[Solved] Who keeps creating a "Downloads" directory & how to stop it?

hoffke · 2023-02-06 11:59:02

Hello,
I do not use a DE and have configured my browser to store downloads in $HOME/downloads.
However, sometimes when I do pacman -Syu, an empty directory $HOME/Downloads is created,
and I manually delete it.
I suppose some package keeps creating this directory after each upgrade, but I dont know which one nor how to stop it.
Here is my pacman -Q:

acl 2.3.1-2
adobe-source-code-pro-fonts 2.038ro+1.058it+1.018var-1
adwaita-cursors 43-2
adwaita-icon-theme 43-2
alacritty 0.11.0-2
alsa-lib 1.2.8-1
alsa-plugins 1:1.2.7.1-1
alsa-topology-conf 1.2.5.1-1
alsa-ucm-conf 1.2.8-1
alsa-utils 1.2.8-1
amdvlk 2022.Q4.4-3
android-tools 33.0.3-3
android-udev 20230104-1
aom 3.5.0-1
archlinux-keyring 20230130-1
argon2 20190702-4
at-spi2-core 2.46.0-2
attr 2.5.1-2
audit 3.0.9-2
autoconf 2.71-1
automake 1.16.5-1
avahi 0.8+22+gfd482a7-3
babl 0.1.98-1
base 3-1
bash 5.1.016-3
binutils 2.40-4
bison 3.8.2-4
blas 3.11.0-2
brotli 1.0.9-9
bubblewrap 0.7.0-1
bzip2 1.0.8-5
ca-certificates 20220905-1
ca-certificates-mozilla 3.87-1
ca-certificates-utils 20220905-1
cairo 1.17.6-2
cantarell-fonts 1:0.303.1-1
cblas 3.11.0-2
cdparanoia 10.2-8
citra-qt-bin 1825-1
colorz 1.0.3-1
connman 1.41-1
coreutils 9.1-3
cryptsetup 2.6.0-1
curl 7.87.0-3
cython 0.29.33-1
dash 0.5.11.5-1
dav1d 1.0.0-1
db5.3 5.3.28-2
dbus 1.14.4-1
dbus-glib 0.112-2
dconf 0.40.0-2
debugedit 5.0-4
default-cursors 2-1
desktop-file-utils 0.26-2
device-mapper 2.03.18-4
dhclient 4.4.3.P1-1
diffutils 3.8-1
dmenu 5.2-1
double-conversion 3.2.1-1
duktape 2.7.0-5
dunst 1.9.0-1
e2fsprogs 1.46.6-1
ecl 21.2.1-3
efibootmgr 18-1
efivar 38-2
enchant 2.3.3-2
exiv2 0.27.6-1
expat 2.5.0-1
fakeroot 1.30.1-1
feh 3.9.1-2
ffcall 2.4-2
ffmpeg 2:5.1.2-1
ffmpeg4.4 4.4.2-3
fftw 3.3.10-3
file 5.44-1
filesystem 2023.01.31-1
findutils 4.9.0-2
flac 1.4.2-1
flex 2.6.4-4
fontconfig 2:2.14.2-1
freeglut 3.4.0-1
freetype2 2.12.1-1
fribidi 1.0.12-1
gawk 5.2.1-1
gc 8.2.2-1
gcc 12.2.1-2
gcc-libs 12.2.1-2
gd 2.3.3-6
gdbm 1.23-1
gdk-pixbuf2 2.42.10-2
gegl 0.4.40-4
gettext 0.21.1-2
ghostscript 10.0.0-4
giflib 5.2.1-2
gimp 2.10.32-3
girara 0.3.7-1
git 2.39.1-1
glib-networking 1:2.74.0-1
glib2 2.74.5-1
glibc 2.37-2
glslang 11.13.0-2
glu 9.0.2-3
gmp 6.2.1-2
gnu-free-fonts 20120503-8
gnupg 2.2.40-1
gnutls 3.7.8-5
go 2:1.20-1
gpgme 1.18.0-2
graphene 1.10.8-1
graphite 1:1.3.14-2
graphviz 7.1.0-1
grep 3.8-2
groff 1.22.4-7
grub 2:2.06.r456.g65bc45963-1
gsettings-desktop-schemas 43.0-1
gsfonts 20200910-2
gsm 1.0.22-1
gst-plugins-base 1.22.0-3
gst-plugins-base-libs 1.22.0-3
gstreamer 1.22.0-3
gtk-update-icon-cache 1:4.8.3-3
gtk2 2.24.33-2
gtk3 1:3.24.36-1
gts 0.7.6.121130-2
guile 3.0.9-1
gumbo-parser 0.10.1-2
gzip 1.12-1
harfbuzz 6.0.0-1
harfbuzz-icu 6.0.0-1
hicolor-icon-theme 0.17-2
hidapi 0.13.1-1
http-parser 2.9.4-1
hwdata 0.366-1
hwloc 2.8.0-1
hyphen 2.8.8-5
iana-etc 20221215-1
icu 72.1-2
id3lib 3.8.3-18
ijs 0.35-5
imagemagick 7.1.0.61-1
imath 3.1.6-2
imlib2 1.10.0-3
iproute2 6.1.0-4
iptables 1:1.8.9-1
iputils 20221126-1
iso-codes 4.12.0-1
jack2 1.9.21-3
jansson 2.14-2
jasper 4.0.0-1
java-environment-common 3-5
java-runtime-common 3-5
jbig2dec 0.19-1
jdk-openjdk 19.0.2.u7-2
jre-openjdk 19.0.2.u7-2
jre-openjdk-headless 19.0.2.u7-2
json-c 0.16-1
json-glib 1.6.6-2
jsoncpp 1.9.5-2
kbd 2.5.1-1
keyutils 1.6.3-1
kmod 30-3
krb5 1.20.1-1
l-smash 2.14.5-2
lame 3.100-4
lapack 3.11.0-2
lcms2 2.14-2
leftwm 0.4.1-2
leftwm-theme-git r93.7f2292f-1
lensfun 1:0.3.3-1
less 1:608-1
lib32-alsa-lib 1.2.8-1
lib32-alsa-plugins 1.2.7.1-1
lib32-amdvlk 2022.Q4.4-3
lib32-brotli 1.0.9-5
lib32-bzip2 1.0.8-3
lib32-curl 7.87.0-1
lib32-e2fsprogs 1.46.6-1
lib32-expat 2.5.0-2
lib32-gcc-libs 12.2.1-2
lib32-glibc 2.37-2
lib32-icu 72.1-2
lib32-keyutils 1.6.3-1
lib32-krb5 1.20.1-1
lib32-libdrm 2.4.114-1
lib32-libelf 0.188-1
lib32-libffi 3.4.4-1
lib32-libglvnd 1.6.0-1
lib32-libgpg-error 1.46-1
lib32-libidn2 2.3.4-2
lib32-libldap 2.6.3-3
lib32-libpciaccess 0.17-1
lib32-libpsl 0.21.1-3
lib32-libssh2 1.10.0-2
lib32-libtasn1 4.19.0-1
lib32-libunistring 1.1-1
lib32-libunwind 1.6.2-2
lib32-libx11 1.8.3-1
lib32-libxau 1.0.11-1
lib32-libxcb 1.15-2
lib32-libxcrypt 4.4.33-1
lib32-libxdamage 1.1.6-1
lib32-libxdmcp 1.1.4-1
lib32-libxext 1.3.5-1
lib32-libxfixes 6.0.0-2
lib32-libxml2 2.10.3-2
lib32-libxshmfence 1.3.2-1
lib32-libxss 1.2.3-2
lib32-libxxf86vm 1.1.5-1
lib32-llvm-libs 15.0.7-1
lib32-lm_sensors 1:3.6.0.r41.g31d1f125-2
lib32-mesa 22.3.4-1
lib32-ncurses 6.4-1
lib32-nspr 4.35-1
lib32-nss 3.87-1
lib32-openssl 1:3.0.7-1
lib32-p11-kit 0.24.1-1
lib32-sqlite 3.40.1-1
lib32-vulkan-icd-loader 1.3.240-1
lib32-wayland 1.21.0-1
lib32-xz 5.4.1-1
lib32-zlib 1.2.13-2
lib32-zstd 1.5.2-1
libarchive 3.6.2-2
libass 0.17.0-1
libassuan 2.5.5-1
libasyncns 1:0.8+r3+g68cd5af-2
libavc1394 0.5.4-4
libavif 0.11.1-1
libbluray 1.3.4-1
libbpf 1.0.1-1
libbs2b 3.1.0-8
libbsd 0.11.7-1
libcamera 0.0.4-1
libcap 2.66-1
libcap-ng 0.8.3-1
libcdio 2.1.0-3
libcdio-paranoia 10.2+2.0.1-2
libcloudproviders 0.3.1+r8+g3a229ee-1
libcolord 1.4.6-1
libconfig 1.7.3-1
libcups 1:2.4.2-5
libcurl-gnutls 7.87.0-3
libdaemon 0.14-5
libdatrie 0.2.13-2
libde265 1.0.11-1
libdrm 2.4.114-1
libdvdnav 6.1.1-1
libdvdread 6.1.3-1
libedit 20210910_3.1-2
libelf 0.188-3
libepoxy 1.5.10-1
libev 4.33-2
libevdev 1.13.0-1
libevent 2.1.12-4
libexif 0.6.24-1
libffi 3.4.4-1
libfontenc 1.1.7-1
libgcrypt 1.10.1-2
libgdiplus 5.6.1-4
libgexiv2 0.14.0-3
libgit2 1:1.5.1-2
libglvnd 1.6.0-1
libgpg-error 1.46-2
libgudev 237-2
libheif 1.14.2-1
libice 1.1.1-1
libidn 1.41-1
libidn2 2.3.4-3
libiec61883 1.2.0-7
libimagequant 4.0.4-1
libinput 1.22.1-1
libisl 0.25-1
libjpeg-turbo 2.1.4-2
libksba 1.6.3-1
libldap 2.6.3-2
liblqr 0.4.2-3
libluv 1.44.2_1-2
libmanette 0.2.6-3
libmd 1.0.4-1
libmfx 23.1.0-1
libmng 2.0.3-3
libmnl 1.0.5-1
libmodplug 0.8.9.0-5
libmpc 1.3.1-1
libmpdclient 2.20-2
libmtp 1.1.20-1
libmypaint 1.6.1-1
libnet 1:1.1.6-1
libnetfilter_conntrack 1.0.9-1
libnfnetlink 1.0.2-1
libnftnl 1.2.4-1
libnghttp2 1.51.0-1
libnl 3.7.0-2
libnotify 0.8.1-1
libnsl 2.0.0-2
libogg 1.3.5-1
libomxil-bellagio 0.9.3-4
libp11-kit 0.24.1-1
libpaper 1.1.28-2
libpcap 1.10.3-1
libpciaccess 0.17-1
libpipeline 1.5.7-1
libplacebo 5.229.1-2
libpng 1.6.39-1
libproxy 0.4.18-2
libpsl 0.21.2-1
libpulse 16.1-3
libraqm 0.10.0-1
libraw 0.21.1-1
libraw1394 2.1.2-3
librsvg 2:2.55.1-1
libsamplerate 0.2.2-1
libsasl 2.1.28-4
libseccomp 2.5.4-1
libsecret 0.20.5-2
libsigsegv 2.14-2
libsm 1.2.4-1
libsndfile 1.2.0-1
libsoup3 3.2.2-1
libsoxr 0.1.3-3
libspiro 1:20221101-1
libssh 0.10.4-3
libssh2 1.10.0-3
libstemmer 2.2.0-2
libsynctex 2022.62885-3
libsysprof-capture 3.46.0-4
libtasn1 4.19.0-1
libtermkey 0.22-2
libthai 0.1.29-2
libtheora 1.1.1-5
libtiff 4.5.0-1
libtirpc 1.3.3-2
libtool 2.4.7+4+g1ec8fa28-2
libunistring 1.1-2
libunwind 1.6.2-2
libusb 1.0.26-1
libuv 1.44.2-1
libva 2.17.0-1
libvdpau 1.5-1
libverto 0.3.2-4
libvorbis 1.3.7-3
libvpx 1.12.0-2
libvterm 0.3-1
libwacom 2.6.0-1
libwebp 1.3.0-2
libwmf 0.2.12-3
libwpe 1.14.1-1
libx11 1.8.3-6
libxau 1.0.11-1
libxaw 1.0.14-1
libxcb 1.15-2
libxcomposite 0.4.6-1
libxcrypt 4.4.33-1
libxcursor 1.2.1-3
libxcvt 0.1.2-1
libxdamage 1.1.6-1
libxdmcp 1.1.4-1
libxext 1.3.5-1
libxfixes 6.0.0-2
libxfont2 2.0.6-1
libxft 2.3.7-1
libxi 1.8-2
libxinerama 1.1.5-1
libxkbcommon 1.5.0-1
libxkbcommon-x11 1.5.0-1
libxkbfile 1.1.2-1
libxml2 2.10.3-2
libxmu 1.1.4-1
libxpm 3.5.15-1
libxpresent 1.0.1-1
libxrandr 1.5.3-1
libxrender 0.9.11-1
libxshmfence 1.3.2-1
libxslt 1.1.37-2
libxss 1.2.3-4
libxt 1.2.1-1
libxtst 1.2.4-1
libxv 1.0.12-1
libxxf86vm 1.1.5-1
libyaml 0.2.5-2
libyuv r2322+3aebf69d-1
licenses 20220125-1
linux 6.1.9.arch1-2
linux-api-headers 6.1.9-1
linux-firmware 20230117.7e4f0ed-1
linux-firmware-whence 20230117.7e4f0ed-1
llvm-libs 15.0.7-1
lm_sensors 1:3.6.0.r41.g31d1f125-2
lsb-release 2.0.r48.3cf5103-1
lsof 4.98.0-1
luajit 2.1.0.beta3.r467.gd0e88930-1
lz4 1:1.9.4-1
lzo 2.10-5
m4 1.4.19-2
make 4.4-1
man-db 2.11.2-1
man-pages 6.02-1
maxima 5.46.0-7
maxima-ecl 5.46.0-7
md4c 0.4.8-1
mesa 22.3.4-1
minizip 1:1.2.13-2
mkinitcpio 34-2
mkinitcpio-busybox 1.35.0-1
mono 6.12.0.177-1
moreutils 0.67-4
mpfr 4.2.0-3
mpg123 1.31.2-2
mpv 1:0.35.1-1
msgpack-c 5.0.0-1
mtdev 1.1.6-2
mujs 1.3.2-1
multimc-bin 0.6.16.3430-1
mypaint-brushes1 1.3.1-1
ncurses 6.4-1
neovim 0.8.3-1
netpbm 10.73.42-2
nettle 3.8.1-1
npth 1.6-3
nspr 4.35-1
nss 3.87-1
ocl-icd 2.3.1-1
openal 1.22.2-1
opencore-amr 0.1.6-1
openexr 3.1.5-1
openjpeg2 2.5.0-2
openmpi 4.1.4-4
openpmix 4.2.2-1
openssl 3.0.7-4
opus 1.3.1-3
orc 0.4.33-1
p11-kit 0.24.1-1
pacman 6.0.2-5
pacman-contrib 1.8.2-1
pacman-mirrorlist 20221204-1
pam 1.5.2-1
pambase 20221020-1
pango 1:1.50.12-1
patch 2.7.6-8
pciutils 3.9.0-2
pcre 8.45-3
pcre2 10.42-2
perl 5.36.0-3
perl-error 0.17029-4
perl-file-which 1.27-2
perl-io-tty 1.17-1
perl-ipc-run 20220807.0-1
perl-mailtools 2.21-6
perl-time-duration 1:1.21-1
perl-timedate 2.33-4
picom 10.2-1
pinentry 1.2.1-1
pipewire 1:0.3.65-6
pixman 0.42.2-1
pkgconf 1.8.0-1
polybar 3.6.3-3
poppler 23.02.0-1
poppler-data 0.4.12-1
poppler-glib 23.02.0-1
popt 1.19-1
potrace 1.16-2
procps-ng 3.3.17-1
protobuf 21.12-1
psmisc 23.6-1
python 3.10.9-1
python-appdirs 1.4.4-7
python-autocommand 2.2.2-1
python-chardet 5.1.0-1
python-fastjsonschema 2.16.2-1
python-idna 3.4-1
python-inflect 6.0.2-1
python-jaraco.context 4.3.0-1
python-jaraco.functools 3.5.2-1
python-jaraco.text 3.11.1-1
python-jinja 1:3.1.2-2
python-markupsafe 2.1.2-1
python-more-itertools 9.0.0-1
python-numpy 1.24.1-1
python-ordered-set 4.1.0-1
python-packaging 23.0-1
python-pillow 9.4.0-2
python-platformdirs 2.6.2-1
python-pooch 1.6.0-4
python-pydantic 1.10.4-1
python-pyparsing 3.0.9-1
python-pyqt5 5.15.8-2
python-pyqt5-sip 12.11.1-1
python-pyqt5-webengine 5.15.6-1
python-pywal 3.3.0-7
python-requests 2.28.1-1
python-scipy 1.10.0-1
python-setuptools 1:67.1.0-1
python-tomli 2.0.1-1
python-trove-classifiers 2023.1.20-1
python-typing_extensions 4.4.0-1
python-urllib3 1.26.12-1
python-validate-pyproject 0.12.1-1
python-yaml 6.0-1
qt5-base 5.15.8+kde+r180-1
qt5-declarative 5.15.8+kde+r24-2
qt5-location 5.15.8+kde+r3-1
qt5-multimedia 5.15.8+kde+r2-1
qt5-translations 5.15.8-1
qt5-webchannel 5.15.8+kde+r3-1
qt5-webengine 5.15.12-2
qutebrowser 2.5.2-2
rav1e 0.6.3-1
re2 1:20230201-1
readline 8.2.001-2
rubberband 3.1.2-1
run-parts 5.5-1
rust 1:1.67.0-2
sdl2 2.26.2-1
sed 4.9-1
sequoia-sqv 1.1.0-1
shaderc 2022.4-1
shadow 4.13-2
shared-mime-info 2.2+13+ga2ffb28-1
snappy 1.1.9-2
sndio 1.9.0-1
speex 1.2.1-1
speexdsp 1.2.1-1
spirv-tools 2022.4-1
spotify-launcher 0.5.0-1
sqlite 3.40.1-1
srt 1.5.1-3
steam 1.0.0.75-1
sudo 1.9.12.p2-1
suitesparse 7.0.1-2
svt-av1 1.4.1-1
sxiv 26-1
sysfsutils 2.1.1-1
systemd 252.5-1
systemd-libs 252.5-1
systemd-sysvcompat 252.5-1
t1lib 5.1.2-8
tar 1.34-1
texinfo 7.0.2-1
texlive-bin 2022.62885-3
texlive-core 2022.63035-1
texlive-latexextra 2022.63034-1
tpm2-tss 3.2.0-3
tracker3 3.4.2-2
tree 2.1.0-1
tree-sitter 0.20.7-1
tslib 1.22-1
tzdata 2022g-2
uchardet 0.0.8-1
unibilium 2.1.1-1
unzip 6.0-19
usbutils 015-2
util-linux 2.38.1-1
util-linux-libs 2.38.1-1
v4l-utils 1.22.1-1
vi 1:070224-6
vid.stab 1.1-3
vmaf 2.3.1-1
vulkan-icd-loader 1.3.240-1
wayland 1.21.0-2
webkit2gtk-4.1 2.38.4-1
which 2.21-5
woff2 1.0.2-4
wpebackend-fdo 1.14.0-1
x264 3:0.164.r3095.baee400-4
x265 3.5-3
xcb-proto 1.15.2-2
xcb-util 0.4.1-1
xcb-util-cursor 0.1.4-1
xcb-util-image 0.4.1-2
xcb-util-keysyms 0.4.1-4
xcb-util-renderutil 0.3.10-1
xcb-util-wm 0.4.2-1
xcb-util-xrm 1.3-2
xclip 0.13-3
xcursor-themes 1.0.6-3
xdg-dbus-proxy 0.1.4-1
xdg-utils 1.1.3+25+g8ae0263-1
xf86-input-libinput 1.2.1-1
xkeyboard-config 2.37-1
xorg-fonts-encodings 1.0.6-1
xorg-server 21.1.6-1
xorg-server-common 21.1.6-1
xorg-setxkbmap 1.3.3-1
xorg-xauth 1.1.2-1
xorg-xinit 1.4.2-1
xorg-xkbcomp 1.4.6-1
xorg-xmodmap 1.0.11-1
xorg-xprop 1.2.6-1
xorg-xrandr 1.5.2-1
xorg-xrdb 1.2.1-1
xorg-xset 1.2.5-1
xorgproto 2022.2-1
xvidcore 1.3.7-2
xz 5.4.1-1
yay 11.3.2-1
youtube-dl 2021.12.17-1
zathura 0.5.1-1
zathura-pdf-mupdf 0.3.9-1
zenity 3.44.0-1
zimg 3.0.4-1
zlib 1:1.2.13-2
zsh 5.9-2
zsh-completions 0.34.0-3
zstd 1.5.2-8
zziplib 0.13.72-1

Last edited by hoffke (2023-02-07 09:46:36)

Lone_Wolf · 2023-02-06 12:30:32

Please use code tags when posting program output, see https://bbs.archlinux.org/help.php#bbcode .

Downloads is one of the folders in the XDG user directory specs, check https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/XDG_user_directories .
You don't have xdg-user-dirs installed, but an app that follows the standard and downloads stuuf (like a browser) may create it.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/XDG_Base_Directory may be helpful to figure out which app it is.

An alternative could be to install xdg-user-dirs and customize it to use downloads .

ELODollZ · 2023-02-06 12:30:56

i'm fairly new my self to arch, but 2 things to check
1. spelling of down to upper cases, and lower cases, arch linux doesn't see different folders example:

Downloads
downloads
downLoads
### all 3 are different folders

2. posting a list of your pacman is not 100% helpful, since most likely no one is gonna look through all the items in the list, and check for them self if there is something fishy in the code.
on that note, i do see you have yay, there is a chance you have installed something through yay, that has changed the download folder to something, which could be causing your problem

p.s hope it gives atleast a little help, like i said i'm fairly new

Allan · 2023-02-06 12:50:32

My guess is qutebrowser

Trilby · 2023-02-06 14:27:52

Lone_Wolf wrote:

An alternative could be to install xdg-user-dirs and customize it to use downloads .

There is no need to install anything - programs that follow that standard will respond to settings in ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs whether or not the package is installed (I actually have no idea what the package itself does as I don't think I've ever had it installed). I do have config settings though; in my case:

$ cat .config/user-dirs.dirs 
XDG_DESKTOP_DIR=$HOME
XDG_DOCUMENTS_DIR=/tmp/
XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR=/tmp/
XDG_PICTURES_DIR=$HOME
XDG_VIDEOS_DIR=$HOME

Maniaxx · 2023-02-06 14:38:42

Point your browser to '$HOME/Downloads' (with capital 'D').

hoffke · 2023-02-07 09:34:18

Lone_Wolf wrote:

Please use code tags when posting program output, see https://bbs.archlinux.org/help.php#bbcode .
Downloads is one of the folders in the XDG user directory specs, check https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/XDG_user_directories .
You don't have xdg-user-dirs installed, but an app that follows the standard and downloads stuuf (like a browser) may create it.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/XDG_Base_Directory may be helpful to figure out which app it is.
An alternative could be to install xdg-user-dirs and customize it to use downloads .

Okay I installed xdg-user-dirs and configured

~/.config/user-dirs.dirs

. I can't say whether this works as I can't reproduce
my problem but at least running

xdg-user-dirs-update

does not create any unwanted directories.

I'm unsure whether I should mark this thread as solved.

Arch Linux

#1 2023-02-06 11:59:02

[Solved] Who keeps creating a "Downloads" directory & how to stop it?

#2 2023-02-06 12:30:32

Re: [Solved] Who keeps creating a "Downloads" directory & how to stop it?

#3 2023-02-06 12:30:56

Re: [Solved] Who keeps creating a "Downloads" directory & how to stop it?

#4 2023-02-06 12:50:32

Re: [Solved] Who keeps creating a "Downloads" directory & how to stop it?

#5 2023-02-06 14:27:52

Re: [Solved] Who keeps creating a "Downloads" directory & how to stop it?

#6 2023-02-06 14:38:42

Re: [Solved] Who keeps creating a "Downloads" directory & how to stop it?

#7 2023-02-07 09:34:18

Re: [Solved] Who keeps creating a "Downloads" directory & how to stop it?

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