Mac storage basics · Finder tools for finding space
How do I find files I added recently, such as last month's downloads?
Short answer: Add the Date Added column in list view and sort by it, or search with Command-F using the Date Added criterion. It shows when files arrived, which suits Downloads best.
In list view, Control-click a column header and turn on Date Added, then click that header to sort. This is the date the item arrived in the folder, which is ideal for Downloads, where Date Modified can be years old.
To search across the whole Mac, press Command-F, choose Other… in the first criterion and pick Date Added (for example, within the last 30 days). Combine it with a File Size criterion to spot big recent arrivals quickly.
Regular clear-outs of Downloads are covered in cleaning up Downloads.