Airdrop files suddenly do not appear in Downloads folder

Moran Moraine wrote:

I would prefer to be able to choose to transfer my Airdrop files directly to my Desktop. But since that is not apparently possible, I Airdrop them to the Downloads folder, it opens showing them, then I drag them onto the Desktop.

In the past three or four weeks that has not worked. Airdrop says it is transferring the files, and then they just vanish. They are not in the Downloads folder. They are not in Photos.

I emptied my Downloads folder and then Airdropped 20 photos. I then chose the Downloads folder as the destination. They are now marked Sent and they are NOT in the Downloads folder.

Where ARE THEY, Apple?

I see from a quick internet search that many other people are having this problem. It would be nice to get an answer.

if you are using any of the following look for them there—

sync software like: iCloud, OneDrive, GoogleDrive, BackBlaze or DropBox —can be set to usurp downloads

dis-associate from these other locations to get them back to your default ~/Downloads folder.

ref

Use AirDrop on your Mac - Apple Support

Use AirDrop on iPhone to send items to nearby devices