# Brave not downloading?

**URL:** <https://community.brave.app/t/brave-not-downloading/649658>\
**Category:** Brave Browser\
**Tags:** macos, bug\
**Created:** [February 18, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-not-downloading/649658 "2026-02-18T23:58:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![garf\_eel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ec9cab/32.png) [@garf\_eel](https://community.brave.app/u/garf_eel)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-not-downloading/649658/1 "2026-02-18T23:58:24Z")

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brave doesn’t seem to download anything, the download window doesn’t even pop up on the top bar. I am so confused! it also works in a private tab, but i have no extentions installed. i am on mac m4 tahoe.

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**Author:** ![289wk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/439d5e/32.png) [@289wk](https://community.brave.app/u/289wk)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 10:28am UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-not-downloading/649658/2 "2026-02-23T10:28:47Z")

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@garf_eel

Try

1. Open `System Settings` → `Privacy & Security` → `Files and Folders`.
2. Look for **Brave Browser** in the list.
3. Make sure that Brave Browser is allowed to access `Downloads`.
4. Toggle the permission OFF/ON, then Quit, pause, and Start Brave Browser.

Also check `Privacy & Security` → `App Management` (_if present_) to see whether Brave is restricted from managing files.

Check the download folder status

1. In Brave Browser, go to `brave://settings/downloads`.
2. Note the “Location” path.
3. In Finder, verify that:
  - The designated download folder exists.
  - You can manually create a file there (egs.: right-click → New Folder)

4. If there’s any doubt, change the download Location to the standard `Downloads` folder in your home directory and test again.

> **Create a new user Profile for Testing:**
>
> Create and use **AN ADDITIONAL** Brave Browser user Profile (`Menu --> More tools --> Add profile`) - **only** ← meaning: Do not have any other Brave Browser user Profile tabs/windows open.
> 
> When creating this new Brave Browser user Profile _for test purposes_
> 
> - Do not import anything.
> - Do not add any extensions.
> - Do not allow/enable any Brave Browser “bells and whistles” such as Brave Rewards, Brave Talk, etc.
> 
> IF this _test_ Brave Browser user Profile does not present your problem, then _possibly_, **the profile that you have been using** , has a problem . . . and that _might_ be caused by one or more extensions, or too many tabs ← complex/conundrum.
> 
> * * *
> 
> Detailed info about testing - IF, in regard to memory and performance issues:
> 
> [Create a new profile to help Troubleshoot](https://community.brave.app/t/create-a-new-profile-to-help-troubleshoot/190807)

‘[Where Brave Browser Profiles Are Located](https://community.brave.app/t/where-brave-browser-profiles-are-located/646708)’

> **Where Brave Browser has usually been installed on the Mac:**
>
> > `/Applications/Brave Browser.app`
> > 
> > `/Users/username/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/`
> > 
> > `/Users/username/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/Brave Browser ... .plist`
> > 
> > `/Users/username/Library/BraveSoftware/`
> > 
> > `/Users/username/Library/Caches/BraveSoftware/`
> > 
> > `/Users/username/Library/Caches/com.brave.Browser/`
> > 
> > `/Users/username/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Brave Browser ... .crash`
> > 
> > `/Users/username/Library/Preferences/com.brave.Browser.plist`
> > 
> > `/Users/username/Library/Saved Application State/com.brave.Browser.savedState/`
> > 
> > And the “Brave Browser … .diag” reports within:
> > 
> > `/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/`
> 
> You might not find:
> 
> > `/Users/username/Library/BraveSoftware`
> 
> . . . do not worry about that.

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**Author:** ![Mattches](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brave/user_avatar/community.brave.app/mattches/32/25189_2.png) [@Mattches](https://community.brave.app/u/Mattches)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-not-downloading/649658/3 "2026-02-23T19:15:52Z")

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I suspect that it is appearing and it’s actually showing up behind the browser window. Can you try making sure you only have one browser window open, try to download something, then use `Command + ~` if the download window doesn’t appear.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/brave/original/3X/1/8/182067f3480d1a5e7aea5ae3131b116ca1ef7918.png) [@system](https://community.brave.app/u/system)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-not-downloading/649658/4 "2026-04-24T19:16:06Z")

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