Get browser download path with javascript

Question

I searched quite a lot for an answer on the web and found nothing.

Is there a way to get the download path of a browser via Javascript?

I don't want to set the path myself i just wanna know where my file goes after been downloaded by the user.

This sounds evil and I doubt it would be possible in a cross browser sense. — hugomg, Mar 23 '12 at 14:27

score 32 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 23 '12 at 14:28

32

That is not possible.

Pure browser-JavaScript is not be able to get information about the user's filesystem. The default download path might also contain sensible information, which is risky:

Imagine that one stores his downloads at C:\CompanyName\RealName\PhoneNumber\Adress\.

answered Mar 23 '12 at 14:28

Rob W

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`C:\Windows\Users\Username\Downloads` would be bad enough. – Quentin Mar 23 '12 at 14:40
2

So correct me if i'm wrong: i cannot programmatically access any file system folder from the browser. Any filesystem related action (read or save a file) can only be done by the user using or drag and drop interfaces. That's right? – Bolza Mar 23 '12 at 14:59
1

@SteNonesiste That is correct. There is no cross-browser solution for performing true filesystem-related actions. – Rob W Mar 23 '12 at 15:07

score 12 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 23 '12 at 14:29

12

Browsers are deliberately isolated from the local filesystem in order to prevent scripting attacks. You cannot get this information.

answered Mar 23 '12 at 14:29

Diodeus - James MacFarlane

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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 12 '18 at 21:21

2

https://www.npmjs.com/package/downloads-folder

Usage

const downloadsFolder = require('downloads-folder');

console.log(downloadsFolder());

Installation

$ npm install downloads-folder

answered Jan 12 '18 at 21:21

Seth Eden

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I don't understand this answer. the npm module uses `execSync` which is a C extension for Node. Isn't it for the server side? – Kenji Noguchi Jan 16 '18 at 22:04
1

I use it for TestCafe which is typically client-side test script execution. Works great on Windows Chrome, but I'm sure I'll have to make adjustments when I start running it against Mac, and perhaps some adjustments for other browsers too, as that seems the be the general trend across most feature-functions. npm itself just installs it on the server so you'll have the necessary libraries on your machine when you execute the code. – Seth Eden Jan 18 '18 at 12:16
1

@SethEden I can confirm this works on mac as well. And my exact use case is also testcafe :-) – hitautodestruct Sep 09 '19 at 08:50
are there no alternatives method other than adding an extra module? – Adépòjù Olúwáségun Jan 31 '20 at 15:58
I get this error: `Module not found: Can't resolve 'registry-js' in '.../node_modules/downloads-folder'` – Zedd May 10 '21 at 07:41

score 1 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 16 '20 at 14:18

Maybe wrong answers. You can do it with some IE versions. It is valid in case you use it for intranet web development as development of products/workflow that requires files. It does not work with other browsers (Schrome, Firefox, Safari, AFAIK).

<input
type="hidden"
id="steel_that_path"
name="steel_that_path" />


<input type="file"
id="this one you use to upload file"
name="this one you use to upload file"                                              
accept="application/octet-stream"                                                 
onBlur="document.getElementById('steal_that_path').value=this.value;"/>

Get browser download path with javascript

4 Answers4

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