We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Can't open *any* files downloaded by Firefox

  • 4 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Amerie

Amerie
Amerie
more options

I am running Firefox 13.0.1 on a Mac Powerbook under Mac OS 10.7.4. Firefox seems to download the files very nicely, but when I try to open them, I have gotten the error message "File does not exist" and it mentions my download folder. There's more to that error message, but I don't remember and I can't reproduce it. Now I'm getting "Preview can't open the .pdf" or "File not recognized". I've disabled the Adobe Acrobat NPAPI plugin, and that hasn't helped the problem. Safari downloads the same files just fine, so it seems to be a Firefox problem. Please help!

Thanks, Amerie

I am running Firefox 13.0.1 on a Mac Powerbook under Mac OS 10.7.4. Firefox seems to download the files very nicely, but when I try to open them, I have gotten the error message "File does not exist" and it mentions my download folder. There's more to that error message, but I don't remember and I can't reproduce it. Now I'm getting "Preview can't open the .pdf" or "File not recognized". I've disabled the Adobe Acrobat NPAPI plugin, and that hasn't helped the problem. Safari downloads the same files just fine, so it seems to be a Firefox problem. Please help! Thanks, Amerie

Chosen solution

The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
  3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
  4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.


Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (4)

Vlad Maniac
Vlad Maniac
more options

Chosen Solution

The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
  3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
  4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.


Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Please update to the current Firefox 14.0.1 version to see if that fixes the problem.

You can find the latest Firefox release in all languages and for all Operating Systems here:

Do you have any Anti-virus software installed that may be causing this?

Amerie
Amerie Question owner
more options

I did that recently and it did not fix the problem. However, turning off a couple of add-ons did allow me to download and read *some* files. Now I can't read .pdf files I've downloaded. I am going to try resetting Firefox, as suggested earlier.

Thanks! Amerie

Amerie
Amerie Question owner
more options

Resetting Firefox fixed the problem! Thank you so much. I was actually thinking of switching to something else because Firefox was giving me so many problems.

Thank you again. Amerie

Modified by Amerie