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What's the difference between "Run" and "Save" when downloading?

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Summary: You can Run a download or you can Save it, it's a difference many of us take for granted. We'll look at what it really means to Run or Save.

When downloading software or whatever, what is the difference between RUN and SAVE?

This is one of those things that I think a lot of people take for granted, but to many it's just so much magic.

So, a quick look at what it means when you choose between "Run" and "Save" when you download a file.

When you select Run on a download, it's actually a two step process:

  • The file you've requested is downloaded to your machine. It's normally placed in your browser's "Temporary Internet Files", or it may be placed in the Windows temporary file location.

  • The file is then run, exactly as if you had used Windows Explorer to navigate to the temporary location into which it had been downloaded and then double-clicked on it.

"Run" can mean several things. If the file is a ".exe" file, that's a program, and running it means exactly that: the program is loaded into memory and Windows runs it. If the file is a different type of file that Windows knows about, then it runs the program associated with that type of file. It points that program at the downloaded copy of the file. For example if you "Run" a ".jpg" file, the file is downloaded and the program associated with viewing .jpg files is run. It then opens and views the file.

"One important thing to note about using Run: the file was downloaded into a temporary location, and it may eventually be deleted."

Depending on your browser or specific scenario, Run can also be considered the same as Open File With... where you actually get to chose the program with which to open the downloaded file.

One important thing to note about using Run: the file was downloaded into a temporary location, and it may eventually be deleted. In fact it almost certainly will if you wait long enough.

That's why Save exists.

When you select Save (or sometimes Save As...) in response to a download, the browser will simply download the file. That's all. The file is copied to your hard disk, and it's then up to you to do something with it.

The big difference is that it's not downloaded into a temporary location. The file is downloaded into a default folder or a folder that you specify. It might be "My Documents", "My Downloads", or something else entirely depending on your browser and configuration. But it's a folder that should be easy to find. More importantly the file will not be automatically deleted at some later time.

Like I said, you have to decide what to do with it and when.

It could be as simple as leaving it where it is, and using Windows Explorer to locate and then double click on the file whenever you want to use it in the future. Or you could move it to a different location to backup and archive it. Or you could do something else entirely.

When might you use one or the other?

  • Run: When you only need the download once. Perhaps a song or video you only plan to listen to or watch once. Another scenario might be an installation program that when run installs software on your machine in other, permanent locations. Once installed, you probably don't need the installer again.

  • Save: When you want to keep whatever it is you've downloaded. You can still run it or whatever else you'd like to do with it, but you'll need to do that yourself.

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Article C3046 - June 4, 2007

Recent Comments
13 Comments

I NEVER, use the Run. I use the "Save As" so that I can scan the file for viruses.
Run is just to damn risky in my opinion.

Posted by: Scott at June 9, 2007 10:14 AM

I agree 100% with Scott. By using "Save" you can scan for viruses before opening the file. If you just use "Run" who knows what you have downloaded besides the file. I am sooooo very surprised that "Ask Leo" didn't bring this up in his answer.

Posted by: glorya at June 10, 2007 4:19 PM

My computer behaves (now) at "Save" almost like at "Run". I mean... It looks like it downloads the file somewhere (I don't know where), then, after a (long) time, the "Save to" dialog box appears and the saving takes only 1 second (regardless the file width).
See screen caps at www.geocities.com/iani2004/trouble/
What's going on?

Posted by: iani at June 15, 2007 4:37 AM

I like to save them. This way I have a copy if the need arises that it needs to be re-installed at some time.
http://www.domdedomdom.com

Posted by: Dominick at June 17, 2007 4:02 PM

I was ttrying to help a friend reinstall a program that had been installed by our IT Department. In anticipation of his question (do I select run or save?), I submittted the question to Goggle. I tried a few sites. Your site was, without doubt, the most targeted and helpful response. Thank you so much!

Posted by: Karol at August 23, 2007 6:22 PM

I downloaded a long file to run and for some reason I was disconnected from the web. I found the file and saved it but then didn't know what to open the file with. Nothing worked. So I gave up and deleted the saved file and went to redownload. Apparently the run file was still there and the install proceeded without another long download. I don't know what was used to open the run file but I am glad it worked.

Posted by: duane moen at September 8, 2007 9:09 AM

as scott and especially glorya im very surprised that leo didnt mention the better security of SAVE. There are things to discuss here, like how much safe is SAVE itself?

Posted by: benz at November 19, 2007 5:05 PM

Thank you, Leo and thank you all for this great input. I knew what "Run" does (sort of) and I knew what "Save" does, I just wasn't sure when to Run or Save. Your opinions and reasons work for me! Luv this website, I'll be back

Posted by: Diane at August 7, 2008 9:00 AM

I purchased a microsoft office package and I am not sure if I should click on save or run. Since this is a very expensive purchase I realli need to be sure. In case I don't get any response I will just clik on run because that is how i did it with my messenger and it works fine. I need help!!

Posted by: Edwin at March 11, 2009 11:23 AM

I'VE SAVED FILES FROM MININOVA AND WINDOWS MEDIA DOES THE USUAL REJECTION.I'M ACHING TO BURN TO CD WITH SOME OF THE ALBUMS THEY HAVE LISTED!

Posted by: frank rogowski at March 24, 2009 8:52 AM

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