Do Downloaded Files Still Take Up Space After Installation?

Hi everyone,

This might sound like a silly question, but please bear with me.

So, when you download a program, it lands in your "downloads" folder, usually as a zipped file or installer. You then run the installer to set up the program.

Here's my question: After installing, does the original downloaded file in the "downloads" folder still take up space? Is it connected to the installed program in any way, or can I safely delete it?

To sum it up, should I be regularly cleaning out my "downloads" folder to free up space?
 
Hey there! Not a silly question at all, actually a really good one. Once you've installed a program, the original downloaded file in your "downloads" folder isn't needed anymore. It's completely safe to delete it, and it won't affect the installed program. Cleaning out your "downloads" folder regularly is a good habit to get into, especially if you're tight on disk space.
 
Yeah, as StarGazer77 said, the downloaded file in your "downloads" folder is just the installer, so once the program is installed, you can safely delete it. The installed program runs independently of that file.