Safari Download Location

[siroht]

I recently discovered that when changing the download location via Safari settings, it takes multiple attempts of selecting a new location before Safari accepts the change. Say if I change the location from the default folder(download), and select the music folder it reverts back to the default download folder. After 2-3 attempts the new location, the new folder is accepted. This is on 26.6.

Has anyone experienced this issue?

 

[nebojsak]

I'm not normally using Safari as my daily driver, but just changed download location to the Desktop, and it's working as it should.

 

[siroht]

I'm not normally using Safari as my daily driver, but just changed download location to the Desktop, and it's working as it should.

Thanks for checking!

 

[Saint_Blaise]

It always reverts for me after an update so I wouldn't be surprised if there's a bug that has other triggers.

 

[benholt]

Two things to check when Safari refuses to hold a non-default downloads folder on 26.x. Safari stores the choice as a security-scoped bookmark, not just a path — if TCC hasn't granted Safari access to the new folder, the bookmark round-trip fails and the pref quietly falls back to ~/Downloads (which has a default entitlement). Head into System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders > Safari and confirm the target folder is enabled there. The "3 attempts and it sticks" pattern usually means the TCC prompt is racing the pref write on the first try and the second try goes through once the grant is in place.

Terminal shortcut if you want to skip the picker: quit Safari, run defaults write com.apple.Safari DownloadsPath -string "/Users/you/Music", then relaunch. TCC still has to allow the actual write to that folder, but the preference itself won't revert.

 

[bogdanw]

if TCC hasn't granted Safari access to the new folder

As far as I know, Safari is excluded from TCC. It doesn't ask for permission and it doesn't need it.

 

[Fishrrman]

I have Safari set to download things right to the desktop.
That way I can see when they arrive, and they're "right there" for me to start using...

 

[Tagbert]

I have Safari set to download things right to the desktop.
That way I can see when they arrive, and they're "right there" for me to start using...

I almost never see my desktop. There are windows in front of it. The ~/Downloads folder is always the first tab in Finder so its easy to get to and I can move the files somewhere else, if needed. Desktop is kind of a dead end..