Recipe · Organize
Move old downloads into an Archive folder, without deleting anything
Omaculate moves anything added to Downloads more than 30 days ago into Downloads/Archive. Nothing goes to the Trash; Downloads just keeps what is recent.
Why it helps
Most cleanups start with "what can I throw away?". This one doesn't. Old files move one folder down, and Downloads shows only what's current.
What it matches
- Every file added more than 30 days ago
What it leaves alone
- Files from the last 30 days
- Folders Oma made for other recipes, like Archive itself
- Files claimed by a recipe higher in your list
Anything in Downloads, older than 30 days, is moved to Downloads/Archive.
Set it up in Omaculate
- Open Omaculate from the menu bar and go to Recipes.
- Under Suggested, choose Archive old downloads. It's ready to save, on Downloads.
- Look over the files it would touch, then press Save.
- Press Tidy now, check the list, and approve it.
Change anything by tapping its words, for example: a week, or three months, instead of 30 days; a folder per month inside Archive; leave out PDFs ("isn't a document").
Or by hand: find old downloads with Finder
- Open Downloads, switch to list view (⌘2) and choose View › Show View Options.
- Tick "Date Added", then click its column to sort by it.
- Select everything older than a month and drag it into an Archive folder.
Questions
Why not just delete old downloads?
Because people come back to files weeks later. Moving them to Archive keeps Downloads short and everything findable.
Does this work with other recipes?
Yes. Recipes run top to bottom, and the first one that moves a file claims it. Put Archive last so the others sort what they can first.
Related recipes
Trash old app installers
An installer in Downloads, older than 30 days, goes to the Trash.
Gather PDFs and documents
A document in Downloads is moved to Downloads/Documents.
Gather invoices and receipts
Anything in Downloads that looks like an invoice or receipt is moved to Downloads/Invoices and Receipts, by year.
Let Oma archive old downloads.
Free for one folder. Everything free for 3 days, then Grand Oma is $14.99, once.