How do I organize my Downloads folder automatically on a Mac?

Turn on Keep Organized for Downloads in Peekaboo, or add a Routine that runs when a file arrives. macOS alone can only sort the view or group files in Stacks on the Desktop; it doesn’t move files into folders.

Can it undo an organize?

Yes. Every organize is one session in Activity, and Undo moves each file back and removes the empty folders it made.

Will it break my code projects or apps?

No. Git repositories, app bundles, packages and files in use are skipped.

Does it work on external drives?

Yes, on writable folders on an external drive. Time Machine backups and system folders are skipped.

Peekaboo · Organize

Organize your Desktop and Downloads, and keep them that way

Hundreds of loose files, screenshots and installers. Peekaboo sorts them into subfolders by kind or by month, shows you every move before it happens, and can keep doing it every few hours.

Download free trial14 days free · macOS 14+ · Updated November 7, 2026

What it does

By kind or by month: Images, Documents, Archives, Installers and the rest each get a folder, or files are filed by the month they arrived. Names never collide: an existing file is never overwritten.
See it before it moves: The plan lists every file and where it will go. Code projects, apps, unfinished downloads, iCloud-only files and files still open are left where they are.
Keep Organized: Turn it on for Desktop, Downloads or any folder, including one on an external drive, and it tidies every few hours. Off until you turn it on.
Routines for everything else: Write a rule as a sentence: “when a PDF arrives in Downloads, move it to Documents”, “every Friday, move screenshots older than 30 days to the Trash”. Every run can be put back.

How to use it

1Open Organize and pick Desktop, Downloads or any folder.
2Choose by kind or by month, and read the plan.
3Press Organize. Undo puts every file back.⌘Z

When another app fits better

If you want rules that rename files from their contents, run shell scripts or match on dozens of conditions, [Hazel](/alternatives/hazel/) has been the deepest rule engine on the Mac for years. Peekaboo covers the common cases and adds search, cleanup and undo.

Questions

How do I organize my Downloads folder automatically on a Mac?: Turn on Keep Organized for Downloads in Peekaboo, or add a Routine that runs when a file arrives. macOS alone can only sort the view or group files in Stacks on the Desktop; it doesn’t move files into folders.
Can it undo an organize?: Yes. Every organize is one session in Activity, and Undo moves each file back and removes the empty folders it made.
Will it break my code projects or apps?: No. Git repositories, app bundles, packages and files in use are skipped.
Does it work on external drives?: Yes, on writable folders on an external drive. Time Machine backups and system folders are skipped.