Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Disaster just happened
- Thread starter 420benz
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Not enough information to provide any help. You to explain exactly what happened and information about your system/OS.
El Capitan 10-11-3 I am new to the MBP .For some reason whatever i download onto this MBP does not go into Apps. or downloads. I created several folders with info like this forum in them. I decided to empty the trash and that's when all of my folders have ? on them. I don't know if i can get them back.
Last edited:
By default, things you download through a browser goes into the Downloads folder in your home folder (~/Downloads).
Would you mind sharing some screenshots of your problems, so we can get a better idea of what's up?
Would you mind sharing some screenshots of your problems, so we can get a better idea of what's up?
_Everything_ that you download or create ends up in All My Files. That's why it is named "All my Files" 
If you did not already have Firefox, then you did not use Firefox for the download, but you would have used some other browser - maybe Safari, eh?
You need to find out what location is set for your downloads - which is a setting that you can easily change.
If you used Safari (or some other browser, for that matter), then you can check in Safari's preferences, then the General tab - you can see the location that is set for Downloads.
What do you see there?
If you did not already have Firefox, then you did not use Firefox for the download, but you would have used some other browser - maybe Safari, eh?
You need to find out what location is set for your downloads - which is a setting that you can easily change.
If you used Safari (or some other browser, for that matter), then you can check in Safari's preferences, then the General tab - you can see the location that is set for Downloads.
What do you see there?
When you download ANYTHING from your browser, it will, by default, go to the location that is set for downloads.
In your Firefox screen shot, Firefox will download to your Downloads folder.
All looks good, so far.
You may want to tell us exactly where those folders that you found empty.
If you right-click on the titlebar on any of those open folders, you will see the file path, telling you exactly where the folders are located.
What kind of files were in those folders? Maybe all were temporary files, such as mounted disk images... (?)
Did you also RESTART your Mac after you emptied the trash?
If not, try restarting your Mac now!
In your Firefox screen shot, Firefox will download to your Downloads folder.
All looks good, so far.
You may want to tell us exactly where those folders that you found empty.
If you right-click on the titlebar on any of those open folders, you will see the file path, telling you exactly where the folders are located.
What kind of files were in those folders? Maybe all were temporary files, such as mounted disk images... (?)
Did you also RESTART your Mac after you emptied the trash?
If not, try restarting your Mac now!
DeltaMac: I gave up on the folders.I just made new ones. I am having issue after another. When i first got this MBP i could take a screen shot and it would go to the desktop and it was the proper size. Now it is too large to post on this forum and it goes into Documents. And nothing goes into My Files.
I repeat - everything that you do to make files (or download files) goes into All My Files - that's why it is there.
There's nothing that you can do to change the fact that everything goes into All My Files.
I don't use All My Files myself - I just ignore that feature.
Yes, Screen shots go into Documents, if that's where you want them to go.
That default location for saving screen shots does not affect your location for downloads in any way. It's completely different. I prefer to use my Pictures folder for that, but Documents is a good place, too. I really DON'T like to save screen shots on my desktop. Too messy - but that's just me!
You can change the default destination for many files with OnyX, or one of the other system utilities that you can find on the net. I like OnyX for those kind of things, and you may want to check it out.
There's nothing that you can do to change the fact that everything goes into All My Files.
I don't use All My Files myself - I just ignore that feature.
Yes, Screen shots go into Documents, if that's where you want them to go.
That default location for saving screen shots does not affect your location for downloads in any way. It's completely different. I prefer to use my Pictures folder for that, but Documents is a good place, too. I really DON'T like to save screen shots on my desktop. Too messy - but that's just me!
You can change the default destination for many files with OnyX, or one of the other system utilities that you can find on the net. I like OnyX for those kind of things, and you may want to check it out.
[doublepost=1458778181][/doublepost]OK ThanksI repeat - everything that you do to make files (or download files) goes into All My Files - that's why it is there.
There's nothing that you can do to change the fact that everything goes into All My Files.
I don't use All My Files myself - I just ignore that feature.
Yes, Screen shots go into Documents, if that's where you want them to go.
That default location for saving screen shots does not affect your location for downloads in any way. It's completely different. I prefer to use my Pictures folder for that, but Documents is a good place, too. I really DON'T like to save screen shots on my desktop. Too messy - but that's just me!
You can change the default destination for many files with OnyX, or one of the other system utilities that you can find on the net. I like OnyX for those kind of things, and you may want to check it out.