Downloaded files not showing up android (Quick solution)

One of the problems one may experience on android is the problem of downloaded files not showing up android.

Normally, you will try to figure out or to understand why files you downloaded are not showing up on your mobile phone, and this can be quite frustrating.

The question is;

Why downloaded files are not available or showing up on android phone, while in the true sense you downloaded the files.

I have experienced this and found out what the problem is, and why such problem happened on my android phone. So I will explain this topic downloaded files not showing up android  based on my own experience on my android phone.

Let’s continue.

Why downloaded files not showing up android

Downloaded files not showing up android may be caused by a damaged file, a corrupt file, or probably you have downloaded a virus infested file on your android phone.

Let me further explain this problem based on different reasons that causes such problem.

1. You downloaded a virus file

Most virus file are hidden in android phone and you won’t see the file or the virus file i will say until you use an  antivirus app to scan your phone.

In my case, I downloaded an apk file, installed the so called apk file but when I tried every means to locate the apk file on my android phone, I couldn’t find it.

Suddenly I started receiving pop-up ads on my home screen and I had to download an antivirus on my android phone. After deep scanning the phone the antivirus app I used saw the trojan and removed it from my android phone.

The pop-up ads no longer showed up and the so called apk file which was in my download folder was removed because the antivirus app on my phone detected the apk file as a virus apk file, and hence removed the apk file.

Since then I never downloaded an apk file be mod game or cracked file on my android phone.

One of the major reasons why downloaded files not showing up android is caused by a virus infested file which is harmful to your android phone.

If you have an antivirus app installed on your android phone, the antivirus app may remove the file without your notice.

2. You downloaded a damaged or broken file

Another major causes of downloaded files not showing up android is the file being broken or damaged in the process of downloading the file by you or probably in the process of uploading the file by the owner.

I noticed that in some android phones, once a downloaded file is damaged or broken, the file will automatically be removed from the phone without the phone user knowing about it.

This was the case in my Huawei android phone.

If a file gets damaged or broken, the phone will automatically remove the file from my phone without notifying me about it.

And just like you I continously searched for downloaded files not showing up android until I found an article that talked about Huawei phones removing broking files on it’s own.

3. You downloaded a corrupt file

I’ve seen where people ask i can’t seem to open downloaded files on android, what is actually causing the problem.

This also goes with the problem of downloaded files not showing up android. Maybe you have downloaded a corrupt file on your android phone, and it was automatically removed without you not knowing about it.

I gave an example using the Huawei phone.

In this type of scenario you have to redownload the file once more, or probably download the file from another source and check whether you will see the file on your android phone.


You can read more:


4. You’re searching for the file in the wrong folder

Most android users get it wrong in this very aspect, they usually think all downloaded files will be in the download folder, but that is very wrong.

In some cases the file won’t be in the download though most apps uses the download folder as they default folder for saving a downloaded file.

What you have to do is to search for the app immediately you opened the file app on your android phone. For example, you can easily search for a file in the file app on samsung phones, and this is also applied to the default Google file app or any other file app or file manager.

What you need to do is to open the file app, look at the top of your screen depending on your mobile phone, and tap on the search button.

downloaded files not showing up android

Kindly tap on the search button and enter the name of the file.

It will display the file or files related to what you entered. Please make sure you entered the correct file name or probably go to the app you used in downloading the file and get the accurate file name.

If still after using the search button and you didn’t find the file in your android phone, then be rest assured that the file doesn’t exist in your mobile phone.

It is either the file is broken or corrupt, and automatically removed from your android phone, or you have downloaded a virus infested file which is hidden in your android phone.

Downloads not showing up in download folder android

This can be caused by an app which used another folder in saving the downloaded file other than the download folder.

In order to quickly get the app or look for it on your android phone, you have to open the file app and use the search button to search the app.

Enter the name of the file just like as it is on the app you used in downloading the file, and the file should pop up on your screen unless the file doesn’t exist in your android phone. I’ve already explained this for this problem of downloaded files not showing up android, kindly scroll up to see it.

How to find my downloads on my phone

To find downloads on your mobile phone, you need to open the file app, look for the download folder and right there you will see all the downloaded files.

For proper illustration, this is how to go about it.

Look for the file app and open it. Tap on the internal storage unless your downloaded files are saved on the SD card.

find my downloads on my phone

Scroll down and you will see the download folder among the folders on your phone. Kindly open the download folders and you will see all the files you downloaded on your mobile phone.

However, there are apps that don’t use the download folder as their default location in saving a downloaded file and I’m sure of zedge app.

I won’t recommend you opening all the entire folders on your phone in order to find the file, so what you will do is to search for the file. Kindly open the file app on your mobile phone, tap on the search button and enter the name of the file you’re looking for.

Please make sure you entered the correct name or the name specified when you’re downloading the file. If you enter another file name, definitely you won’t see the file and you may think the file doesn’t exist in your phone while in the real sense it does exist in your phone.

Using the search button you will easily find the file and tap on the file to open it on your mobile phone.

Show me all my downloads on android

To show all your downloads on your mobile phone, you simply have to open the file app, tap on internal storage or SD card if you have one, and open the download folder.

Or probably use the search button and enter the letter a and it will show you all your downloads.

Downloads not going to download folder Android

This is majorly caused if the download folder is not used as the default location in saving a downloaded file on android phone.

This is very common on android phone, there are android apps that have their own unique folder in saving downloaded files. Most of these apps will create a folder in your android phone immediately you installed them on your mobile phone.

For example, zedge will create a new folder immediately you installed it on your android phone. Files downloaded from zedge will saved in the folder created by zedge app and it is usually called zegde.

So if you go about looking for files downloaded from zedge in your download folder, you will definitely not going to see the file unless you use the search button and search for the files or scroll down and open the zedge folder.

Apk not showing in downloads

This is usually caused by a virus infested apk file, a corrupt apk file or probably the apk file is damaged and broken.

The major reason why Apk not showing in downloads is caused by an apk virus infested file. Remember, if you download an apk file from the Google play store, there’s no way you will see it in the download folder.


You can read more:


I recommend you to deep scan your android phone for any virus or trojan if you downloaded the apk file from any of these third party websites other than the google play store. This is one of the major reasons I gave on downloaded files not showing up android.

About Kennedy

I'm Amaechi Uchenna by name, a mobile tech enthusiast who love writing articles about tips and tutorials especially relating to gadgets.

Leave a Comment