How to Download Files and

Documents to a Computer or Mobile

Learn how you can save files to your

computer, Android, iPhone, or iPad
Co-authored
Travis Boylls by Luigi Oppido and
Last Updated: October 22, 2024 Fact Checked

Using a Computer | iPhone & iPad | On Android | Video | Expert Q&A | Tips | 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.
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 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
Using a Computer
1
Go to the download page of the file you want to download. If
1 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.

Click the download link to download a file. There isn't a universal

2 "Download" icon, so look for an icon that says "Download [program
name]," a downward-pointing arrow, or a link that indicates the same.
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 Doing so will prompt a pop-up window.[1]
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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Open your downloaded file. You can do this either by clicking the
3 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] [3]
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).

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Method
iPhone & iPad
2
Open a web browser. The default browser app for iOS devices is
1 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.
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 Navigate to a file you wish to download. Go to the website that
2 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.

Download a non-photo file. If you're downloading a photo, skip to

3 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.

Tap a photo you wish to save. If you want to download a photo, tap
4 it so a larger version expands.

Tap and hold the photo. After a moment, a menu will pop up at the
5 bottom of the screen.

Tap . It's at the top of the pop-up menu. This will

6 Save Image
download the photo onto your iPhone.
You'll be able to find the photo in your iPhone's Photos app.

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Method
On Android
3
Open a web browser. Google Chrome is the default browser on
1 many Androids. If you have a Samsung Galaxy, phone, you can use
Samsung Internet instead.
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 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.

Find the file you want to download. If you already know where the
2 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.

Tap and hold the item you wish to download. This will display a
3 pop-up menu with several options.

Tap the "Download" button. If it is an image, it will be the option

4 that says Download Image, Download or something similar.

View your downloaded file. For non-image files, you can do so by

5 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.

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Expert Q&A
:
 Question

How can I safely download a file?

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.

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).

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
If you want to download YouTube videos as video files, you can do so
using third-party software or using conversion websites.
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.
Downloading a file on iPhone or Android is different than downloading
an iPhone or Android app.
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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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References

1. Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 June

2020.
2. https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/download-items-from-the-web-
sfri40598/mac
3. Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 June
2020.
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