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.

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

Where on my computer does Firefox put downloaded files?

  • 1 reply
  • 215 have this problem
  • 126 views
  • Last reply by Morbus

more options

Where on my computer does Firefox put downloaded files? I need to use them.

Where on my computer does Firefox put downloaded files? I need to use them.

Chosen solution

Hello Dan.

This question can have many answers. If you selected, as you downloaded the file, a custom place to place the download, Firefox will have stored the file there (if the download was successfully completed). If you forgot where it was, you can go into Tools > Downloads, rightclick the file you want, and select "Open Containing Folder".

If Firefox did not ask you where to save the file, you go into Tools > Options > General and select the location where Firefox will store your downloads. Here, you can also configure it to ask you every time you choose to save a download. As before, you can go into Tools > Downloads and ask for the containing folder.

If you simply opened the download without asking Firefox to save it, it's possible that you can still access your file (if you did not close Firefox in the meantime). Files are are opened and not stored, are temporarily placed in a cache folder so you can use it while your Firefox session lasts. Simply go into Tools > Downloads, and, as before, ask for the containing folder. From there, you can copy/cut the file and paste it anywhere you want.

Read this answer in context 👍 48

All Replies (1)

more options

Chosen Solution

Hello Dan.

This question can have many answers. If you selected, as you downloaded the file, a custom place to place the download, Firefox will have stored the file there (if the download was successfully completed). If you forgot where it was, you can go into Tools > Downloads, rightclick the file you want, and select "Open Containing Folder".

If Firefox did not ask you where to save the file, you go into Tools > Options > General and select the location where Firefox will store your downloads. Here, you can also configure it to ask you every time you choose to save a download. As before, you can go into Tools > Downloads and ask for the containing folder.

If you simply opened the download without asking Firefox to save it, it's possible that you can still access your file (if you did not close Firefox in the meantime). Files are are opened and not stored, are temporarily placed in a cache folder so you can use it while your Firefox session lasts. Simply go into Tools > Downloads, and, as before, ask for the containing folder. From there, you can copy/cut the file and paste it anywhere you want.