Your first download
Paste a link in the bar at the top of Ladle’s window, press Download now and watch it pour.
- 2 min read
- Updated October 2026
Download a file
Section titled “Download a file”-
Copy a link to a file, like a
.dmg,.zipor.mp4. -
In Ladle, click the bar at the top of the window that says Paste a link or search, or press ⌘K. Then paste with ⌘V.
-
Ladle shows the file’s name, its size and the folder it will be saved in. Click Download now.
To pick a different folder or start it tonight, click More options instead. It opens the Add sheet with the link filled in.
Watch it pour
Section titled “Watch it pour”Each download’s progress bar is split into one segment per connection. Segments glow while they pour, dim when you pause, and turn into a single steel bar when the file is complete.
Click a download to see its details. The connection ring has one arc per connection, each filling as its piece comes in, with the speed, time left and size underneath.
The sidebar on the left narrows the list down: Library (All Downloads, Active, Queued, Completed and Failed), Categories such as Video and Apps, and the Main queue and Tonight queues. Typing in the bar at the top searches the list.
Pause, resume and retry
Section titled “Pause, resume and retry”| Do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Pause or resume the selected download | Space |
| Pause or resume everything | ⌥⌘P |
| Retry a download that failed | ⌘R |
Pausing is safe. Ladle saves each connection’s place, so a download carries on where it stopped, even after you quit Ladle, your Mac sleeps or you change networks. That needs the server to support resuming, which most big download sites do. If it doesn’t, see A download won’t resume.
When it’s done
Section titled “When it’s done”Ladle sends a notification with Open and Show in Finder buttons. Your file is in ~/Downloads/Ladle, in a folder for its type, such as Apps for a .dmg.
| Do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Open the selected file | ⌘O |
| Show it in Finder | ⇧⌘R |
| Remove it from the list (the file stays) | ⌘⌫ |
While a file downloads, its folder holds a .ladle-part file with the same name, and Finder shows the progress on its icon. Ladle gives it its real name the moment it’s complete.
To open the file or show it in Finder automatically instead of notifying you, change When a download finishes in Ladle › Settings › Downloads. More in Categories and folders.
What next
Section titled “What next”- Set up your browser so clicking a download hands it to Ladle.
- Queue big files for the night with the Tonight queue.
- Add a whole list at once with many links and numbered series.