To see your recent downloads in Google Chrome on a computer, press Ctrl+J on Windows or Linux, or ⌘+Shift+J on a Mac. You can also select the three-dot More menu at the top right and choose Downloads. Right after you download something, Chrome also shows it in the Download tray, which appears to the right of the address bar.
On an Android phone, iPhone, or iPad, tap More and then Downloads. The sections below walk through each method, how to find the file on your computer, and how to remove items from the list.
Check the Download Tray for Your Latest Files
In current versions of Chrome, your most recent downloads appear in a tray near the top right of the window.
- Download a file, or open Chrome if you downloaded something recently.
- Look to the right of the address bar for the download icon. Chrome shows it when you have recent downloads.
- Select the icon to open the Download tray. It’s labeled Recent download history and lists your latest files.
- Select a file name to open it in your computer’s default app for that file type.
Point to a file in the tray to see more actions, including Show in folder. You can also drag a file from the tray into another folder, app, or website. Select Full download history at the bottom of the tray to see everything.
Open Your Full Download History in Chrome
If the tray isn’t showing, or the file is older, use the Download history page. It lists everything you’ve downloaded in Chrome unless you’ve cleared your download history.
- Open Chrome on your computer.
- Select More (the three vertical dots) at the top right.
- Select Downloads.
The Download history page opens in a new tab, with your newest files at the top. Select a file name to open it, or use the Search download history box to find an older file by name.
Keyboard shortcuts for the Downloads page
- Windows and Linux: Ctrl+J
- Mac: ⌘+Shift+J
You can also type chrome://downloads into the address bar and press Enter.
How to Find the Downloaded File on Your Computer
Seeing a file in Chrome’s list is only half the job. To find where it’s saved:
- Open the Download tray or the Download history page.
- Find the file you want.
- Select Show in folder. On the Download history page, it’s the folder icon next to the file. In the tray, point to the file first to see it.
Your computer opens the folder that contains the file.
To check which folder Chrome saves to, select More > Settings > Downloads. The current location is listed there. Select Change to pick a new folder, or turn on Ask where to save each file before downloading if you want to choose every time. On Windows, you can also find your Downloads folder in File Explorer.
How to See Downloads in Chrome on Android
- Open the Chrome app.
- Tap More (three dots) at the top right. If your address bar is at the bottom, swipe up on the address bar instead.
- Tap Downloads.
You can also open your phone’s Files app to find downloaded files in their saved location.
How to See Downloads in Chrome on iPhone or iPad
- Open Chrome.
- Tap More.
- Tap Downloads.
- To use a file, touch and hold its name. You can copy, share, or remove it.
How to Remove Downloads From the List
Removing an item from Chrome’s list doesn’t delete the file from your computer. It only clears the record.
Remove one download
- Open the Download history page (Ctrl+J or ⌘+Shift+J).
- Find the file.
- Select Remove (the X) to the right of it.
To empty the whole list at once, select Clear all at the top right of the Download history page.
Clear your whole download history
- Select More at the top right of Chrome.
- Select Delete browsing data.
- Choose a time range at the top, such as Last hour or Last 24 hours. To clear everything, choose All time (select More if you don’t see it).
- Check Download history, and uncheck anything you want to keep, like cookies or passwords.
- Select Delete data.
Chrome deletes the list of downloads, but the files themselves stay on your computer.
Why Isn’t My Download Showing Up?
- The history was cleared. If you or someone else cleared download history, the list will be empty even though the files are still saved. Check the folder listed under Settings > Downloads.
- It was saved somewhere else. If Chrome asks where to save each file, you may have picked a different folder. Search your computer for the file name.
- You used a different browser. Other browsers, like Microsoft Edge, keep their own download lists. Check the browser you used to download the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a download from Chrome delete the file?
No. Removing an item or clearing download history only removes it from Chrome’s list. The file stays on your device until you delete it.
Are Incognito downloads saved?
Yes. Google says Chrome keeps files you download in Incognito mode after you close the Incognito window.
How do I change where Chrome saves downloads?
Go to More > Settings > Downloads and select Change. If you want every app to use a new folder, see how to change the default download location in Windows 11.
Sources: Google Chrome Help pages on downloading files, keyboard shortcuts, deleting browsing data, and types of browsing data.
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Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.