Did you download a file and can’t figure out where it is? In this tutorial, we’ll show you where those downloaded files are stored on your iPhone or iPad.
If you download files, PDFs, and videos to your device from the internet, then you’re used to the routine. You may have even changed your download location to a specific spot.
But if you’ve never downloaded a file on iOS, then you’re probably wondering where those files went!
Access your downloads in the browser
If you use Safari as your browser of choice on iOS, then that’s the easiest spot to grab your downloads.
To open the Downloads Manager, tap the downloads arrow button in Safari’s toolbar and select Downloads. You can then select your file to open it or tap the magnifying glass to see it in its folder.
If you don’t see the downloaded files above, Safari may have already removed your downloads. Head over to iPhone Settings > Apps > Safari > Downloads > Remove Download List Items to see when your web browser removes the download list items. It can be set to after one day, upon successful download, or manually.
If you use another app, such as Chrome or Firefox, to download the file, go to their settings and look for the Downloads option.
Access your downloads in the Files app
By default, your downloads on iPhone and iPad go in a folder named Downloads inside the Files app. So, if you can’t use Safari to see your downloads, just open the Files app, tap Browse, go to iCloud Drive, and select the Downloads folder.
To pick a different location, see our tutorial on changing where Safari downloads are saved in iOS.
And if you’re interested, take a look at how to change the Safari download spot on Mac, too.