What Is a .DOWNLOAD File?
Safari left a .download item in your Downloads folder and the real file never appeared. It is an unfinished download. Here is how to fix it.
What a .download file is
On macOS, a .download is actually a package Safari uses for an in-progress download. While bytes are arriving Safari stores them here; when it finishes, the real file appears and the .download disappears.
Why it is stuck
Safari was quit, the network dropped, or the download was paused and lost. The partial data is inside the package but not yet a usable file.
How to finish it
Open Safari and press Cmd+Option+L to show Downloads, then click the resume (circular arrow) button. If the entry is gone, start the download again.
Is it safe to delete?
Yes, once you have given up on it. Move the .download to Trash; you only lose the incomplete data.
How to finish a .download file by OS
macOS (Safari): a .download is an in-progress Safari download package. Open Safari, press ⌥⌘L to view Downloads, and click resume. If Safari is closed, right-click the .download in Finder → Show Package Contents to see the partial data.
Windows / Linux: Safari's .download is Mac-specific; on other systems just re-download the file from the source.
Common problems
A stuck .download usually means the connection dropped or Safari was quit. Resuming from the Downloads list is the reliable fix; if that fails, delete it and download again.
FAQ
Can I open a .download file?
No. It is an incomplete Safari download package with no usable file inside yet.
How do I resume a Safari .download?
Open Downloads (Cmd+Option+L) and click the resume button, or restart the download from the page.
Is it safe to delete?
Yes, if the download is dead — you only discard the partial data.
Can I convert a .download to the real file?
Only by finishing the download in Safari. A partial .download package has no complete file inside.
Other file types explained
- Recover an Unsaved File in Sublime Text After a Crash
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- .swp vs .swo — What's the Difference? (Vim Swap Files)
- Leftover .aria2 File? Resume or Delete a Stuck Download
- What Is a CRDOWNLOAD File?
- Chrome Download Stuck as .crdownload (Not Finishing) — Fix
- .crdownload vs .opdownload — What's the Difference?
- Safari .download File Stuck (Not Finishing) on Mac — Fix
- Opera Download Stuck as .OPDOWNLOAD? How to Finish or Delete It
- Opera .opdownload Stuck / Not Completing — Fix
- What Is a PART File?
- Firefox .part File Won't Finish Downloading — Fix
- .part vs .crdownload — What's the Difference?
- .partial File Won't Finish Downloading (Edge/IE) — Fix
- What Is a .PARTIAL File?