What is a download?
To download is to receive data from the Internet to be stored and opened. Downloading should not be confused with copying or saving, which handles files not on the Internet (e.g., copying files to another location or saving a document). Also, a download is not an upload, which is sending a file from one computer to another.
Warning
Files on the Internet may contain viruses or malware. The best way to protect your computer is to ensure an antivirus and anti-malware program is installed and up-to-date; see: How do I update my antivirus program?
How to download on a computer using different browsers
- To initiate a download from a website, you must first click a download link. A link is usually denoted by different-colored text with an underline, but it may also be an icon or button. If you want to download an audio file, picture, or other media that does not have a link, skip to our download examples for further help.
- After clicking a file link, the browser starts the download or asks what to do, depending on the browser you're using. Below is additional information on how each modern browser handles downloads.