This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions.
The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work.
This article has been viewed 433,216 times.
Learn more...
This wikiHow teaches you how to find files, photos, and videos you’ve downloaded to your Android phone or tablet.
Steps
Using a File Manager
-
1Open the app drawer. This is the list of apps on your Android. You can usually open it by tapping the icon with 6 to 9 dots at the bottom of the home screen.
-
2Tap Downloads, My Files, or File Manager. The name of this app varies by device.
- If you don’t see any of these options, your device may not have a file manager. See this wikiHow to learn how to install one.
Advertisement -
3Select a folder. If you only see one folder, tap its name. If you have an SD card, you’ll see two separate folders—one for your SD card, another for internal storage. Depending on your settings, your Downloads folder may be in either of these two locations.
-
4Tap Download. You may have to scroll down to find it. This folder contains everything you’ve downloaded to your Android.
- If you don’t see a Download folder, you may have to poke around in different folders to find it.
Using Chrome
-
1Open Chrome. It’s the round red, blue, yellow, and green icon labeled “Chrome” on your home screen. If you don’t see it there, check the app drawer.
- This method will help you quickly find files you’ve downloaded while using the Chrome web browser.
-
2Tap ⁝. It’s at the top-right corner of Chrome.
-
3Tap Downloads. You will now see a list of files you’ve downloaded from the web.
- To view only certain types of downloads, tap ☰ , then select the type of file (e.g. Audio, Images) you want to view.
- To search for a certain downloads, tap the magnifying glass at the top of the screen.
Community Q&A
-
QuestionWhat do I do if I can't find my downloaded Play Store apps under Downloads?Community AnswerOn Android, the Downloads application is for downloaded files only. To find downloaded apps, go to Settings and find Applications. All of the apps you've downloaded will be here.
-
QuestionI downloaded my info from Facebook, and it says it's ready to view, but when I click in the file it says no app is downloaded. What should I do?Community AnswerTry uninstalling and reinstalling the Facebook app. The Facebook icon on your screen may not actually be the app. Sometimes these icons linger for a little while after an app is uninstalled.
-
QuestionWhat if I don't have an app drawer?Razberry BrownCommunity AnswerYou can download one from the net. There are various types to sort through and select your best from the net. "Playstore'' can be of use to download one or you can get some from websites as well.
About This Article
To view downloads on your Android using Chrome, start by opening Chrome and tapping the three verticle dots in the top-right corner. From here, tap “Downloads” to see a list of files you’ve downloaded from the web. To view only certain types of downloads, tap the three verticle dashes, then select the type of file you want to view. Additionally, search for a certain download by tapping the magnifying glass at the top of the screen and typing a keyword or file type, like “audio” or “images.” To learn how to view downloads using a file manager, keep reading!