Multiple file downloads in Chrome can be either helpful or disastrous. Sure, when you expect multiple downloads from a trusted site, it works wonderfully.
However, there are sites out there that will try to include malicious files in the automatic download process without you knowing.
To prevent that, you can manage your Chrome browser to block all or selected sites from downloading multiple files automatically. Here’s how.
How To Enable or Disable Multiple File Downloads in Chrome
There are a couple of ways to enable or disable multiple file downloads in Chrome. First, you can enable the multiple file downloads, but block certain sites that you know might be untrusted.
The second option is to disable the automatic downloads feature altogether, but add a few legitimate sites you frequently use. The most common instances are a file converter site, a government site, or an official site of a known brand.
How to enable multiple file downloads in Chrome
To enable multiple file downloads in Chrome, follow these steps:
1. Open Chrome
2. Click on the Menu (the three-dotted icon at the top right)
3. Tap Settings
4. Select Security and Privacy → Site Settings
5. Scroll down to Additional permissions → Automatic Downloads
6. Under Default Behavior, pick on the first option: Sites can ask to automatically download multiple files
When this is turned on, any site that you visit will ask for your permission first when multiple files are to be downloaded automatically.
How to enable multiple file downloads but block certain sites
If you know malicious sites from past experience, you can opt to block those sites without turning off the automatic downloads feature.
To do that, follow the exact same steps as the previous section. After picking “Sites can ask to automatically download multiple files”, scroll down to “Customized Behaviors”. Then, click on the “Add” button next to the “Not allowed to automatically download multiple files”.
Type in the URL address of the sites you want to block. Don’t forget to add the prefix [*.] to include all subdomains of those particular sites.
Finally, click “Add” and now those sites have been included in your block list. When you come across those sites, any attempt on multiple file downloads will be automatically blocked by Chrome without bothering you with a prompt.
How to disable multiple file downloads in Chrome
If you choose the safer route of completely disabling automatic downloads and prefer to download files manually one by one, you can follow this step-by-step guide instead:
1. Open Chrome
2. Click on the Menu (the three-dotted icon at the top right)
3. Tap Settings
4. Select Security and Privacy → Site Settings
5. Scroll down to Additional permissions → Automatic Downloads
6. Under Default Behavior, pick on the second option: Don’t allow sites to automatically download multiple files
And that’s it. From now on, any multiple file download will be automatically disabled by Chrome. Thus, you have full control of which file can be saved on your desktop and which file can’t.
How to disable multiple file downloads but allow certain sites
As mentioned before, government and official sites alike don’t likely pose any virus and malware threat. And so, you can opt to allow such sites to automatically download multiple files into your computer.
The steps are virtually the same as the previous section, with an additional step in the final part. After you select “Don’t allow sites to automatically download multiple files”, tap “Add” and fill in the [*.] + domain names of the sites you want to give permissions to.
Click on “Add” after each domain name is inserted and you’re good to go. Repeat this process for each site that you want to add to your allowed list.
Final Thoughts
With so many malicious websites out there, Google Chrome has tried its best to keep your browsing experience safe.
While Google Chrome offers multiple ways to manage your automatic downloads, the preferred option remains to enable multiple file downloads in Chrome and block certain sites.
Why? Because you can enjoy this feature while still being able to control which downloads are safe and which aren’t.
You’ll never know when automatic downloads come in handy. Imagine if your boss asks to download multiple files quickly, and yet you spend too much time downloading them manually.
However, who am I to judge, right? Everyone has their own ways of doing things, and this is included. So, which way do you prefer more? Tell us in the comments below.
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