Go to Download & Shop if you want to get the latest version of Internet Explorer for your operating system.

Download pictures, apps, and other files from the web

There are many types of files you can download from the web—documents, pictures, videos, apps, extensions and toolbars for your browser, just to name a few. When you tap or click a file you'd like to download, Internet Explorer will ask what you want to do with the file. Here are some actions you'll be able to take, depending on the type of file you're downloading:

  • Open the file to view it, but don't save it to your PC.

  • Save the file on your PC in the default download location. After Internet Explorer runs a security scan and finishes downloading the file you can choose to open the file, the folder it's stored in, or view it in the Download Manager.

  • Save as a different file name, type, or download location on your PC.

  • Run the app, extension, or other file type. After Internet Explorer runs a security scan, the file with start running on your PC.

  • Cancel the download and go back to browsing the web.

If you're using Internet Explorer for the desktop, you can also save smaller files—like single pictures—to your PC by right-clicking the picture, link, or file you want to save, and then choosing Save picture as or Save target as from the dropdown menu.

Find files you've downloaded on your PC

Download Manager keeps track of pictures, documents, and other files you download from the web. Files you've downloaded are automatically saved in the Downloads folder. This folder is usually located on the drive where Windows is installed (for example, C:\users\your name\downloads). You can always move downloads from the Downloads folder to other places on your PC.

To view files you've downloaded while using Internet Explorer, do this: open Internet Explorer for the desktop, tap or click the Tools Tools button, and then tap or click View downloads. You'll be able to see what you've downloaded from the web, where it's stored on your PC, and choose actions to take on your downloads.

Change the default download folder on your PC

To change the default location where downloads are stored on your computer, do this:

  1. Open Internet Explorer for the desktop.

  2. Tap or click the Tools Tools button, and then tap or click View downloads.
  3. In the View Downloads dialog box, tap or click Options in the lower left hand corner.

  4. Choose a different default download location by tapping or clicking Browse. Tap or click OK when you're done.

Learn why some files won't open in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer uses add-ons such as the Adobe Reader to view some files in the browser. Internet Explorer 10 is designed to be an add-on free experience, and the file might need to be opened with a different app. If you can save the file to your PC instead, you'll be able to choose which app to open it with.

If you're using Internet Explorer for the desktop, you might have an older version of the add-on that needs to be updated. Learn more about how to Manage add-ons in Internet Explorer.

Learn about download warnings

When you download a file, Internet Explorer checks for clues that the download is malicious or potentially harmful to your PC. If Internet Explorer thinks a download seems suspicious, you'll be notified so you can decide whether or not to save, run, or open the file. Not all files you're warned about are malicious, but it's important to make sure you trust the site you're downloading from, and that you really want to download the file.

If you see a warning in Download Manager that tells you The publisher of this program couldn't be verified, then Internet Explorer doesn't recognize the site or organization asking you to download the file. Make sure you recognize and trust the publisher before you save or open the download. Learn more about how SmartScreen helps protect you and Certificate errors that might cause you to see download warnings.

Go to Download & Shop if you want to get the latest version of Internet Explorer for your operating system.

Download pictures, apps, and other files from the web

There are many types of files you can download from the web—documents, pictures, videos, apps, extensions and toolbars for your browser, just to name a few. When you click a file you'd like to download, Internet Explorer will ask what you want to do with the file. Here are some actions you'll be able to take, depending on the type of file you're downloading:

  • Open the file to view it, but don't save it to your PC.

  • Save the file on your PC in the default download location. After Internet Explorer runs a security scan and finishes downloading the file you can choose to open the file, the folder it's stored in, or view it in the Download Manager.

  • Save as a different file name, type, or download location on your PC.

  • Run the app, extension, or other file type. After Internet Explorer runs a security scan, the file with start running on your PC.

  • Cancel the download and go back to browsing the web.

You can also save smaller files—like single pictures—to your PC by right-clicking the picture, link, or file you want to save, and then choosing Save picture as or Save target as from the dropdown menu.

Find files you've downloaded on your PC

Download Manager keeps track of pictures, documents, and other files you download from the web. Files you've downloaded are automatically saved in the Downloads folder. This folder is usually located on the drive where Windows is installed (for example, C:\users\your name\downloads). You can always move downloads from the Downloads folder to other places on your PC.

To view files you've downloaded while using Internet Explorer, do this: open Internet Explorer for the desktop, click the Tools Tools button, and then click View downloads. You'll be able to see what you've downloaded from the web, where it's stored on your PC, and choose actions to take on your downloads.

Change the default download folder on your PC

To change the default location where downloads are stored on your computer, do this:

  1. Open Internet Explorer for the desktop.

  2. Click the Tools Tools button, and then click View downloads.
  3. In the View Downloads dialog box, click Options in the lower left hand corner.

  4. Choose a different default download location by clicking Browse, and click OK when you're done.

Learn why some files won't open in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer uses add-ons such as the Adobe Reader to view some files in the browser. If Internet Explorer can't open the file, you might have an older version of the add-on that needs to be updated. Learn more about how to Manage add-ons in Internet Explorer.

Learn about download warnings

When you download a file, Internet Explorer checks for clues that the download is malicious or potentially harmful to your PC. If Internet Explorer thinks a download seems suspicious, you'll be notified so you can decide whether or not to save, run, or open the file. Not all files you're warned about are malicious, but it's important to make sure you trust the site you're downloading from, and that you really want to download the file.

If you see a warning in Download Manager that tells you The publisher of this program couldn't be verified, then Internet Explorer doesn't recognize the site or organization asking you to download the file. Make sure you recognize and trust the publisher before you save or open the download. Learn more about how SmartScreen helps protect you and Certificate errors that might cause you to see download warnings.

Go to Download & Shop if you want to get the latest version of Internet Explorer for your operating system.

Download pictures, apps, and other files from the web

There are many types of files you can download from the web—documents, pictures, videos, apps, extensions and toolbars for your browser, just to name a few. When you click a file you'd like to download, Internet Explorer will ask what you want to do with the file. Here are some actions you'll be able to take, depending on the type of file you're downloading:

  • Open the file to view it, but don't save it to your PC.

  • Save the file on your PC in the default download location. After Internet Explorer runs a security scan and finishes downloading the file you can choose to open the file, the folder it's stored in, or view it in the Download Manager.

  • Save as a different file name, type, or download location on your PC.

  • Run the app, extension, or other file type. After Internet Explorer runs a security scan, the file with start running on your PC.

  • Cancel the download and go back to browsing the web.

You can also save smaller files—like single pictures—to your PC by right-clicking the picture, link, or file you want to save, and then choosing Save picture as or Save target as from the dropdown menu.

Find files you've downloaded on your PC

Download Manager keeps track of pictures, documents, and other files you download from the web. Files you've downloaded are automatically saved in the Downloads folder. This folder is usually located on the drive where Windows is installed (for example, C:\users\your name\downloads). You can always move downloads from the Downloads folder to other places on your PC.

To view files you've downloaded while using Internet Explorer, do this: open Internet Explorer for the desktop, click the Tools Tools button, and then click View downloads. You'll be able to see what you've downloaded from the web, where it's stored on your PC, and choose actions to take on your downloads.

Change the default download folder on your PC

To change the default location where downloads are stored on your computer, do this:

  1. Open Internet Explorer for the desktop.

  2. Click the Tools Tools button, and then click View downloads.
  3. In the View Downloads dialog box, click Options in the lower left hand corner.

  4. Choose a different default download location by clicking Browse, and click OK when you're done.

Learn why some files won't open in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer uses add-ons such as the Adobe Reader to view some files in the browser. If Internet Explorer can't open the file, you might have an older version of the add-on that needs to be updated. Learn more about how to Manage add-ons in Internet Explorer.

Learn about download warnings

When you download a file, Internet Explorer checks for clues that the download is malicious or potentially harmful to your PC. If Internet Explorer thinks a download seems suspicious, you'll be notified so you can decide whether or not to save, run, or open the file. Not all files you're warned about are malicious, but it's important to make sure you trust the site you're downloading from, and that you really want to download the file.

If you see a warning in Download Manager that tells you The publisher of this program couldn't be verified, then Internet Explorer doesn't recognize the site or organization asking you to download the file. Make sure you recognize and trust the publisher before you save or open the download. Learn more about how SmartScreen helps protect you and Certificate errors that might cause you to see download warnings.

Go to Download & Shop if you want to get the latest version of Windows Internet Explorer for your operating system.

Download pictures, apps, and other files from the web

There are many types of files you can download from the web—documents, pictures, videos, apps, extensions and toolbars for your browser, just to name a few. When you click a file you'd like to download, Internet Explorer will ask what you want to do with the file. Here are some actions you'll be able to take, depending on the type of file you're downloading:

  • Find a program to open the file with on your PC.

  • Open the file to view it, but don't save it to your PC.

  • Save the file on your PC in the default download location. After Internet Explorer runs a security scan and finishes downloading the file you can choose to open the file, the folder it's stored in, or view it in the Download Manager.

  • Run the app, extension, or other file type. After Internet Explorer runs a security scan, the file with start running on your PC.

  • Cancel the download and go back to browsing the web.

You can also save smaller files—like single pictures—to your PC by right-clicking the picture, link, or file you want to save, and then choosing Save Picture As or Save Target As from the dropdown menu. You can change the file name and choose where you'd like to save the file on your PC.

Learn why some files won't open in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer uses add-ons such as the Adobe Reader to view some files in the browser. If Internet Explorer can't open the file, you might have an older version of the add-on that needs to be updated. Learn more about how to Manage add-ons in Internet Explorer.

Learn about download warnings

When you download a file, Internet Explorer runs a security scan to check for clues that the download is malicious or potentially harmful to your PC. If Internet Explorer thinks a download seems suspicious, you'll be notified so you can decide whether or not to save, run, or open the file. Not all files you're warned about are malicious, but it's important to make sure you trust the site you're downloading from, and that you really want to download the file.