{"id":"mac-storage-basics.why-do-i-have-both-a-zip-and-a-folder-in-downloads","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-do-i-have-both-a-zip-and-a-folder-in-downloads","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"browsers-everyday-apps","title":"Browsers and everyday apps"},"question":"Why do I have both a .zip file and a folder of the same name in Downloads?","alt_questions":["zip and folder duplicate downloads","safari unzips automatically","open safe files after downloading","duplicate download zip mac","delete zip after unzipping","downloads folder doubled"],"short_answer":"Safari (or a double-click) unzips archives but keeps the .zip, so content is stored twice. Delete the .zip once the folder opens fine; you can turn off Safari's auto-open setting.","answer_markdown":"Safari's **Open \"safe\" files after downloading** setting (in **Safari → Settings → General**) unzips archives for you, and other apps or a double-click do the same. The original .zip usually stays, so the same content takes space twice.\n\nOnce you've checked the folder opened correctly, delete the .zip. Turning off that Safari setting means archives stay zipped until you open them, which some people prefer for keeping Downloads tidy. Repeated downloads also create copies named with \"(1)\", \"(2)\" — those can usually go too.","answer_html":"

Safari's Open "safe" files after downloading setting (in Safari → Settings → General) unzips archives for you, and other apps or a double-click do the same. The original .zip usually stays, so the same content takes space twice.

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Once you've checked the folder opened correctly, delete the .zip. Turning off that Safari setting means archives stay zipped until you open them, which some people prefer for keeping Downloads tidy. Repeated downloads also create copies named with "(1)", "(2)" — those can usually go too.

","answer_text":"Safari's Open \"safe\" files after downloading setting (in Safari → Settings → General) unzips archives for you, and other apps or a double-click do the same. The original .zip usually stays, so the same content takes space twice.\n\nOnce you've checked the folder opened correctly, delete the .zip. Turning off that Safari setting means archives stay zipped until you open them, which some people prefer for keeping Downloads tidy. Repeated downloads also create copies named with \"(1)\", \"(2)\" — those can usually go too.","tags":["downloads","zip","safari"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-stop-safari-keeping-a-download-list","question":"Does Safari's download list keep files, and how do I clear it automatically?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-safari-keeping-a-download-list"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-clean-up-my-downloads-folder","question":"What's the quickest way to clean up my Downloads folder?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-up-my-downloads-folder"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why do I have both a .zip file and a folder of the same name in Downloads? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Safari (or a double-click) unzips archives but keeps the .zip, so content is stored twice. Delete the .zip once the folder opens fine; you can turn off Safari's auto-open setting.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"Why do I have both a .zip file and a folder of the same name in Downloads?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-do-i-have-both-a-zip-and-a-folder-in-downloads"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-do-i-have-both-a-zip-and-a-folder-in-downloads","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why do I have both a .zip file and a folder of the same name in Downloads?","alternateName":["zip and folder duplicate downloads","safari unzips automatically","open safe files after downloading","duplicate download zip mac","delete zip after unzipping","downloads folder doubled"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Safari's Open \"safe\" files after downloading setting (in Safari → Settings → General) unzips archives for you, and other apps or a double-click do the same. The original .zip usually stays, so the same content takes space twice.\n\nOnce you've checked the folder opened correctly, delete the .zip. Turning off that Safari setting means archives stay zipped until you open them, which some people prefer for keeping Downloads tidy. Repeated downloads also create copies named with \"(1)\", \"(2)\" — those can usually go too.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-do-i-have-both-a-zip-and-a-folder-in-downloads"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Browsers and everyday apps

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Why do I have both a .zip file and a folder of the same name in Downloads?

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Short answer: Safari (or a double-click) unzips archives but keeps the .zip, so content is stored twice. Delete the .zip once the folder opens fine; you can turn off Safari's auto-open setting.

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Safari's Open "safe" files after downloading setting (in Safari → Settings → General) unzips archives for you, and other apps or a double-click do the same. The original .zip usually stays, so the same content takes space twice.

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Once you've checked the folder opened correctly, delete the .zip. Turning off that Safari setting means archives stay zipped until you open them, which some people prefer for keeping Downloads tidy. Repeated downloads also create copies named with "(1)", "(2)" — those can usually go too.

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