How to Download Files and Documents to a Computer or Mobile

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Learn how you can save files to your computer, Android, iPhone, or iPad

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Travis Boylls

Last Updated: December 28, 2023 Fact Checked

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Using a Computer

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iPhone & iPad

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On Android

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Do you want to download a file from the internet? A download is a transfer of data from the internet to your computer or internet-connected device, often a program or application, picture, audio file, or video. You can download a file using any web browser, and it's surprisingly easy to do. This wikiHow article teaches you how to download files on your computer, mobile phone, or tablet.

Things You Should Know

You can usually download a file by clicking a link that says "Download" or a down-arrow icon.
Downloaded files are saved to your computer, phone, or tablet's Downloads folder by default.
To download a photo from the web, right-click the photo and choose the Save option.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Computer

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1
Go to the download page of the file you want to download. If you're not sure where the file is located, go to https://www.google.com in a web browser and search for the file.
- For example, if you want to download Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can search Google for "Adobe Acrobat Reader download," or go to https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html.
- Never download software or an application from a site that isn't reputable. The program installation file may contain viruses, malware, or spyware. Make sure you have a reputable antivirus program installed on your computer and that you scan any files you download for viruses and malware before installing them.
2
Click the download link to download a file. There isn't a universal "Download" icon, so look for an icon that says "Download [program name]," a downward-pointing arrow, or a link that indicates the same. Doing so will prompt a pop-up window.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Interview. 10 June 2020.}
- Depending on your browser, you may be prompted to choose a folder on your computer to which you'll save the file. If you're not prompted, the file will usually download to your Downloads folder by default.
- If you're downloading a picture, right-click (or Ctrl + click on Mac) the photo and click Save Image As or Save as. Enter a name for the image and click Save.
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3
Open your downloaded file. You can do this either by clicking the file's name in the bar at the bottom of the browser window (or in the downward-facing arrow window in Safari) or by navigating to your computer's Downloads folder.^{[2]
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Research source} ^{[3]
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Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Interview. 10 June 2020.}
- You can search for the "Downloads" folder by typing "downloads" into the Start menu (Windows) or Spotlight (the magnifying glass icon at the top of your Mac's screen).

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

iPhone & iPad

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1
Open a web browser. The default browser app for iOS devices is Safari, which is a white app with a blue compass icon on it. You can use your iPhone or iPad to download photos, text files, PDFs, and many other file types.
- You can also use Google Chrome, Firefox, or a different web browser on your iPhone, though you must first download them from the App Store.
- If you want to download an application or a game, you can do so using the App Store.
2
Navigate to a file you wish to download. Go to the website that contains the file you want to download. If you're not sure where it is, you can search for it. To do so, tap the bar at the top of the screen, then type in the name of an item you wish to view and tap Go.
- If you want to download a photo, search for the photo, and then tap the IMAGES tab to filter your search results by image.
If you're downloading a photo, skip to the next step. If you want to download a file that is not an image (i.e., a PDF or a document), tap file's Download button or link. It may be an icon that resembles a tray with an arrow pointing down, or it may be a button or link that has the filename. Non-image files you download from the internet will be found using the Files app on your iPhone or iPad.
If you want to download a photo, tap it so a larger version expands.
After a moment, a menu will pop up at the bottom of the screen.
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Tap Save Image. It's at the top of the pop-up menu. This will download the photo onto your iPhone.
- You'll be able to find the photo in your iPhone's Photos app.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

On Android

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1
Open a web browser. Google Chrome is the default browser on many Androids. If you have a Samsung Galaxy, phone, you can use Samsung Internet instead.
- You can also use a different internet browser, such as Firefox. Other browsers are available for download from the Google Play Store.
- You can download apps on your Android from the Google Play Store.
- On Android phones and tablets, you can also download and install apps from APK files. However, you should be very cautious about doing so. APK files are not vetted by the Google Play Store and may contain viruses and malware. Do not install APK files from untrustworthy sources.
2
Find the file you want to download. If you already know where the file is located, you can go directly to its website. Otherwise, go to https://www.google.com, search for the file, and tap a search result.
- If you're searching for images, tap the IMAGES tab at the top of the page.
This will display a pop-up menu with several options.
If it is an image, it will be the option that says Download Image, Download or something similar.
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View your downloaded file. For non-image files, you can do so by opening the Files app on non-Samsung devices, or by opening the My Files app on Samsung devices.
- You can view your saved images by opening the Gallery on your Android devices.
- Third-party file explorers such as Solid Explorer will also allow you to browse your Android's downloaded files.

Expert Q&A

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Add New Question

Question

How can I safely download a file?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

Most files downloaded on the Internet (like images or links) are fine. For extra protection, you should install an antivirus software on your computer.

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Question

How do I transfer document files from a DVD?

Community Answer

First check that you have a DVD-R or DVD RAM disk drive. Then insert the DVD in your computer. After that navigate to the file you want to transfer. Copy (or cut depending on your situation) the file and paste it on your desktop (or wherever you want it) it may take some time but after that your file will be copied (or moved).

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Question

How can I save downloaded files?

Community Answer

Downloaded files are automatically saved on your computer. You can back them up in an external memory.

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Tips

Downloading a file on iPhone or Android is different than downloading an iPhone or Android app.

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If you want to download YouTube videos as video files, you can do so using third-party software or using conversion websites.

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You can download just about anything you want using torrent files. However, be careful as many files may contain malicious software or software that is copyrighted.

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Warnings

Most mobile devices don't store text files or setup files on their hard drives. This means your ability to download items on mobile will be limited.

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