Clean up your Downloads folder on Mac and Windows

Everything lands in your Downloads folder: installers, PDFs, images, archives. After a year it holds thousands of files, and nobody remembers which ones matter. With a fixed order, it is tidy again quickly.

Big and old files first

A few files carry most of the weight. Sort by size and by date before you go through files one by one.

1. Mac: Open the Downloads folder in Finder, choose “as List” in the toolbar and click the “Size” or “Date Added” column.
2. Windows: Open the Downloads folder in File Explorer, click “Sort” and choose “Size” or “Date modified”.
3. Select several files by holding Shift and move them to the trash (Mac: Command + Delete, Windows: Delete).

Typical candidates to delete

Installers such as .dmg, .pkg, .exe and .msi are no longer needed after installing. Zip archives you have already extracted exist twice. Files with “(1)” in the name are usually a second download of the same file. Old invoices and receipts belong in an archive, not in Downloads.

Deleting with a safety net

Both systems have a trash. On a Mac, move files in with Command + Delete. On Windows, press Delete. Be careful: Shift + Delete on Windows removes files immediately and permanently, without the Recycle Bin.

Keeping it clean

Plan ten minutes once a month. On Windows, Storage Sense (Settings, System, Storage) can empty the Downloads folder automatically after a set number of days. Check first that you don’t keep anything important there.

How it works with GetSpace

GetSpace turns sorting into a matter of minutes. It shows you every file as a large card, and you decide with one key.

1. Click “Downloads” on the start page. The folder loads immediately.
2. Use the filter to show only archives (that includes .zip, .dmg and .iso) or only files over 100 MB. The oldest file comes first.
3. Left arrow deletes, right arrow keeps, down arrow skips. The space bar shows the file large.
4. The summary shows how much space you will free. Files only go to the trash after you confirm.

Download for MacDownload for Windows

GetSpace is a program for Mac and Windows and doesn’t run on phones. Send yourself the link and download it on your computer.

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