once you know that your irreplaceable files are safe and secure on an external drive or in the cloud, you're ready to get cleaning. If you're not sure how to back up or what to use, check out our guide to the best backup software.
2. Pick your weapon of choice
There's a huge range of malware removal software on the market, and while plenty can do the job, it's still a big choice to make.
Our top-rated tool is Malwarebytes, and you can get yourself a copy here. A big bonus is that apart from being supremely effective at detecting and destroying malware, new users get 14 days free of the full premium version. That includes on-demand scanning and well as always-on protection.
In this guide we're going to be focusing on the steps necessary for using Malwarebytes, so we recommend you grab yourself that 14-day trial follow along with our guide. However, the steps should be fairly similar if you've already got yourself a malware removal tool, or fancy using a different provider.
3. Download and run your tool
Head to the website, and click Free Download. Once you've done that, the PKG file will begin to download. On Chrome it'll show up bottom left, or on Safari, you'll see it in the download drop-down top right. Click on the downloaded file to begin the installation process.
4. Install your anti-malware tool
First, you'll have to agree to the licence and terms and conditions. Then you'll have to choose where on your hard drive to install the software. We'd recommend sticking to the default option unless you have a particular system in place.
You'll be prompted to enter your password to begin the process, and once you've done that, it'll install. This takes a few seconds, but may be slower on an older machine.
You'll also be asked to allow or deny notifications – this is entirely up to you!
5. Welcome choices
Once the software in installed, you'll be asked whether you're using a work or personal Mac. Select whichever is correct.
The next screen will ask you to activate your licence, buy a premium plan, or say 'Maybe Later'. You'll then be asked to enter an email address, but this is optional. If you want to hear marketing messages from Malwarebytes, enter your address – otherwise, leave it blank.
Finally, you'll be asked to give the software full disk access. This might sound scary, but to do its job, Malwarebytes needs to be able to scan all of your files. All malware detection software will need to do this, so to get the most out of it, follow the steps on screen to do so.
6. Scan for malware
You'll now be faced with the main screen of the software. There's a big ol' box in the middle called Scanner – click this to begin the system scan.
Scanning will now be underway, and as the software checks all of your files and folders, you'll see a tally going up on the right-hand side.
7. Scan summary
Once the software has finished the scan (it doesn't take long), it'll tell you what it's found. Discoveries are separated into threats, and PUPs – we'll expand on these in a second.
If you're clean, you're good to go – Malwarebytes has done its job and your conscience is clear.
How To Delete Downloaded Files On Mac
However, if you still think something is awry with your Mac, it's definitely worth checking out the best antivirus software to ensure that you're totally clean.
8. Threat detected
If Malwarebytes does find anything dodgy, it'll be highlighted in your scan report. This essentially means that those files need taking care of quick-sharp.
When malware is detected, you can choose to quarantine it with the click of a button. This doesn't delete the files, but it locks them away so that they can do no more harm until you decide what to do with them yourself.
If you've gone for the premium version, threats will be automatically quarantined, but if you're only using the free version, you'll have to do this yourself. To turn this feature on, click the cog button at the top-right of the app.
How To Clear Downloads On Macbook
9. Uninvited guests
While Malwarebytes or your chosen tool detects true malware. it will also alert you to the presence of PUPs – Potentially Unwanted Programs. While a PUP might sound cute, they could be slowing down your system, extending your boot time, and generally making a nuisance of themselves.
However, these are only potentially harmful, and you may well be fully aware of these entities and have them installed by choice. If so, you can follow Malwarebytes' own walkthrough for whitelisting benign programs so that they don't show up in later further scans.
If you're not sure what to do with a certain PUP, the advised procedure is to quarantine it like you would true malware just to be safe. You can then click on the file in the Threats screen and see exactly why the tool considered it to be potentially harmful.
10. All done!
Now that the software has scanned each and every file on your Mac, you're good to go. Hopefully it didn't detect anything malicious, but if it did it's now quarantined and deleted if you wish.
It's worth noting that if something is quarantined, you can release it back out into the wild if you see fit. You might find that the PUP actually did a job you got used to, or that another application works better in tandem with it.
Clean Downloads Folder Mac
To do this, just click Detection History to see all your previously quarantined files. Select the one you want back, and click Restore to release it.
How To Clear Downloads On Macbook Air
- Discover more in our independent Malwarebytes reviews
- Get backed up safely with secure cloud storage solutions
- The big question...Is free antivirus safe?