topic Change in Firefox download behavior in Discussions

Change in Firefox download behavior

StrangeRhapsody — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 21:19:00 GMT

The changes to how downloads are handled in Firefox version 98 (as detailed here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manage-downloads-preferences-using-downloads-menu) are TERRIBLE. I very frequently need to view Excel, Word, or PDF files from the web without actually downloading them, and as of a few days ago, the "what should Firefox do with this file" dialog no longer appears and files just download without so much as a by-your-leave. Now I not only have to take an extra step to open the file (yes, I know I can open it from the download icon on the toolbar, but that's still an extra step), but I have to go delete all the files I didn't want to actually download in the first place when I'm done. And yes, I see that I can set behaviors for individual file types, but why should I have to spend my time doing that when a single dialog allowed me to choose at the time what I wanted to do with the file (and I don't necessarily want to have the same behavior for ALL Excel files or ALL pdfs - it depends on why I'm looking at the individual file at the time).

I can see where for SOME users, asking every time might be an unnecessary click, but since it's listed as a frequently asked question, clearly I'm not the only person for whom the "what should Firefox do with this file" was an integral part of my workflow. You could have offered an option to turn it off for people who found it unnecessary, or at least offered an option to turn it back on for those of us who find it essential. I STRONGLY urge you to add an option to re-enable this function in the next update.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

goober50north — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 21:27:40 GMT

This response to my post seems to work.

https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/update-downloads/m-p/1692/emcs_t/S2h8ZW1haWx8dG9waWNfc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9ufEwwUkpKTFlXMU5HM0s2fDE2OTJ8U1VCU0NSSVBUSU9OU3xoSw#M710

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 02:27:03 GMT

That didn't change anything. It needs to act the way it did before this stupid change. I swear these designers go out of their way to make our lives miserable.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

goober50north — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 17:36:02 GMT

In Preferences -> General, I have "Always ask you where to save files" turned on.
the browser.download.improvements_to_download_pane is set to False
You can still change the action in the list of file types or just change the setting to always download to Downloads folder.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 20:26:25 GMT

Thanks. I also set that to false in about:config, but it didn't change my experience.

Here's a link to what I'm experiencing.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

jbw78 — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 11:00:43 GMT

I also always have "Always ask you where to save files" selected, but Firefox now dumps my downloads into the Download folder anyway, without asking. It also shows an annoying pop-up with download progress, even though I didn't click on the Download icon.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

goober50north — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 16:29:46 GMT

Did you also go to about:config and change browser.download.improvements_to_download_pane is set to False?

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

oakpolo7 — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:04:10 GMT

As someone who opens a lot of PDFs and other file types, this change is extremely frustrating and a quality of life killer. I hope the devs realize this and correct this change to go back to how it was before.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

jbw78 — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 01:05:47 GMT

Thank you! That solved my two download issues. It's a shame users have to make config changes to get Firefox to work as advertised.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

goober50north — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 23:42:38 GMT

Go to about:config and change browser.download.improvements_to_download_pane is set to False.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

JamesFrazier42 — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 16:08:25 GMT

I've been a Firefox user forever but will definitely switch browsers if the option to open (not download) a file goes away.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

goober50north — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 19:48:29 GMT

1) In Settings -> General, turn on "Always ask you where to save files"..

2) Go to about:config and change browser.download.improvements_to_download_pane is set to False.

You can still change the Actions to Always Ask or Open in the list of file types.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

StrangeRhapsody — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 20:46:16 GMT

Thanks. I still think they should make an update so people can choose the download behavior they want in settings without having to mess with config, but I appreciate the work around so I can get it to work the way I want now.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

oakpolo7 — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 21:39:26 GMT

@goober50north wrote:
1) In Settings -> General, turn on "Always ask you where to save files"..
2) Go to about:config and change browser.download.improvements_to_download_pane is set to False.
You can still change the Actions to Always Ask or Open in the list of file types.

Thanks, but I know of the workaround. However having to do a workaround to go back to less a cumbersome behavior is bad UX on their part. Also the about:config solution may not always be there

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

ndm — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:24:22 GMT

I too find the missing option "open with" on downloads a complete disaster. I do not want to downlaod and save all files. It takes spave and requires deletion at end of the day.

Please can we have the "open with" option returned to downloads.

Due to the volume of downloads I have had to revert to another browser.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

bjffam — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 14:21:41 GMT

I don't want to download. I just want to view the file. I don't want to make choices by extension. I just want to view!!! I am sick of this. Two hours of my day wasted trying to get rid of this annoying garbage. I am tired of forced "improvements" on everything I use. I don't want nifty new "enhancements" on my alarm clock or anything else. I am busy. I want to make my choices about these mundane background processes and then go about my life. I want them to fold into the background and not worry about them again until I need to make an important choice. And no, this does not mean I asking Mozilla or anyone else to handle these choices for me. I guess it is time for one of those important choice. CHOOSE A NEW BROWSER!!!

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

goober50north — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 00:18:16 GMT

I chose to use the workaround, because it made FF work the way it did, before, at the least the way I use it.

I am on the help desk for a software company, and many support request come in with .txt .pdf .png and .img attached. I don't really care to save them, then reopen. Although, there is always a copy goes to my Downloads folder, which happened before the FF update (I keep my downloads folder empty, so I just delete them all).

For personal use, I like to save .pdf files (bank statements, etc. different folders, so I like the option to puthem where I want.

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

rengab — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 06:22:32 GMT

any way for firefox to save a file, to same folder one last saved to > even with a file from another website?

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

atgyuric — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 07:49:49 GMT

Agree, time to change to another browser after years...

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

kb9hgi — Mon, 23 May 2022 04:12:56 GMT

I hate this firefox. No matter what I do it still downloads PDF files and I don't want to save every PDF file. I just want to view them. This is so stupid why they changed it. I been using FF for along time and i hate to do it but about to start using MS Edge

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

Jon — Mon, 23 May 2022 13:30:04 GMT

Hey all,

Thanks for the feedback. Our product teams have reviewed this thread, along with some similar ideas, and

this will be fixed in an upcoming release (102). Please feel free to follow along on Bugzilla for more info or stay tuned here 😃

Related idea:

Re: Change in Firefox download behavior

Rabensdorf — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 17:47:55 GMT

Nothing has been changed.

I'm thinking about switching to the Chrome browser. Because there, I can work in my online services without running a race with the mouse. Really sad.