Choose how Firefox handles the files you download from the web.

[GaBaN]

With version 98.0 the saving of .exe files won't ''ask me'' if i want to save the file like in previous versions.I read that the default saving attitude now is auto-saving. I have changed to ''always ask'' most of my content type like it was before, but the .exe type is missing. Please fix this on next version because a misclick - autosaving a .exe file can make things pretty bad. I have tried finding the ''Old Firefox'' folder in order to replace my old prefs.js but i guess newer versions have stopped using that folder.So please fix it.

[monster1612]

+1. I really dislike the fact that Firefox 98.0+ now just dumps PDFs and files like them into my ~/Downloads folder even if all I want to do is open them once in Firefox's built-in PDF viewer, and I'd really like to be able to choose for myself whether I want that to happen.

[IBN510101]

I agree with the idea. I always thought to myself that the "Open in Firefox" option would be akin to "open in temp folder, I'll use it for a bit and automatically delete it once I am done" and "Save as ..." option as "permanently save it!".

Firefox current change is one of the worst change I have seen so far.

[MrBushido]

My download folder is full of files I chose to only open.

It's like deciding that my food scraps and fresh vegetables must go in the same basket and I don't have a say in it. It's just unhealthy and arbitrary.

[foxuser]

The removal of this feature has me thinking of switching to another browser. I escaped from Chrome because I truly despise how google deals with the internet. Having the option to choose what I want to do with a download especially the "Open with:" option is essential for me. I deal with dozens of downloads every day and some only require to be opened for a second, I DO NOT WANT TO SAVE THESE FILES PERMANENTLY. Why did you remove this option? it is plain nonsense.

[seanpr123]

This... So much this...

[LeeDancy]

Agree. This is completely ridiculous. I do NOT need to save every file. Sometimes I just want to open a file to look at it, then close it and have it disappear. No need to save it at all. Now I have to go through the extra step of saving it, then finding it, then opening it. Huh? What a total pain. I can't believe this option is gone. I have been using Firefox for 15 years, but I might have to switch to a different browser just because of this one issue. It's that annoying for me.

[Vasudev]

I agree with bringing back the prompt whether to open or save files. For users who prefer to save all files to default directory w/o prompt should be given a toggle option.

Not all file extensions are shown in firefox which can be manually set to Save files option such as .torrent, .xlsx, .xlsb etc. Most of the time, I'm waiting for a prompt or sometimes even unknown or suspicious file might be download since it defaults to save. 

There are use-cases when I or a user just wants to view a file saved to /tmp when open with is selected such as Excel reports, Word documents etc which was working great until 98 was released.

I also tried editing filehandlers.json which didn't work for me at all since the rules was simply overridden or refused and downloaded the exe,xlsb files and I reverted it to default entries.

Kudos to GaBan for creating the thread and many thanks to all users posted their views who were frustrated by this new feature.

[MsRose59]

I have used Firefox since it's beginnings, essentially for it's independence and safety mission, as well as an escape from MS Explorer. This update, however, veers totally away from the security measures I've relaxed in all this time. Not only does this change pose security issues, the frustration of having to clean the download folder constantly is overwhelming. Mozilla, YOU MUST REVERT this task.

[gts]

Adding to the chorus. If this new default behavior is clearer for casual users, fine. But allow me to change my options more easily -- clicking "Always allow" for every possible file type is onerous, confusing, and is something I'll have to keep worrying about forever, whereas setting my standard to "Always ask" for all file types would allow me to browse more comfortably and with less cognitive overhead.

[Sassy_Squatch]

I found this information described in a forum post that recommended bringing my opinion here.

"When opening a file from any browser, the file would be downloaded to the Windows "TEMP" folder. Many people couldn't find files that they had opened or delete them. This change makes downloading to the Downloads folder the default behavior. If you choose, you can make Firefox ask what to do with specific file types."

Don't punish everyone for some people not being able to use a computer.   Make it the default if you want, but there's no reason to lock us out of the functionality.

Every day I need to access CSV files through my browser.  I gut them for their information, move the information into my permanent sheet, and discard the original .CSV.  I don't need to permanently save that .CSV.  Now I just have an extra step to delete all these files I don't actually need.

[kelimuttu]

FYI, this bug is in progress. You should be able to choose "always ask" for unrecognizable mime types once this work is implemented.

P.S.!

Please don't spam the bug unless you have helpful insight about the topic.

[AutoFail]

It was really annoying to find that all the zip files I use to open with 7Zip were all in my downloads folder. This change is completely unnecessary and causes disk space to fill up and I have to MANUALLY remove the files. You know what doesn't need to be manually removed? THE TEMP FOLDER!
Seriously, why is it every release lately, something stupid is fixed or breaks and I spend sometimes hours on looking for a solution to fix it.

[JTB]

The ability to open rather than download files was the sole reason for switching from chrome (primary) to Firefox (never used before).  This was years ago and it's been a steady feature that I use about every few minutes to download log files for a quick analysis, or open specific files that open in a program but do not need to be saved.

The loss of this feature makes it impossible to some of my tasks, and very cumbersome to do others.

Not having this feature will break how other programs run and my daily operations.

This will force me to look elsewhere for a browser that supports the needs of what I do at work and home.

Is there any discussion to fix or develop a work around?

Thanks for your consideration, Good Day!

[Jamal]

Dear Team,

Kindly bring back download feature version 97

[behemort]

Yeah, putting browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel to false really helped. Thanks @Ujudkma 🙂