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FIX: Chrome Downloads Not Showing After Upgrading To MacOS Sonoma

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Are your Chrome downloads not showing on your MacBook after updating to macOS Sonoma? Learn why this happens and how to fix it in this article.

If you are a MacBook user who has recently updated to macOS Sonoma, the latest version of Apple’s operating system, you might have noticed that your Google Chrome browser is behaving strangely. Specifically, when you download files from the web using Google Chrome, they are not visible in your Finder or on your desktop. They are hidden by default, and you have to go through some extra steps to access them.

This is a very annoying and frustrating issue, especially if you download a lot of files for your work or personal use. You might wonder why this is happening, and how you can fix it. Well, don’t worry, because we have got you covered. In this article, we will explain the possible causes of this issue, and provide you with some simple solutions that you can try.

Why are Google Chrome downloaded files hidden on MacBook after the macOS Sonoma update?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as this seems to be a bug that affects some users who have updated to macOS Sonoma, and there is no official fix from Google or Apple yet.

However, based on some online forums and discussions, we can speculate that there are two possible reasons why your downloaded files are hidden on your MacBook after updating to macOS Sonoma.

  • Reason 1: The default download location has been changed or corrupted by the macOS Sonoma update. One possible reason why your downloaded files are hidden is that the default download location has been changed or corrupted by the macOS Sonoma update. This means that Google Chrome is saving your downloaded files in a different folder than usual, or in a folder that has some issues with permissions or settings.
  • Reason 2: The downloaded files are marked as invisible by the Finder. Another possible reason why your downloaded files are hidden is that they are marked as invisible by the Finder. This means that Google Chrome is saving your downloaded files normally, but they have a hidden attribute that prevents them from being displayed by the Finder or on your desktop.

How to fix Google Chrome downloading files in a hidden form on MacBook after the macOS Sonoma update?

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to fix this issue and make your downloaded files visible again. Depending on the reason why your downloaded files are hidden, you can try one of the following solutions:

Solution 1: Change the default download location in Google Chrome settings.

If the reason why your downloaded files are hidden is that the default download location has been changed or corrupted by the macOS Sonoma update, you can fix this by changing the default download location in Google Chrome settings. Here’s how:

  1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot icon at the top right corner.
  2. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Scroll down and click on Advanced.
  4. Under Downloads, check if the location is correct. If not, click on Change and select a folder where you want to save your downloaded files.
  5. You can also toggle on the option to Ask where to save each file before downloading so that you can choose the destination for each file manually.

This should solve your problem and make your downloaded files visible in the folder that you have chosen.

Solution 2: Show and unhide hidden files in Finder.

If the reason why your downloaded files are hidden is that they are marked as invisible by the Finder, you can fix this by showing and unhiding hidden files in Finder. Here’s how:

  • Open Finder and go to the folder where your downloaded files are supposed to be.
  • Press Command + Shift + . (dot) to show hidden files. You should see your downloaded files appear with a faded icon.
  • Select the files that you want to unhide and press Command + I to open the Get Info window.
  • Under General, uncheck the box next to Hidden. This will make your files visible again.
  • Press Command + Shift + . (dot) again to hide hidden files.

This should solve your problem and make your downloaded files visible in Finder and on your desktop.

Bottom Line

We hope this article has helped you understand why Google Chrome is downloading files in hidden form on MacBook after updating to macOS Sonoma, and how you can fix it. These solutions are based on our own research and experience, but they may not work for everyone. If you still have any problems.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading, and happy browsing!

  • Seok Chen

    Seok Chen is a mass communication graduate from the City University of Hong Kong.