We all download a vast number of files on our devices every day. Many of the files we download can get lost in our vast list of downloads. In such a scenario, having a file open automatically upon being downloaded can prevent such a thing. You can do it in Edge, but how do you do that in Google Chrome? In this article, we will learn how to automatically open downloaded files in Chrome.
Why automatically open downloaded files in Chrome?
If you deal with downloading and sorting many files daily, automatically opening downloaded files in Google Chrome can save you some time. Downloads folders for most of us are cluttered with various file types, and finding the most recently downloaded files in such a vast space can take some time. All of this time and hassle can be saved if you turn on the automatically open downloaded files feature in Google Chrome.
How to automatically open downloaded files in Chrome
Automatically opening downloaded files in Google Chrome is a relatively straightforward process. However, only certain file types can be opened automatically.
- Firstly, proceed by downloading a file.
- The downloaded file will automatically be sent to the selected downloads folder.
- Now, open the downloads section by heading to the downloads icon in the top right corner of your browser window.
- Please find the file you downloaded, right-click it, and then click Always open files of this type.
Enabling this will always automatically open the download file of this type. You must follow the same process for all the other supported formats. Also, running files through Antivirus Software before directly opening them is better if they are from unverified or untrusted sources.
In the latest version, the download section has been shifted from the triple bar menu to the top navigation bar of Chrome. Instead of going to a downloads bar at the bottom of the screen, go to the downloads section, which can be accessed from the top right corner of the browser window.
Read: How to queue downloads in Google Chrome browser
How do you change Google Chrome’s default download location?
If you think that the default download folder in Google Chrome is getting cluttered or want to change the default download location for Google Chrome for whatever reason, you can do that, too. Here’s how:
- Click on the triple dot icon in the top right corner of your Chrome browser window, and then open settings from it.
- Head over to the Downloads section from the left pane in the Chrome setting. Now, you will see the location option. Click on Change.
- Select the desired folder from the open window and click the Select folder button to save the changes.
This article taught us how to automatically open download files in Google Chrome and change the default download location. We hope that you found this article to be helpful.
Read: Best free Video Downloader for Chrome and Edge
What file types cannot open automatically after downloading them in Google Chrome?
Executable file types such as .exe. .bat or .msi are not supported to automatically open after download in Google Chrome as once opened, these files can automatically execute themselves. If you download a malicious file, this can be a huge security risk for your PC. Also, this feature does not support compressed file formats such as zip or rar.
Is it safe to open downloaded files automatically in Chrome?
It is generally safe to open files automatically after downloading them to Google Chrome. However, it would help to exercise caution while opening executable file types like exe, bat, and si as these files can execute themselves and install malware on your PC.
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