How to (successfully) change Mail Downloads folder?

Hi,
I've been trying to wrestle with my Mail Downloads folder location without success, so I thought I would ask.
I dislike having a separate "Mail Downloads" folder because stuff accumulates endlessly there. The default Mail Downloads is at ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads. Here's what I have tried:
The obvious: change "Downloads folder" in Mail prefs. No matter what I choose, the files are still downloaded to the default folder.
I removed ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads and made it a symlink to my ~/Downloads folder (where I'd like to put everything). This causes opening attachments from Mail to hang (I have to save them first, and then open from the saved location). I get these messages in Console (in this example, trying to open an attachment named "Manual.pdf", and PID 56818 is the Mail app):
9/13/12 11:52:29.707 AM CoreServicesUIAgent[56818]: Quarantine resolution refused to pid 56809 because it is not allowed to read /Users/a10022/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads/Manual.pdf
9/13/12 11:52:29.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(56817) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
9/13/12 11:52:30.221 AM sandboxd[56817]: ([56809]) Mail(56809) deny file-issue-extension /Users/a10022/Downloads/Manual.pdf
9/13/12 11:52:30.238 AM sandboxd[56817]: ([56809]) Mail(56809) deny file-issue-extension /Users/a10022/Downloads/Manual.pdf
9/13/12 11:52:30.253 AM sandboxd[56817]: ([56809]) Mail(56809) deny file-issue-extension /Users/a10022/Downloads/Manual.pdf
Any thoughts? The symlink trick was working fine in Lion and before, the trouble started with the upgrade to Mountain Lion.
Thanks,
--Diego

Hi,
I have spent quit some time on this and there is no decent option to do so. Mail is a buggy product since it ignores the default preferences. Old tricks with the symbolic link don't work. Most likely because Apple wants you to look at all the nice inline attachments in stead of treating them as a real attachment. Just like they do in their commercials.
I found some posts on how to move it to another disk but that was not my goal. So in the end, there was only one option left for me and that is to just make it a faourite folder in my finder so I can at least review it daily to clean it up.
Sorry for not having a desent fix but this works for me.
Good luck!

Similar Messages

  • Changing "Mail Downloads" folder for attachments

    It seems in Leopard Mail, when you double click an attachment to open it, it is temporarily saved to ~/Library/Mail Downloads. This is in contrast to (I think) Tiger, where it would be saved to the Downloads folder set in the General preferences. There is still a setting for the Downloads folder in the General preferences, and according to the help window, it is to "Specify the folder in which to temporarily save attachments you open from a message". To me, that means the same as the Tiger behavior. However, if I change this preference to, say, "Desktop", it seems opening an attachment (not explicitly saving it) still saves it to the ~/Library/Mail Downloads folder, not the assigned folder. Is this the correct behavior? If so, the help window is misleading. Personally, I would like the option to change this folder, although I suppose there are workarounds such as changing the Mail Downloads folder to an alias of the desired destination folder.
    thanks.

    Ok, so much for that clever workaround. Doesn't work, Mail just throws up an error and refuses to save the attachment. Any other ideas? I just want Mail to auto-save opened attachments onto the Desktop, in case I forget to explicitly save it, and so I don't have to root into subfolders to find it.

  • HT1848 My iTunes is transferring all of my purchases into my trash. How can I change the download folder back to the backup folder?

    I just noticed that all of the purchases I just transferred have ended up in the trash. Tried it again after downloading a new app and it happened again. Does anyone have any idea how my Trash folder became the designated download/backup folder...and how can I change this?

    In iTunes open Prefs > Advanced and see what it says for "iTunes Media folder location."

  • How do I change the default folder that opens when uploading a file to the internet from my mac? (at the moment it automatically defaults to 'Downloads' folder)

    How do I change the default folder that opens when uploading a file to the internet from my mac? (at the moment it automatically defaults to 'Downloads' folder)
    For example...
    I am on a webiste and wish to upload a photo.
    I click on select file on the website
    Finder opens and defaults to 'Downloads' folder (it happens with all wesbites)
    How do I change this?

    I am on a webiste and wish to upload a photo.
    I click on select file on the website
    You are attempting to download the picture to your computer not uploading photo to the website if I am understanding you correctly.
    To change the download direction, you must do so through your browser's Preferences.  If you are using Safari, hopefully, someone who uses Safari will help you and/or post over in their forums.  I do not use Safari.
    If using Firefox>Preferences>General>Save Files to:

  • Mail Downloads Folder

    Hiya
    I was wondering what the mail downloads folder actually does. I know there is a clue in the title but what I mean to say is this.
    1 - Does the mail downloads folder contain all attachments to emails OR
    2 - Does the mail downloads folder contain files opened directly from Mail?
    I want to know if I delete all the 112mb of files in this folder will I delete the attachments in the emails themselves? Will the attachments still be there for saving elsewhere?
    If someone can enlighten me it would be great. Thanks
    Mike

    You are very right, the help file contained the advice below. I think I will make the suggested changes and get the program to delete the items in the folder on exit. Thanks for the tip it was very useful.
    Setting the location for attachments that you open in Mail
    Files attached to (or enclosed in) an email message are stored as part of the message. Since attachments are part of the message itself, they are usually deleted when you delete the message. You can save separate copies of attachments by clicking the Save button in the message window.
    Mail also temporarily saves an attachment as a separate file on your computer when you open the attachment by clicking it in the message. The file is saved in the Mail downloads folder, located by default in the Library folder of your home folder.
    iMac (Intel) Mac OS X (10.4.9)

  • How do I change the destination folder for Icloud Itunes down loads?

    How do I change the destination folder when I download songs from the Icloud?...I want the songs to go to an external hard drive and not the hard drive on my pc

    You might want to ask that question over in the iTunes for Windows forum.  They should know if it's possible to change the location to and external drive.

  • How do I clear the download folder in my new iPad?

    I have somehow accumulated about 300 songs that display a download error message, tap to retry. The songs are, in fact, on my IPad. How do I clear the download folder of all of these messages that will not go away?

    Unfortunately, the Client ID display does not always work correctly on all devices. 
    Soon, you may notice that other items that were previously displayed with the Client ID may now display just as an IP address......and your new iPad may "switch" from the previous IP address display to the Client ID display.
    Then, things may change around again in a week or two.  It's a bug that hopefully Apple will fix on the next firmware update.

  • Attachments in Mail Downloads folder

    I found a folder Home>Library>Mail Downloads which was loaded with about every attachment I have ever received using Mail. I was trying to figure out why. In Mail prefs, there is an option to select a folder, I have chosen Home>Downloads pretty much which is also default for my browser. The action is set to remove unedited copies when message is deleted. I'm confused because it looks like the Destination and Action are independent. When I have an attachment, if I click "Save" it populates the selected path to the "Downloads" folder. If I open that attachment, it seems to populate the Home>Library>Mail folder.
    What controls the opened attachments form populating this, somewhat, obscure folder?

    Hi,
    Attachments to messages are actually stored in the mailbox along with the message text. It is when an attachment must be opened with another application, such as a Word document with Word, that the attachment is also placed in the Mail Downloads folder. There it can be used and edited by the application used to open it, and from there can be returned as edited to the sender or to others.
    There is no reason files must permanently stay, but if you edit or otherwise alter files that have been attached, then you must elect some place to keep them for your own use.
    You will note that in the Mail Preferences/General there is also a selection regarding when to remove files from Downloads folder if not edited. Any file that is not edited need not remain in the Downloads folder since it already exists in the mailbox with the message it came attached to.
    Image files, since they can be opened directly in the Mail window, by Mail, do not go into the Downloads folder, but if any were opened from the message, with say, Photoshop, then that image file would also be sent to the Downloads, temporarily.
    Ernie

  • Quick Look copies attachments to Mail Downloads folder!

    Holy maloly, I just discovered why my MacBook Pro was slowly losing disk space! Every time I use Quick Look to check an attachment in Mail, a copy of the attachment is placed in the Mail Downloads folder of my user Library. My writing work entails quickly looking at lots of very large attachments and e-mailing estimates to clients. Quick Look has been a great time saver for this. Nice being able to stay in Mail and not have to open Word to examine the job. But I don't need all these additional copies taking up space on my hard drive. As far as I know, Mail is the only program that does this.
    Is there any way of telling Quick Look to NOT make copies of Mail attachments?
    Thanks!

    Hi,
    Attachments to messages are actually stored in the mailbox along with the message text. It is when an attachment must be opened with another application, such as a Word document with Word, that the attachment is also placed in the Mail Downloads folder. There it can be used and edited by the application used to open it, and from there can be returned as edited to the sender or to others.
    There is no reason files must permanently stay, but if you edit or otherwise alter files that have been attached, then you must elect some place to keep them for your own use.
    You will note that in the Mail Preferences/General there is also a selection regarding when to remove files from Downloads folder if not edited. Any file that is not edited need not remain in the Downloads folder since it already exists in the mailbox with the message it came attached to.
    Image files, since they can be opened directly in the Mail window, by Mail, do not go into the Downloads folder, but if any were opened from the message, with say, Photoshop, then that image file would also be sent to the Downloads, temporarily.
    Ernie

  • How do I clear the downloads folder?

    How do I clear the downloads folder?  I swear there used to be an option for this when I right clicked on the downloads folder that is on my bottom bar but I don't see one now.  This is making me crazy.
    Also, when I click on the bottom bar Downloads folder to display the items in the Downloads folder, I've selected it to be arranged as a fan and by the date added.  I've downloaded two copies of the same item and did this back to back because I didn't see the first download in the folder once I'd downloaded it.  I don't see the first of the two downloads unless I open the whole folder in its own window.  Shouldn't I see them both at the bottom of the list since they are the two most recent downloads?  I'd accidentally downloaded duplicate copies previously and it had displayed them in this manner.
    Please help!

    The best way to delete is just open them in finder.  Mark them all and delete.
    In the fan, you can select the sort order by right click (cntl click) the download folder and choosing "sort by" date added.
    Regards,
    Captfred

  • How can I get my downloads folder to appear in the docking station

    How can I get the download folder to remain on the docking station

    Note if you don't have any folders on your Dock, note the trashcan is on one side of the dock with a divider between it and applications.  Minimized windows (with the yellow button on the upper left corner) will go between the trash and that divider.  You can drag folders into the section between the minimized windows and the trash.

  • HT1766 HOW CAN I CHANGE MY BACKUP FOLDER FROM THE C DRIVE TO ANOTHER?????

    HOW CAN I CHANGE MY BACKUP FOLDER FROM THE C DRIVE TO ANOTHER????? because my c drive in the windows computer gets filled and i need to back up my ipod to a portable hard disk.. bt i dont know how to do it.. plz help

    you can't change the backup folder as far as I know, but you can choose to move backups. The information you need can be found in this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946
    Where iTunes backups are stored on your computer
    The folder where your backup data are stored varies depending on the computer's operating system.   Make sure the backup folder is included in your periodic data-backup routine.
    iTunes places the backup files in the following places:
    Mac:  ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
    Windows XP:  \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
    Note: To quickly access the Application Data folder, click Start, and choose Run. Type %appdata% and click OK.
    Windows Vista and Windows 7:  \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
    Note: To quickly access the AppData folder, click Start. In the search bar, type %appdata% and press the Return key.
    Hope this helps
    Regards,
    Stijn

  • How do you change Site/Root Folder?

    How do you change Site/Root Folder? I have looked for ages,
    but i can't find how to change the root folder, it keeps trying to
    put everything in my first websites folder. Please Help.

    > it keeps trying to put everything in my first websites
    folder
    when you start a new project, you need to make a NEW site
    definition for it.
    dw menu->site->manage sites New site
    Alan
    Adobe Community Expert, dreamweaver
    http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/

  • Using a Mac with Mavericks how can i change a desktop folder' name?

    using a Mac with Mavericks how can i change a desktop folder's name?

    click on the folder, then click on the name again, you'll see the name field changes so you can rename it

  • Bookmarklet that changes the download folder and the open a website

    Hi,
    is there a way to create a bookmark that changes to download folder to a known location and the open a website, like a normal bookmark would do.
    i think the browser.download.dir; option in about:config is the right one.
    examle:
    1. click the bookmarklet
    2. change the folder to d:\temp\asdfasdf
    3. open the website http://www.asdfasdf.com
    i didn't found information about changing the about config
    please help thanks

    Sound like a damaged library. Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
    Fix #1
    Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
    Select the options identified in the screenshot. 
    Fix #2
    Using iPhoto Library Manager  to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
    Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
    Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
    Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
    In the next  window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
    Click on the Create button.
    Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
    OT

Maybe you are looking for