A website can start saving files in Safari without asking, or a trusted site may be blocked from downloading at all. Both cases come down to the same per-site Downloads setting.
Open Safari > Settings > Websites, pick the site, set Downloads to Ask, Deny, or Allow, then choose the fallback rule for sites that aren't listed.
In this guide, I have covered:
Contents
Allow or Deny Downloads for One Site in Safari on Mac
One site keeps saving files without asking. Another site you trust can’t download anything at all. Both problems start in the same place: Safari’s per-site Websites settings. Safari download permissions are tied to each site, so you can deny one without changing the rest.
Older Safari releases used Preferences… and a Websites tab. Current Safari for Mac uses Safari > Settings… and the Websites pane in the left sidebar.
- Open Safari on your Mac.
- Choose Safari > Settings… from the macOS menu bar.
- Select Websites in the left sidebar.
- Find the website you want to control and select it.
- Click the pop-up menu next to Downloads.
- Choose Ask, Deny, or Allow.
You’ll know it worked when the website’s Downloads menu shows your selected option. If the site is not in the list, use the general rule described below.
Set the Rule for All Other Websites
What about sites that aren’t in that list? The When visiting other websites pop-up menu is the fallback. It controls sites that do not have their own Downloads choice.
- Open Safari > Settings… from the macOS menu bar.
- Select Websites in the left sidebar.
- Find the When visiting other websites pop-up menu.
- Choose Ask, Deny, or Allow.
A site-specific choice applies to that site. The fallback menu covers the remaining sites. Choose Ask if you want Safari to request approval for each download from an unlisted site instead of applying a preset answer.
Choose Between Ask, Deny, and Allow
Not sure which option to pick? Three choices show up in every Downloads menu. Each one changes what Safari permits when you visit a website. Pick the option that matches how much control you want over that site’s downloads.
- Ask: Safari asks you before a download can start, so you can approve or reject it.
- Deny: Safari prevents the site from starting downloads while you are visiting it.
- Allow: Downloads from the site are always permitted while you are visiting it.
Apple’s Safari Websites settings guide documents the same three choices.
TIP: Use Allow only for sites you trust. A download permission is not a safety check. Granting it does not prove that every file offered by a site is safe.
Troubleshoot Blocked or Missing Downloads
A download still starts when you expected Safari to block it, or an allowed file never shows up. Check the site-specific rule first. If an allowed file is missing, check where Safari saves downloads instead of changing the permission again.
- Open Safari > Settings… from the macOS menu bar.
- Select Websites in the left sidebar.
- Select the affected website.
- Confirm the value beside Downloads.
- If the site is not listed, verify When visiting other websites instead.
- Open General in the left sidebar of Safari Settings.
- Check the File download location setting.
- Open that folder in Finder.
- Look for the downloaded file.
Safari normally sends files to the selected location rather than asking you to choose a folder for every download. A denied download will not appear there, so verify the site’s permission first.
Cookie rules are separate from download permission. If the site loads incorrectly and you need to adjust site data instead, use the guide to Block or Allow Browser Cookies in Safari on Mac.
Separate Download Permissions From Other Safari Settings
Changing the Downloads menu won’t delete a file you already saved, and it won’t stop notification prompts. Those are separate Safari settings. The Downloads control only decides whether a website may start a download. It does not change the default save folder.
If you want to remove stored Safari site information instead, use this separate cleanup guide:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop unwanted downloads from one website in Safari on Mac?
Set the site’s Downloads permission to Deny in Safari’s Websites settings. Other sites keep their own permissions.
How do I allow downloads from a site I trust?
Set the site’s Downloads permission to Allow. If the file still does not appear, confirm File download location under Safari’s General settings.
What is the difference between the site rule and the rule for other websites?
A site’s own Downloads choice controls that website. The When visiting other websites option is the fallback for sites without a separate choice.
Does Deny block cookies or website notifications too?
No. Cookies and notifications use separate Safari permissions. For notification prompts, see Allow or Stop Site Notifications in Safari on Mac.
For cookie access, use the cookie guide linked in the troubleshooting section. A site’s Downloads menu controls downloads for that site only.
