How to Change Google Chrome Download Location

By default Google Chrome saves downloaded files to your computer’s Downloads folder. This guide covers how to change the Chrome download location on Windows, Mac and Android in 2026 — including how to set Chrome to ask where to save each file.

Change Chrome Download Location on Windows

1. Open Google Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner
2. Select Settings
3. In the left panel click Downloads
4. Next to Location click Change
5. Browse to your preferred folder and click Select Folder
6. Chrome will now save all downloads to that location automatically

Ask Where to Save Each File

If you prefer to choose the save location for each individual download rather than using a fixed folder:

1. Go to Settings → Downloads
2. Toggle on Ask where to save each file before downloading
3. Chrome will now prompt you for a save location every time you download a file

Change Chrome Download Location on Mac

1. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu
2. Select Settings (or press Cmd+,)
3. Click Downloads in the left sidebar
4. Click Change next to the current download location
5. Select your preferred folder in the Finder dialog and click Select

Change Chrome Download Location on Android

1. Open the Chrome app and tap the three-dot menu
2. Tap Settings → Downloads
3. Toggle on Ask where to save files to choose the location per download
4. If you have an SD card, toggle Download to SD card to save files there by default

Change Chrome Download Location on iPhone (iOS)

On iOS, Chrome downloads files to the Files app automatically. You cannot set a custom default download folder in Chrome on iPhone — files go to Files → Downloads and you can move them from there to iCloud Drive or any other location using the Files app.

Change the Download Location via Chrome Address Bar

You can also access download settings directly by typing this into the Chrome address bar and pressing Enter:

chrome://settings/downloads

Troubleshooting — Chrome Not Saving to the Right Folder

• Permissions error — ensure your Windows user account has write permission to the target folder. Right-click the folder → Properties → Security and check your account has Full Control
• Network drive issues — if saving to a network share, ensure the drive is mapped and accessible before downloading. Use the UNC path format \server\share\folder rather than a mapped drive letter for reliability
• Settings reverting — if Chrome keeps resetting your download location, check for group policy settings or management software overriding Chrome preferences

Frequently Asked Questions

About The Author

Andrew Armstrong

Andrew Armstrong is a UK-based IT professional with 26+ years of hands-on experience in Windows, Windows Server, SCCM/ConfigMgr, Active Directory, PowerShell, and enterprise infrastructure. He founded TechyGeeksHome in 2010 and has published over 1,500 practical guides covering real-world IT problems and solutions. When not solving IT problems, Andrew develops free Windows utilities including Ultimate Settings Panel, which has been downloaded over 850,000 times.

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