How to stop Safari from opening web downloads

How to stop Safari from opening web downloads

Safari automatically opens downloaded files it considers as Safe. It may include compressed files, PDF, pictures, videos, and other type of files downloaded from trusted sources. But sometimes, the so-called safe files may contain viruses or malware. You might want to turn off this feature (enabled by default) for your own good. It can be done from Safari's preferences or through a simple terminal command.

How to turn off "Auto Open Safe Download" in Safari?

  • Launch Safari.
  • Click on the Safari menu > Preferences.
  • Go to the General tab and clear the Open "safe" files after downloading checkbox.

How to turn off "Auto Open Safe Download" from the terminal?

To turn off the auto-open function from the terminal, simply open a the Terminal app (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and run the following command:

defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoOpenSafeDownloads -boolean NO
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