Can I safely delete files in Download folder?

Hello,

I'm running out of space. If I delete files in my downloads folder will they still be somewhere on my computer if I haven't saved them in another location?


A lot of things have extensions like .pkg .ttf .sit .zip, these are mostly related to applications. Will it effect the app if I delete these?

Thanks.
(running Leopard.)

As long as you've unstuffed the programs/files and put the contents where you want, then yes.
It won't affect the installed apps.

Installed them all? Then yes. Once upon a time used to burn all these downloads to a DVD-RW disc but with continual updates and broadband/cable speeds, no longer necessary or practical.

I used to burn them all to cd's or dvd's too, because Windows was likely to go down the stinker at any time. With the Mac, now once I have finished with whatever I downloaded, it goes in the trash since I don't think OS X is going to bottom out on me anytime soon. I do save some downloads to an external hard drive, but that is mainly 3D content that was hard to find, or tutorial videos.

AlexC said:

If I delete files in my downloads folder will they still be somewhere on my computer if I haven't saved them in another location?

Click to expand...

Posts #2 and #3 are absolutely correct. But, taking just what you've written there, the answer is no.

When not using automatic installing options, I always use the download location as the desktop, and install everything in the desired location from there.
The only things that I ever get in the downloads folder are disk images, which I know that I can safely delete, as I know that it has been installed without having to recall or guess.

As so many items get routed to the downloads folder (email attachments, pdfs and .doc files from an internet browser, etc.), not just software updates, I find it's a good idea to clear it out pretty often, almost every day for me. That way I'm sure the content I want to keep is saved somewhere else on disc that makes sense in my file architecture.

I used to keep a "temp" folder in windows for this purpose, cause I loth a cluttered desktop.