Skip to main content

How to find downloaded files on an iPhone or Android phone

Believe it or not, finding files you’ve downloaded on your iPhone or Android phone can be tougher than you think. Even the best smartphones can quickly become a handheld electronic briefcase. Along with the apps you need to get you through your day, it’s packed with photos, videos, files, and other media. While it’s all too easy to download a photo or a restaurant menu to your mobile device, when it comes to actually finding where downloads reside on your phone, the opposite is true. It can be difficult to find a particular file amid heaps of other folders.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

15 minutes

What You Need

Worry not! In this guide, we’ll explain where to find downloaded files on iPhones and Android phones, including Google Pixel and Samsung devices. We’ll show you where to look to find your downloaded media and what to do to access the files.

How to find downloaded files on an iPhone

If you own an iPhone, go to the Files app to find your downloads. Files can be used to store everything from photos to saved GarageBand songs. If you’ve downloaded something in the past, you’re almost certain to find it there. Here’s how:

Step 1: On the home screen, tap Files.

Step 2: It will probably show you a range of folders. Select Browse to get a better look at your files and locations.

Step 3: Within Browse you’ll see several options listed under Locations.

Step 4: Tap iCloud Drive.

Step 5: Tap Downloads on the following screen.

If you're using a browser other than the iPhone's default Safari, it may save elsewhere. If that's the case for you, head back to Browse then select on my iPhone > Browser name. You should find your downloads there. If you're trying to find an image, it's most likely in your Photos app.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, you can tap the search bar and enter the name of your downloaded file. If you can’t remember the exact name, you can type the first few letters, which prompts the app to suggest likely candidates.

How to find downloaded files on Android phones

Finding your downloads on Android phones will follow a general set of steps, with some names or locations changed slightly. Try these steps first, or continue on for specific instructions for Samsung and Google Pixel phones if you're still having trouble.

Step 1: Open your App drawer.

Step 2: Open the file manager on your phone, which will be named something along the lines of Downloads, File manager, or My files.

Step 3: Select the Downloads file folder.

If you can’t see your Downloads, first navigate to Internal storage, and then you will be able to access the appropriate folder. You can also use the search bar to quickly bring up the file you’re looking for or check to see if you accidentally sorted it into another folder.

How to find downloaded files on Samsung phones

For Samsung smartphones, the same principle applies — but slightly different names are used.

Step 1: Open the app drawer and either tap the My Files icon or open the Samsung folder and access it from there (depending on the phone).

Step 2: Under Categories, tap Downloads.

Step 3: The My Files app provides other categories as well that separate files into types: Images, Videos, Audio, Documents and Installation files. Check these categories if you can’t find your file(s) using the Downloads category. You can also use the Search field on the app drawer to locate a specific download.

How to find downloaded files on Google Pixel phones

These steps apply to Google’s Files app that can be used on any Android phone. So, if you don't like the manufacturer's files app, then you can download Google's Files app and use that instead.

Step 1: Open the app drawer and tap the Files app.

Step 2: Select Browse if it isn't already open, and then choose the Downloads section.

Step 3: On the Downloads screen, you can switch between Thumbnail and List views. Next to this button is a three-dot More icon presenting a drop-down menu with Sort by and Select all options.

Step 4: In online forums, a small minority of Google Pixel owners have reported an inability to find downloaded photos or files in the Files app. Usually, this is the result of a permissions problem stemming from using the Google app to download images.

Step 5: To solve it, go to Settings > Apps > Files by Google > Permissions.

Step 6: Next, make sure Photos and videos permission is switched on. If it isn’t, downloaded files will continue to be sent to a separate system directory.

Don’t forget to check for downloads in third-party apps

Downloading files from an app might mean that the files are saved to that app’s home folder instead of to the Downloads folder. Netflix is a frequent example of this.

Step 1: To find Netflix downloads, open the Netflix app.

Step 2: Tap the Downloads button in the bottom-right corner. Tap the highlighted button and then Delete download to remove a Netflix download.

This could also apply to other apps on your iPhone or Android device. If you used a particular app to download a specific file, try checking within that application to access the file. This should be the method you try if you can’t find the file in the standard download folder as well.

Editors' Recommendations

Simon Chandler
Simon Chandler is a journalist based in London, UK. He covers technology and finance, contributing to such titles as Digital…
How to use Circle to Search on your Android phone
Samsung Galaxy S24 showing Circle to Search.

When Samsung announced its Galaxy S24 series, it also revealed a slew of new features in its Galaxy AI suite.

One of these new features is Circle to Search, which lets you easily search for anything on the screen with a simple gesture. It’s like a mashup of Google Lens and a screenshot search, and you can activate it from pretty much any app, not just your web browser.

Read more
I tried Belkin’s ridiculous new iPhone accessory — and I love it
Belkin Stand Pro with iPhone 14 Pro Max mounted in StandBy mode.

One of the most interesting iPhone accessories to debut this year is one that wouldn’t have been possible without Apple sneaking a new feature into iOS 17 last fall. While there’s no shortage of iPhone stands and mounts on the market, Belkin’s Stand Pro is something entirely different from the rest.

That’s thanks to Apple’s DockKit. It's a framework for accessory makers to create motorized stands that can follow you around the room. While the concept itself isn’t new, DockKit means that such stands can be significantly more affordable as they don’t need to pack in complex sensors. With DockKit, the iPhone does all the heavy lifting of figuring out where to point itself.

Read more
Best refurbished iPhone deals: Get an iPhone 14 for $507
An iPhone 13 in white color option.

Apple started the whole idea of a smartphone, so it's probably no surprise that it makes some of the best on the market. Of course, they are known for being quite expensive, especially if you want to grab the best iPhones, which will easily run you close to or over $1,000. Luckily, there are some great iPhone deals you can take advantage of, whether unlocked or through a carrier. There are also some other alternatives in the form of refurbished phones. Now, a lot of folks do sometimes shy away from refurbished gear, but it's important to note that many, if not all, refurbished phones come with a guarantee and extended return windows, so you shouldn't worry about getting something defunct. Also, refurbished phones tend to be substantially cheaper than new ones; plus, they do cut down a lot on e-waste, so you are helping the environment.

Either way, we've gone out and found some of the best refurbished iPhone deals out there to save you a little bit extra. We've found a pretty wide range too, so be sure to checkout all the deals available below.
iPhone XR -- from $166
iPhone XR Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

Read more