Always Clear Downloads in Chrome

Always Clear Downloads in Chrome

A Google Chrome Extension to always clear the downloads list of all completed downloads.

What is Always Clear Downloads in Chrome?
"Always Clear Downloads in Chrome" is a user-friendly Chrome extension designed to keep your download list tidy. It automatically clears the list of completed downloads every few seconds, leaving no trace while ensuring the downloaded files remain intact. It's a quick solution to Chrome's lack of such feature natively. Please note, due to Google Chrome API's existing bug, the extension resets the download folder to the default one after each download.
Merlin
Stats
Users: 20,000+
Rating: 4.79 (183)
Version: 2.0 (Last updated: 2019-11-12)
Creation date: 2019-11-12
Risk impact: Low risk impact
Risk likelihood: Low risk likelihood
Manifest version: 2
Permissions:
  • browsingData
  • downloads
  • downloads.shelf
  • storage
  • contextMenus
Size: 392.19K
Stats date:

Other platforms

Not available on Firefox
Not available on Edge
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Merlin
Summary

An updated version of the popular extension - now compatible with new Chrome versions!

This Google Chrome extension makes up for the fact that Chrome does not have an option to keep its download list clear at all times. You can clear the downloads list yourself by hand, but Chrome currently doesn't have an option to automatically clear it for you. This extension does it for you automatically.

This extension works in a very simple way: Every few seconds, the downloads list is cleared out for you. Don't worry, the files you downloaded are still there, and in-progress downloads are not harmed. Chrome's internal list simply gets cleaned up for you every five seconds.

==== Please note! ====

There is an unfixed bug in the Google Chrome API which causes this extension to always reset the downloads folder to the default folder. This is a bug in the Chrome API, not a bug in the "Always Clear Downloads in Chrome" extension.

For instance, if you configure Chrome's default download folder to "c:\downloads" in Chrome's Advanced Settings, then this extension will keep resetting the folder to be that. If you download a file to a different target location using "Save link as...", and pick a different location such as "c:\other\folder" then instead of that new location being the new default, this extension will cause downloads to go back to "c:\downloads" on the next download.

This might not be expected, but it's how the Chrome API works. You might get around this by simply disabling the download shelf instead - instead of clearing the downloads every few seconds. Or increase the clearing interval to an hour, in case you have to download a lot of files to a specific folder.

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User reviews
User reviews summary
These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Chrome Web Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Effective at hiding download bar
  • User-friendly interface
  • Customizable settings for delay
Cons
  • May stop working after browser updates
  • Not showing download progress
  • Need to manually enable the option to hide download bar
Most mentioned
  • Effective at hiding download bar
  • User-friendly interface
  • Stops working after browser updates
Recent reviews
Stopped working for Opera GX sadly, a download popup still appears on the top right
by Vovô_Sarnento Vovô_Sarnento, 2024-04-17

by RU OK RU OK, 2024-04-15

by Micro0 Micro0, 2023-12-10
View all user reviews
Safety
Risk impact

Always Clear Downloads in Chrome is relatively safe to use as it requires very minimum permissions.

Risk likelihood

Always Clear Downloads in Chrome has earned a fairly good reputation and likely can be trusted.

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Screenshots
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