Numbers to downloaded files [25]

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Level 1

6 points

Numbers to downloaded files [25]

Every time I save a file from anywhere to either finder or the desktop, Mac adds a number to it. It's maddening. So for example instead of "Planning .docx" it come out as "Planning [74].docx." The numbers keep on going up and up. Any ideas on how to stop this behavior?

For example, someone sends me a file called "Materials Used", When I open and then save it, the save as file name is "Materials Used [25]", so then I have to go in and delete the [25], and I have to do this every time someone sends me a document, or an invoice, etc. Please lord, let there be a way of stopping the computer doing this, any ideas?

iMac Pro

Posted on Jun 30, 2022 5:54 PM

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Answer 1

joeygrl Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 1, 2022 5:23 AM in response to ku4hx

I do understand what you are saying. But the issue isn't a duplicated copy. Its a downloaded copy I haven't saved yet. For example, a supplier sends me invoice number 56789 and I have never received it before. I open it from my email and go to save it in their folder and when I save as the file name is 56789[25]. I then have to delete the [25] before I can save it as the invoice number only. This happens each and every time with every new invoice I receive.

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Answer 2

joeygrl Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 1, 2022 5:57 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks so much for your reply. Now that you ask the question, it is when I am emailed documents, so I guess it is in Outlook somewhere. Thanks for your help, I wouldn't have realised that without it. So it must be in the outlook settings somewhere.

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Answer 3

ku4hx

Level 7

23,676 points

Jul 1, 2022 3:01 AM in response to joeygrl

Any time you save a file with an existing file name already used, macOS will add a number for the sake of clarity. Otherwise, you overwrite the older file every time.

It's a built-in feature to keep from inadvertently destroying data.

The fix is to copy it out of your Downloads folder (you should do this anyway) into a permanent storage folder with a slightly differentiated name.

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