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Chrome: Auto Download Files

G5 Cyber Security

TL;DR

This guide shows you how to automatically download files in Google Chrome without prompting you every time. We’ll cover setting a default download location and managing auto-download permissions for specific sites.

Setting a Default Download Location

  1. Open Chrome Settings: Click the three dots (menu) in the top right corner of Chrome, then select ‘Settings’.
  2. Navigate to Downloads: In the left sidebar, click ‘Downloads’. Or type chrome://settings/downloads into your address bar and press Enter.
  3. Change Location: Click the ‘Change’ button next to ‘Location’. This opens a file explorer window.
  4. Choose Your Folder: Select the folder where you want all your downloads to go by default, then click ‘Select Folder’.

Allowing Auto-Downloads for Specific Sites

Chrome often asks before downloading files from certain websites for security reasons. You can tell Chrome to always allow downloads from sites you trust.

  1. Find a Download Prompt: Visit the website where you want to enable auto-downloads and start a download (e.g., click a download link).
  2. Look for the Auto-Download Option: When Chrome prompts you about the download, look for an option like ‘Allow’ or ‘Keep’. Important: Only choose this if you trust the website!
  3. Manage Site Permissions (if needed): If you accidentally blocked a site, or want to review permissions:
    • Go back to Chrome Settings.
    • Type chrome://settings/content/automaticDownloads into your address bar and press Enter.
    • You’ll see lists of ‘Allowed to download automatically’ and ‘Not allowed to download automatically’.
    • To add a site, click ‘Add’, enter the website address (e.g., www.example.com), and click ‘Add’. To remove a site, find it in the list and click the three dots next to it then select ‘Remove’.

Checking Download Settings

Make sure these settings are correct for auto-downloads to work as expected.

  1. ‘Ask where to save each file before downloading’: In the ‘Downloads’ section of Chrome Settings (chrome://settings/downloads), ensure this is turned off if you want automatic downloads.
  2. ‘Check for malicious files during download’: It’s best to leave this turned on for cyber security, but it might slightly slow down downloads.

Troubleshooting

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