Where do downloads go on iPhone?
Updated
On iPhone, Safari doesn't put downloaded videos in Photos. It saves them as files in the Files app, in a folder called Downloads. From there, three taps move a video into Photos.
Safari saves to Files › Downloads
Every file Safari downloads goes to the Downloads folder in the Files app. Unless you've changed it, that folder is in iCloud Drive, so it also appears on your other Apple devices.
While a file downloads, Safari shows a download arrow in the address bar. Tap it to see the list of downloads, and tap a file to open it.
Move a video into Photos
- Open the Files app and go to Downloads (under iCloud Drive, or On My iPhone if you moved it).
- Tap the video to open it.
- Tap the Share button, then Save Video. For a photo, it's Save Image.
- The video is now in the Photos app with your other videos.
To move several at once, tap ⋯ in the Downloads folder, choose Select, tap the files you want, then tap Share and the Save option.
ZIP files from Download all
When you use Download all on a post with several photos or videos, you get one ZIP file. Tap it once in Files and it opens into a folder. Open that folder, tap ⋯ › Select, choose the files and use Share to save them to Photos.
Downloads in Chrome and other browsers
Chrome on iPhone keeps its own list of downloads: tap ⋯, then Downloads. The same files are in the Files app, in a Chrome folder under On My iPhone. Other browsers usually keep a folder of their own there too.
Choose where Safari saves
- Open Settings, then Apps › Safari. On iOS 17 and older, it's just Safari.
- Tap Downloads.
- Choose iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or Other to pick any folder.
On My iPhone keeps large videos out of your iCloud storage. The Remove Download List Items setting on the same screen only clears Safari's list; the files themselves stay in Files.
Can't find the file?
- Search for it. In Files, pull down to show the search bar and type part of the name. PastePull names files after the platform, the account and the post, such as tiktok_name_1234_1080p.mp4.
- Check it downloaded. Safari asks before saving some files; the download only starts after you tap Download.
- If there's no Save Video option in the Share menu, Photos doesn't take that video format. Play it in VLC, or convert it as described in Downloaded video won't play.