How can I stop automatic downloads?

[akaplan93]

I made a similar reply in a conversation between @Ohkawa and @itfreshman1 but got no respose, so I an creating this new post.

I have the Zoom app on my MacBook and on my iPhone. Every time I click on a link sent to me for a Zoom meeting when using my laptop, a new Zoom installer package downloads. I have no option to refuse or cancel it. This never happens on my iPhone, even if I am signing in with both devices to the same meeting, meaning that the settings by the host aren't dictating that the download occurs (unless of course every single host has chosen to make laptops download the app but not phones). As soon as the download is over, my existing app opens and I'm able to join the meeting. If I have a day during which I am joining multiple meetings, that many installer packages are in my download folder by the end. How can I make this stop? 

[ZoomZoom]

Hi, 

Sorry to hear about this issue. Does it happen with all web browsers you test or just one in particular?

I have the feeling this is related to one native Mac web browser in particular. If so, please check the Prevent cross-site tracking: https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/prevent-cross-site-tracking-sfri40732/mac

[ChrisMarshallNY]

OK, this is serious.

I'm an Apple software developer (native Swift), and I just had a Mac app REJECTED, because I provide links that open Zoom to meetings, and the darn thing automatically starts downloading.

Let me make this clear:

I wrote an app that allows users to resolve links to Safari (or other browsers), and these are standard "Join Meeting" links.

Because I have these links, Apple has REJECTED my app.

That's crazy.

[ilmarilahti]

Yes exactly, this is so annoying and wasteful! You can prevent this by closing the tab as fast as you can after the already-installed Zoom app has opened the link. But to have to race to close the tab before this automation kicks in after like 2 seconds is... well, I have no words for it that content filtering will let through here. I wonder how much disk space average computer users who use Zoom a lot are wasting because of this. I understand that it's to make the experience easier for first-time users of Zoom, but still. There must be better ways, more sane and sensible ways.

[JohnJR]

I also noticed this odd behavior every time I clicked the link from a regular scheduled meeting host even though I have zoom.us version 5.16.2 installed (on MacOS 10.13.6 and my Browser is Firefox).  And yes, as like the person just above, I discovered this when looking to find disk space hogging in my downloads folder.  I discovered whole columns of "zoom.pkg" -- for what looks like every meeting of quite a history -- shocking.  Since I have the app. installed, I guess I will just haul all those downloads to the trash and hope nothing happens next time I click on a link to launch the meeting.  Also like the person above I have no words for it that decorum would allow; accept I will reserve mine for the so-called Community Champions and sundry programmers who can't solve the problem.

[Lisa-JP]

I have Mac and opening a Zoom link defaults to Safari. I had the same problem of auto downloads from Zoom but was able to fix by doing this: Safari > Settings > Downloads. You'll see a bunch of websites you've used with a toggle to either Allow, Deny, or Ask for the permission to download. I had dozens of sites and they were all set to Allow, including Zoom. Once I set Zoom to Ask, I clicked the same link I had earlier but it no longer auto downloaded the installer. In the same Safari Download settings, you'll see at the bottom it says "When visiting other websites..." and then you can select the toggle for Ask so sites going forward will Ask. However mine was already set to Ask and yet all my sites were set to "Allow" - I hope that new sites truly will default to Ask. Just in case, you can always go to this Download Settings page and see if a site is there and change the setting.