Drop it to the (near the Trash bin).
Opens a neat block of icons (best for seeing many files at once). List: A simple vertical list of file names. ❓ Why did my Download icon disappear?
the Downloads folder toward the right side of your Dock.
Open (the smiley face icon on the far left of your Dock). Locate Downloads in the left-hand sidebar.
Here is the easiest way to get your Downloads folder back where it belongs. 🚀 The Quick Fix: Drag and Drop
The most direct way to add the download icon back to your Dock is using Finder.
Shows a "stack" of your actual file thumbnails (this is the classic Mac look). View Content As Fan: Pops out in a curved arc (great for a few files).