We’ve all been there. You’re downloading files with Internet Download Manager (IDM), and you love that handy little pop-up that appears when a download finishes. It’s the perfect shortcut to immediately open your new file, jump straight to the folder where it was saved, or choose a specific program to open it with. It’s a small feature, but it’s a huge time-saver!
But what happens when it suddenly vanishes? One moment it’s there, and the next, your downloads finish silently, leaving you to hunt for them in your folders. It’s a common and frustrating issue, but don’t worry—the solution is incredibly simple. You most likely just accidentally checked the “Don’t show this again” box on the dialog itself.
Let’s get that useful pop-up back on your screen in just a few clicks!
How to Re-Enable the ‘Download Complete’ Dialog in IDM
Follow these simple steps to restore the download complete notification and get your workflow back on track.
- First, launch Internet Download Manager from your Start Menu, desktop shortcut, or system tray.
- In the main IDM window, look for the ‘Options’ button (it often looks like a gear icon) in the toolbar and click it.
- The ‘IDM Configuration’ window will open. Navigate to the ‘Downloads’ tab.
- Look for the checkbox labeled “Show download complete dialog”. If your dialog is missing, this box will be unchecked. Simply click it to add a checkmark.
- Click the ‘OK’ button at the bottom to save your changes. And that’s it! The next time a download finishes, your helpful dialog box will be back. 🎉
Pro-Tips for a Smoother IDM Experience
Now that you’ve fixed the main issue, here are a few extra tips to become an IDM power user.
- Master Your Categories: The ‘Open Folder’ button on the dialog is extra powerful when you use IDM’s categories (like Compressed, Documents, Music, Video). You can configure each category to save to a specific folder. This way, your ZIP files automatically go to one place and your videos to another, keeping everything perfectly organized.
- Use the Download Queue: If you’re downloading many files, seeing a pop-up for every single one can be distracting. Try using the scheduler and download queue. You can add all your files to the queue and set IDM to process them at a specific time (like overnight). This way, you only have to deal with the notifications once the entire batch is done.
- Quick Keyboard Shortcuts: Once the ‘Download Complete’ dialog appears, you don’t always need your mouse. Pressing the ‘Enter’ key will typically trigger the default action, which is usually ‘Open’. It’s a small efficiency boost that adds up over time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Why did my ‘Download Complete’ dialog disappear?
The most common reason by far is that the “Don’t show this again” checkbox on the dialog itself was accidentally ticked. This tells IDM you no longer want to see it, but as you’ve learned, it’s easy to reverse in the settings.
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I re-enabled the dialog, but it’s still not showing up. What else can I try?
If the setting is correct but the dialog is still missing, try these simple troubleshooting steps. First, completely close IDM (right-click its icon in the system tray and select ‘Exit’) and then restart it. If that doesn’t work, a quick restart of your computer often resolves minor glitches. Finally, ensure you are running the latest version of IDM, as updates can fix unexpected bugs.
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Can I change where the ‘Open Folder’ button takes me?
Yes! The ‘Open Folder’ button takes you to the location where the file was saved. You can change the default save location for different file types in Options > Save To. By setting up categories (e.g., ‘Video’ files save to `D:\Videos`), the ‘Open Folder’ button will take you to the correct, organized location every time.
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Is there another way to see my completed downloads without the pop-up?
Absolutely. In the main IDM window, on the left-hand side under ‘Categories’, you’ll see a folder named ‘Finished’. Clicking this will show you a list of all your successfully completed downloads, where you can open them, find their location, or manage them as needed.
And that’s all there is to it! You’ve not only fixed a common annoyance but also learned how to better customize IDM to fit your needs. Happy downloading!