Download and upload

While exploring the Internet, you may encounter information about downloads and uploads. Download means to receive data or files from the Internet and save it on your computer. Upload means sending data or files on your computer somewhere on the Internet.

Download and upload

The terms Download - Download and Upload - Upload describe activities you may have previously performed. If you have ever installed an application on the app store, you have downloaded the installation file for that application. If you've ever shared a photo you took on Facebook or another social networking site, you've uploaded that photo.

Download - Download

When you see a button with a downward arrow or the words Download - Download on a website or an application, it is a function that allows you to download data or files to your computer.

Usually if you want to download a file, you will start by clicking on the link to the file and depending on the case, the web browser will automatically download immediately or display the Save dialog box . - save file.

In the case that the Open File dialog box is displayed , choose one of two ways to download the file:

1. Open with - Will download the file and open it immediately in the specified program.
2. Save File - Will download the file and save it to your hard drive.

Opening dialog when downloading

Either way, when you click Save or OK  the download will begin. Your web browser will indicate the progress and time remaining on the download.

When the download is complete, the file will be saved to your computer or will open in the program you selected. Normally you will see the downloaded file at the bottom of the web browser. You can open the folder containing the downloaded files by clicking Show in folder or Open Folder - Open folder

Open the folder containing the downloaded files

If you have trouble finding the file after downloading, go to the Settings menu - Settings of the web browser then click  Downloads - Download. You can also find downloaded files in a folder called Downloads on your computer's hard drive.

Open the list of downloaded files

Save Link As - Save Link As 

When you click on a link to a file, the file may automatically be downloaded, but sometimes it just opens in your web browser instead of downloading. To prevent it from opening in a web browser, you can right-click the link and select Save Link As… - Save the link as…, then choose a location to download the file.

Save Link As dialog box

Choose where to save the downloaded file

Different web browsers may use slightly different wording, such as Save target as…   - Save target as.

Save image - Save image

Sometimes you see images on a web page and you may want to download and save them to your computer. To do this, right click on the image and select Save image as… or Save picture as… - Save image as…

Save image - Save image

Upload - Upload

When you see a button with an upward arrow or the words Upload - Upload on a website or an application, it is a function that allows you to upload data or files to the Internet.

Upload - Upload

If a site allows uploads, it will have an upload utility to help you with the file transfer. Each site handles this process differently, but usually the site will have help pages to guide you through the upload process.

A dialog box will appear, prompting you to select a file you want to upload. Go to the location where your file is stored, select the file and click the Open button . You may then have to press the  Upload button one more time or everything will be done automatically and a progress bar tracking the upload will appear on the web page.

Select a file you want to upload

The upload will be completed when the progress bar reaches 100% or the upload completed dialog box appears.

The upload will complete when the progress bar reaches 100%.

Some websites support a drag and drop interface - Drag and Drop , which means you can press and hold the left mouse button on files in a folder on your computer and then drag these files into it. the Upload - Upload dialog box  in a web browser's window and drop them there.

During the download process, you can still continue browsing. But while uploading you can't switch to another website, if you want to continue browsing, please open a new window or a new Tab. 

Samuel Daniel

Update 08 May 2023