Download File into storage directory laravel

Well, you shouldn't return the file then. Instead, you can use the Storage facade to store the file wherever you want.

Storage::put(public_path('files/file.csv'), $contents);

Documentation: https://laravel.com/docs/9.x/filesystem#storing-files

Hello there! Maybe you could create a laravel Disk and do a symbolic link with a folder in the public directory.

In Config/filesystems.php at line 20 you will see the "Filesystem Disks" section, you could add something like

'foo' => [
            'driver' => 'local',
            'root' => storage_path('app/foo'),
            'url' => env('APP_URL').'/foo',
            'visibility' => 'public',
        ],	

Then at the bottom of the file at "Symbolic links" section add:

 'links' => [
        public_path('foo') => storage_path('app\foo'),
    ],

Finally type this command on the terminal: ​​php artisan storage:link​

Now every file stored at storage/app/foo folder will be available at the public directory public/foo due to this symbolic link.

Extra: as it is a laravel disk you may use methods like

$file->store('/', 'foo');

Using this will store the file at the disk Foo thus, it will be visible at the public directory foo also. Hope this gets the job done or at least give you a hint, byeeee