How to Find Downloads on Android

We all love to download whatever we find interesting on the web and social media platforms, such as images, songs, videos, etc. After downloading files, people get difficult to find them on Android. Each Android phone has a distinct app to manage documents, but mostly the same.

Android devices also have a file system to manage their files like other operating systems. Every Android phone and tablet has a preinstalled "File Manager" app (in some devices, it is called "Files" or "My Files").

If you don't like your preinstalled File Manager app's structure, you have an option to download any third-party File Manager app from Google Play Store.

Find your downloaded files on Android

Finding downloaded files on Android phones and tablets are quite easy. Based on the device model (and the OS version) you are using, the location of the file types may vary. The File Manager (or Files) app contain different folders to store different files separately. You'll also find a "Downloads" folder in it. Whatever you download on your Android device from the web, they all go inside the "Downloads" folder by default.

There are several ways to find downloads (photos, videos, music, documents) files on Android. Some of them are listed below:

1. Quick access via notification panel
2. Find downloaded files using preinstalled File Manager app
3. Use Google Chrome to find your downloads
4. Use third-party File Manager app
5. Find Android downloads using your PC

Quick access via notification panel

The easiest method to access the download files on Android is via the device notification panel. Whatever you download on an Android device, you'll get a notification message in your notification panel.

1. Wait to complete your download.
2. Tap on the download notification icon to view and open your download file.
   

Find your downloaded files using preinstalled File Manager app

Your Android phone or tablet should have a pre-installed File Manager app to access the file system. To find your downloaded file on Android using the default File Manager app, follow the below-mentioned steps:

1. Navigate to the app drawer section on your device. It can be usually performed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or tapping on the several dots button at the bottom of the home screen.
2. Look for the File Manager (or Files, or My Files or Downloads varies from device model) app and tap on it.
3. Under the File Manager app screen, go to Internal storage, where you'll see a Downloads (or Download) folder. Click on the Download folder to access your downloaded files.
   

Your downloaded files are listed with the most recent at the top. However, you can sort them based on their name by clicking on more options (three dots) at the top right and edit. There are also other options, including share, edit, delete, and sort.

Check your app settings

Several apps have their download section. Instead of saving your downloaded files to the device's download folder by default, they save files to the app's download folder.

For example, the WhatsApp app of your phone downloads various files and store each of them in its own downloads section. You will find a downloaded image in WhatsApp Image and downloaded videos in WhatsApp Videos.

Use Google Chrome to find your downloads

If you use your Google Chrome browser to download your media or other files, you can access them directly through the browser's menu. Following are the steps to access files downloaded through Chrome:

1. Open your Chrome browser on your Android phone.
   
2. Tap on the more (three dots) option at the screen's upper-right.
   
3. Tap on the Downloads section to see your downloaded files from the web. If you have several download files, you can use the search icon and type their name to locate it.
   

Using third-party File Manager app

The device's preinstalled file manager app works well, but many people love to experience something new. People love to use third-party file manager app to access their files system. Even some third-party file managers offer more options to access the device folder structure, including downloads.

Some of the popular and trusted file manager apps are "Files by Google", Google Pixel's "Files" app, and Samsung Galaxy phone's "My Files". You can install any File Manager app of your choice from Google Play Store to access the device files directory.

In each of the above-listed file manager apps, you'll find your downloaded data inside the folder named "Downloads". To view your downloaded files on your Android device and go through the below discuss steps:

Using Google Pixel's Files

1. Open your file manager app Files.
2. Tap on the menu icon at the top-left of the screen.
   
3. The menu opens a list of navigation options. From the list of options, select "Downloads".
   

Under the "Downloads" folder, you'll find all your downloaded files.

Using Files by Google

1. Open your Google's Files file manager app.
2. Tap on the "Browse" tab.
   
3. Click on the "Downloads" section to find all your downloaded data.
   

Under the "Downloads" folder, you'll find all your downloaded files.

Find Android downloads using your PC

If you find it difficult to access your Android downloads on the small screen, you can also use your PC to locate your Android downloads. To find your Android downloads using Windows PC, follow the below steps:

1. Connect your Android device with your PC using a USB cable. When you connect both devices, you may get a notification on your Android asking you to choose an action you want to perform.
2. Choose a File transfer
3. Click on the Phone option on the Windows Explorer screen. Navigate to Internal Storage (or SD cards based on your download settings) and then the Downloads Here you will find what you download on Android.

How to Find YouTube downloads on Android

YouTube is a popular platform for video content. People love it to access and stream video content. YouTube also facilitates you to download videos for offline use. As the YouTube videos are stored in the .exo format, you can't play them on other video player apps. You can play them offline on the YouTube app only.

To find YouTube downloads on Android, navigate to the following location on your Android phone:

1. Open your File Manager app and go to "Internal storage".
2. Tap on the Android folder and then data.
3. Under the data folder, go to "google.android.youtube".
   
4. Now, tap on the file > offline and streams.
   
5. Here you will find your YouTube downloads in the .exo
   

But remember that you can't play them on other video player apps. You can play them offline on the YouTube app only. To play downloaded YouTube videos offline:

1. Open your YouTube app.
2. Tap on the Library section at the button of the app.
3. Under the Library section, click on the Downloads Here you'll see your download content to play.
4. Tap on any video content to play it on the YouTube app offline.

How to Find Netflix Downloads on Android

The content you download from Netflix doesn't last for a long time. It depends on the license of individual contents. Some downloaded content expires within 48 hours to watch them; others show less than seven days left to the expiry date on your downloads screen.

Suppose you have downloaded videos using your Netflix app on your Android phone and are excited to know where they are stored in the phone's internal storage. The Netflix downloads are hidden by default, but you can access them using a file manager app.

To know the Netflix downloads location follow the below-mentioned steps:

1. Launch your File app and go to Settings and then Show hidden files. If you are using any other file manager app, you also need to find the equivalent setting.
   
2. Visit at location Internal Storage > Android > data > com.netflix.mediaclient > files > Download > .of
3. Here you will see a folder with a name of eight-digit random numbers. Open it to find your Netflix downloaded movie.
   

Netflix contents are downloaded in the NFV format, and they are encrypted. You can't transfer them in your Gallery app or watch them in any other media player apps.

How to Find Spotify Downloads on Android

Spotify is a popular music streaming app that allows you to listen to music online and offline (after downloads). The premium users of this app can save songs for offline playback. Listing your favorite songs offline saves your monthly or daily data usage, and of course, you can play them anytime and anywhere. Unfortunately, Spotify doesn't allow direct access to your locally downloaded music. To find Spotify downloads on Android, follow the steps below:

1. Launch your Spotify app on your Android device.
2. Tap on the "Your Library" section at the bottom of the screen.
3. Your library songs are categorized under "Playlists", "Artists," and "Albums".
4. To sort your download music by albums, tap on the "Albums".
5. At the bottom of the screen, you'll find filter options and from their select Downloads.
   

Here you will find downloaded albums music from Spotify on Android.

How can you move your downloaded content to another location?

If you need help managing all your download content in the download section, you can also move the contents to another place on your device. Moving files away from the Downloads folder helps you in multiple ways. You can easily and confidentially manage your private and public information. Also, placing specific files into their folders keeps them secure and makes them easy to find when needed.

Moving the download contents to another or separate location/files, avoid mixing the files randomly you have downloaded. Below, we have illustrated the steps on how you can move downloaded content to another location on your Android phone:

1. Visit the app drawer on your phone by swiping up the home screen or tapping on the several dots button (varies from device model).
2. Open the File Manager (Files, My Files, or Downloads varies from device model) app.
   
3. Inside the File Manager, navigate to Internal storage, where you will find the Downloads
4. Navigate to the Downloads folder to access your entire downloaded content.
   
5. Press and hold on to the file you want to move to another folder/location. It will pop up the menu options, including Move. Tap on this move icon and navigate to the location/folder where you wish to keep it.
   
6. Once you are at the right place, tap on the Move to Here button.
   

Another way is to use the Copy and paste option to place your file in another location. However, this method creates a duplicate file in your selected folder and retains the original file in the same download section. Using this method occupies many additional spaces as you copy-paste several files.

How to Search Download Files on an Android Phone

Android smartphone also lets you search specific files if you know their file name. You can also search for the particular file. Here's how:

1. Open your File Manager app.
   
2. At the upper-right of the screen, tap on the Search bar icon.
3. Type in part or entire file name to search.
   
4. If you don't know the file name, go to the categories or recent tab to filter out easily.

How to view the exact location of your downloads

If you wish to view the exact location of your Download folder and files for any reason, Android also allows it. Tap on the info icon (or three-dot in some devices) next to your download files and tap on file info or detail. The path of the file appears as /storage/emulated/0/Download in several modern Android phones. Many other third-party mobile browsers save files to different locations, but this is the most common location where most download files.

How to Find Google Messages Downloads on Samsung phone

To find the downloads from Google Messages on a Samsung smartphone, here are the following steps:

1. Launch the File Manager app you have.
2. Tap on Interna Storage and then Pictures folder.
3. Now open the Messages folder to view contents (images, videos, etc.).

How to Find WhatsApp Downloads content on Samsung phone

The way to find the WhatsApp file you have downloaded on Samsung is quite easy. Here are the steps you can follow to access WhatsApp downloads on your Samsung smartphone:

1. Find and launch the File Manager app on your Samsung phone.
2. Tap on Internal Storage.
3. Now, choose the WhatsApp option.
4. Select the Media option.
5. Go inside the respective WhatsApp directory there.
6. You will find your download contents (files and attachments) are stored in their respective folders.

How to find downloads on iPhone

If you are an iPhone holder, the way to find downloads on it is slightly different. For the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro, navigate to the Files app and find your download content. If there is any content (photos or songs) you have downloaded in the past, you will find them here. Here's how:

1. On your iPhone's home screen, tap the Files.
   
2. From the list of various options, select Browse to get a better view of files.
3. Under the Locations section, tab on iCloud Drive.
   
4. Now, tap on the Downloads folder to view all your download contents.
   

There is one last option in Android smartphones is via browser. Android phone contains most browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, that facilitates the open the list of files you have downloaded.