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Safari unzips .zip and .gz files after downloading. How can I stop this behavior?

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4 Answers 4

Reset to default
75

In the menu bar, go Safari -> Preferences. In the "General" tab, uncheck "Open 'safe' files after downloading". This will stop Safari from automatically unzipping the files.

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  • 1
    don't know since when it is the case, but for me and a fresh mojave installation the checkbox did not appear. i first had to activate developer options under Advanced > Show Develop menu in menu bar. Afterwards more options appeared on the general tab.
    – isaias-b
    Apr 7, 2019 at 12:06
22

Just hold the ⌥ alt button while clicking on the download links.

Tested on OS X Mavericks.

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  • Still works fine in Yosemite, and is a useful "I only want to do this occasionally" option.
    – Matt Gibson
    Jan 18, 2016 at 10:37
  • Still works on Big Sur (Intel)
    – ThorstenC
    Jul 21, 2021 at 10:16
3

In Preferences, at the bottom of the General tab, uncheck the "Open "safe" files after downloading" check box.

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3

Check out this article if you want to keep the "Safe Downloads" behavior but tweak it a little.

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