The Safari browser on macOS tries to keep its interface as clean as possible. By default, the “Downloads” button (the small circle with an arrow pointing down) is hidden. It only appears in the top-right corner of the toolbar the exact moment you begin downloading a file, and it vanishes again once you clear your download history.
While this dynamic hiding is neat, it can be frustrating if you frequently need to check your past downloads. If you clear the list, the button disappears, forcing you to dig into the Finder to locate the Downloads folder. Alternatively, if you hate the clutter and want the button permanently hidden regardless of what you are downloading, you can manually override this automatic behaviour.
How to Customise the Safari Downloads Button
You can force the button to either remain permanently visible or hide permanently, regardless of your active downloads.
- Open the Safari browser on your Mac.
- Look at the very top of the screen (the macOS menu bar) and click on View.
- Select Customise Toolbar… from the drop-down menu.
- A large panel containing all available Safari buttons will slide down over your current webpage.
- Look for the Downloads icon in this panel.
- To keep the button permanently visible: Click and drag the Downloads icon from the panel up into your Safari toolbar. It will now remain there forever, even if your download list is completely empty.
- To hide the button permanently: If the Downloads button is currently visible in your toolbar, simply click and drag it out of the toolbar and release your mouse. It will vanish in a puff of smoke and will never appear again, even when downloading heavy files.
- Click the Done button in the bottom-right corner of the customisation panel.
By taking manual control of the toolbar, you prevent Safari from constantly shifting and resizing its interface based on your download activity.