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Thread: Firefox downloads don't play ball

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    Senior Member BCNZ's Avatar
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    Default Firefox downloads don't play ball

    It used to be when I clicked on a file to download it, Firefox would pop up a box asking me where I wanted to save it.
    Since a recent update, that no longer happens.
    Now, when I go to download something it simply opens in a new tab.
    So far I have noticed this with PDF files - and I then have to click on the download button to actually 'download' the file and save it.
    I have checked the download options and the box which says "Always ask you where to save files" is checked.
    I've looked for an answer online, but most of them are the opposite problem where Firefox is auto-saving files to a certain destination.
    Anyone got any ideas on how to change things so I can choose where to save the file and actually save it.



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    Right-click on link -> Save file as ?

    edit:
    Last edited by wotnot; 21-03-22 at 01:57 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by wotnot View Post
    Right-click on link -> Save file as ?

    edit:
    Hey Wotnot, thanks for the suggestion.
    Yes, that works on most files that are linked on websites, but not all. Some files are mirrored, so right clicking and save file as doesn't work because all you get is an html redirect.
    I just want to change Firefox so it downloads like it used to.
    The developers like to f*ck with things that work perfectly well, on the basis that "we know what you want better than you do", and end up making it worse than what it was.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BCNZ View Post
    Hey Wotnot, thanks for the suggestion.
    Yes, that works on most files that are linked on websites, but not all. Some files are mirrored, so right clicking and save file as doesn't work because all you get is an html redirect.
    I just want to change Firefox so it downloads like it used to.
    The developers like to f*ck with things that work perfectly well, on the basis that "we know what you want better than you do", and end up making it worse than what it was.
    They've been stuffing around with it for 10years to memory, and there are some daft users out there (and the devs try to fill that gap...good luck =)

    To get where you want to be, it's likely you have to use a download manager extension.

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    Quote Originally Posted by wotnot View Post
    They've been stuffing around with it for 10years to memory, and there are some daft users out there (and the devs try to fill that gap...good luck =)

    To get where you want to be, it's likely you have to use a download manager extension.
    Yeah, it's a bit mad really.
    I've just discovered that Firefox is actually downloading the file I click on, and saving it in the Downloads folder. It's doing this automatically.
    Then, after downloading, it automatically opens the file.
    I'm not so concerned about it auto downloading to the Downloads folder, but I sure don't want it auto opening everything I download.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BCNZ View Post
    Yeah, it's a bit mad really.
    I've just discovered that Firefox is actually downloading the file I click on, and saving it in the Downloads folder. It's doing this automatically.
    Then, after downloading, it automatically opens the file.
    I'm not so concerned about it auto downloading to the Downloads folder, but I sure don't want it auto opening everything I download.
    Umm...iirc, there's a switch in about:config for that.... I think it's
    Code:
    browser.download.alwaysOpenInSystemViewerContextMenuItem
    (it's usually set to true)

    edit: hmmm...there's a odd bug....



    Seems vbulletin is insisting on adding a whitespace in the 'MenuItem' bit...weird, sticking it in code quotes instead
    Last edited by wotnot; 22-03-22 at 03:43 PM.

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    Settings, General, Downloads, Toggle "Always ask where you want to save files"
    The fact that there's a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about the anticipated traffic flow.

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    settings/general/scroll down to applications=choose how firefox handles files you download.

    below is a box with a list of file types and a toggle for what action you want to set by individual file type.....

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