Web browsers save their caches at predetermined locations by default, which can usually be changed quite easily from within the browsers’s Options. However, in Google Chrome, there is no visible option to change the location of the cache. This doesn’t, however, mean that it can’t be done.
In this guide we’ll show you how to easily change the default save location of Google Chrome’s cache.
Here's how to change the download folder in Chrome browser: 1. Click the menu icon (aka 3 dots) in the upper right corner of the Chrome window. Select Settings. Scroll down and click 'Show. On the next screen enter “Downloads” to the search form and find the feature “Enable downloads location change”. You will see “Default” here, tap on it; And select “Enabled” in the pop-up box.
Using Microsoft Windows 7, the default save location of Google Chrome’s cache is:
C:UsersusernameAppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultCache
Here’s how to change it by adding just a few parameters to the Google Chrome shortcut.
Change Default Download Location Chrome
![Change Download Location Chrome Mac Change Download Location Chrome Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/8/134840619/705407283.jpg)
- Locate a Chrome shortcut (Desktop, Start Menu, Taskbar etc.), right-click it and select Properties.
- In the Target field append the following to the already present string:--disk-cache-dir='d:cache' --disk-cache-size=104857600Replace the text in red to any directory you would make the new cache directory. Click OK to exit.
- Next, Chrome needs to be configured to use the newly defined cache folder for opening previously visited links in the history. For this,
- Type regedit in the Run command and click OK.
- Navigate to the following registry key:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTChromeHTMLshellopencommand
- In the right hand pane, the location of the EXE of Chrome would be given. Right-click the entry and click on Modify.
- Append the following to the already written value of the registry key after the chrome.exe” part--disk-cache-dir='d:cache' --disk-cache-size=104857600Note that the red directory location in this step should be identical to the one you specified in step #2 in the first section, otherwise Chrome will not be able to load pages from the newly set cache.The registry key value should now look something like this:'C:UsersMartinAppDataLocalGoogleChromeApplicationchrome.exe' --disk-cache-dir='d:cache' --disk-cache-size=104857600 -- '%1'Click OK and exit the Registry Editor.
Chrome will now be configured to save cache at a new location and also retrieve previously loaded web pages from the new cache location as well. Restart Chrome and for the changes to take effect.
When using the Chrome or Safari browser to download files to your Mac, they by default go to the “Downloads” folder, which can be found in your user Home directory. However, due to disk space issues, or just by personal preference, you may wish to tell your browser to save your download files in another location. Here’s how.
Selenium Chrome Change Download Location
![Change Download Location Chrome Mac Change Download Location Chrome Mac](https://www.igeeksblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Click-on-Menu-in-Chrome-on-Mac.jpg)
How to Change the Default Download Folder Location in Chrome
- Open the Chrome browser on your Mac and go to Chrome’s Settings, either by choosing “Preferences…” from the Chrome menu or by entering “chrome://settings/” in the address bar
- Scroll down until you see the “Show advanced settings…” link. Click the link
- Again, scroll down a bit until you see the “Downloads” section. Click on the “Change…” button found to the right of the “Download location:” field
- Select the new location you where you want Chrome to save downloaded files to by default
- Exit Settings by closing the tab, and return to using Chrome as normal
How to Change the Default Download Folder Location in Safari
- Open the Safari browser on your Mac and go to Safari’s Settings by choosing “Preferences…” from the Safari menu
- Click the “General” tab in the Preferences window that appears. (It’s the first tab on the left)
- Look for the “File download location” option. Click the pull-down menu to the right of the option
- Now, you can either click “Ask for each download,” which means Safari will prompt you for a save location each time you download a file, or you can click the “Other…” option, which will open a file browser you can use to select a new location you where you want Safari to save downloaded files to by default. Click “Select” to set the new location.
- Close the Settings dialog by clicking the red “X” in the upper left-hand corner, and return to using Safari as normal
Now, whenever you download a file using either browser, the file will be downloaded by default to the drive and folder you selected. I use a directory I made on an external hard drive. This keeps my main hard drive from filling up with downloaded files.
For more tips and tricks on how to make better use of your Mac, iOS device, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, be sure to visit the MacTrast How To section of our website.