Hushdown

Auto-renames every Chrome download with a sortable timestamp. Three naming modes, folder organization, searchable history, and notifications. Free and open source.

HushDown — Clean, sortable filenames for every Chrome download

Tired of a Downloads folder full of "image (1).png", "document (2).pdf", and cryptic server names? HushDown quietly renames each new download the moment it starts — no clicks, no dialogs, no disruption to how you browse.

WHAT IT DOES

• Sortable timestamps — Every filename begins with yyMMdd-HHmmss (e.g. 260529-235512), so your Downloads folder sorts in perfect chronological order automatically.

• Three naming modes — Timestamp only, timestamp plus original filename, or original name only. Switch instantly from the popup.

• Folder organization — Automatically route downloads into subfolders by file type: images, documents, videos, and more.

• Searchable download history — Browse up to 200 recent downloads in the popup. Images show thumbnail previews. Filter by filename instantly.

• Download-complete notifications — A desktop notification appears the moment a download finishes. Image downloads show an inline preview.

• No account, no ads, no subscription — Free and open source.

THREE FILENAME MODES

Timestamp (default) — Example: 260529-235512.png

Stamp+Name — Example: 260529-235512-invoice.pdf

Original — Keeps the site's suggested filename (sanitized), no timestamp added

Switch between modes from the segment control at the top of the popup. Your preference syncs across Chrome when signed in.

HOW IT WORKS

HushDown intercepts each download before it hits your disk and suggests a new filename. Files still land in your normal Chrome Downloads folder — change the path anytime at chrome://settings/downloads. Only new downloads are affected; existing files are never touched.

PERFECT FOR

• Designers and photographers building image archives
• Developers downloading builds, logs, and release assets
• Office workers filing PDFs, spreadsheets, and exports
• Anyone who wants a Downloads folder that stays organized without effort

NOTIFICATIONS AND IMAGE PREVIEWS

When a download finishes, HushDown shows a desktop notification with the new filename and file size. For image files, an inline preview appears in the notification. To enable this, go to chrome://extensions → HushDown → Details and turn on "Allow access to file URLs". Previews are generated locally — nothing leaves your device.

PRIVACY

• No server-side data collection — your download history never leaves your device
• The recent-downloads list and thumbnails are stored in Chrome's local storage
• We do not sell or share user data
• Open source: github.com/alperalyaz/hushdown
• Privacy policy: alperalyaz.github.io/hushdown/privacy.html

LANGUAGES

English, Turkish, and Simplified Chinese — follows your Chrome language setting automatically.

PERMISSIONS

• downloads — Rename new downloads and read completion metadata
• downloads.open — Open a file directly from the popup list
• storage — Save the download history, thumbnails, and your settings
• notifications — Show download-complete alerts
• offscreen — Generate image previews for notifications (invisible background page)
• file:// (optional) — Read downloaded images locally to generate previews

GETTING STARTED

1. Install HushDown and pin it to the Chrome toolbar (puzzle icon → pin).
2. Choose a naming mode in the popup.
3. Download any file — check your Downloads folder.
4. Optional: enable Chrome notifications and file URL access for image previews.

FAQ

Does it move my downloads to a different folder? No — only the filename changes. The destination folder is still controlled by Chrome's settings.

Will my existing files be renamed? No — only new downloads after installation.

Can I disable notifications? Yes — in Windows Settings → System → Notifications → Google Chrome.

Is it free? Yes. HushDown is an open-source project by Hidroteknik with no revenue model.

SUPPORT

hushdown@hidroteknik.com.tr