Comments on: Avoiding temporary files on desktop on OS X

By: jeff

jeff — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:40:14 +0000

safari 3 does not read or write the com.apple.internetconfigpriv.plist, which is where the location is specified. so luckylou’s comment is wrong. the solution for leopard (working on 10.5.4) is to download a copy of safari 2 from here: http://michelf.com/projects/multi-safari/safari-2.0.4.tbz – and use it to specify the download location for firefox’s temporary files.

personally, i use ~/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems – the contents of this folder is automatically moved to the trash every time you restart.

the fact that safari 3 doesn’t use the internetconfigpriv plist anymore is actually a blessing. previously, i’d have to go looking in the temporary items folder i’d set, if i ever used safari 2 to download something.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:56:52 +0000

I tried the last suggestion - it kinda worked but not 100%.

First, I started with Leopard in the initial instructions. and like you found it did not work.

I followed LuckyLou' s instructions... I had already modified Safari to use a different directory (not download, but a subfolder below it) I blew away the 2 config files.

When I restarted Safari - it was still showing the subfolder I had specified... It did not go back to it's default of download or desktop.

Then brought up Firefox. It did not make the temp file on desktop, nor in the folder I specified, but rather in the download directory for the user.

Not exactly what I wanted, but better than what I had.

By: luckylou

luckylou — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:33:47 +0000

Quit Safari and Firefox first. Then try killing the com.apple.internetconfig.plist file (there may be another one, too, called something close, like com.apple.internetconfigpriv.plist – may as well kill that, too). Re-specify download location in Safari, then open Firefox and give it a go. Worked for me, and I am using Safari 3.

By: livy

livy — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:56:11 +0000

Yes, this does not work. A terrible disappointment. One of the most irritating features of firefox.

By: Sapius

Sapius — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:22:09 +0000

Very true- this worked perfectly for me before upgrading to Leopard- now the crap is starting to pile up again! We need a new fix.

By: Daedius

Daedius — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:45:19 +0000

“Unfortunately this isnâ€™t working on Leopard with Safari 3.” I experienced the same thing. Most disappointing.

By: Graham

Graham — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:15:58 +0000

Unfortunately this isn’t working on Leopard with Safari 3.

By: Axel

Axel — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 22:47:22 +0000

Thanks for the tip! I always found that very messy too but did not go out to find the solution! It works like a charm now! – Axel