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

I mistakenly saved a download, and checked the "always do this for thid type of file" now I cannot open a file without saving it first, because it does not take me to that same dialog box.

  • 1 reply
  • 4 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by Helper7677

more options

When you open a file from an email, you get a dialog box Open or Save this file. I wanted to save a particular file, so I clicked Save. The problem is, I had already clicked on "do this every time for files like this" so now it won't give me the dialog box back for when I just want to open a file, not save it. I have searched Options, to no avail.

When you open a file from an email, you get a dialog box Open or Save this file. I wanted to save a particular file, so I clicked Save. The problem is, I had already clicked on "do this every time for files like this" so now it won't give me the dialog box back for when I just want to open a file, not save it. I have searched Options, to no avail.

All Replies (1)

more options

"always do this for thid type of file" means exactly what it says: always .

Go to Tools > Options > Applications, locate and click on the Content Type for the item, change Action to "Always ask". This will cause a dialog to open giving you a choice of opening with an appropriate plugin for Firefox or saving the item to your hard drive. See:


Other issues needing your attention

The information submitted with your question indicates that you have out of date plugins with known security and stability issues that should be updated. To see the plugins submitted with your question, click "More system details..." to the right of your original question post. You can also see your plugins from the Firefox menu, Tools > Add-ons > Plugins.

  • Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.4.1"
  • Shockwave Flash 10.1 r102
    • Security update version 10.2.152.26 released on 2011-02-08
  • Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_23 for Mozilla browsers
    • Security update version 1.6.0_24 released on 2011-02-10
  1. Check your plugin versions: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
    • Note: plugin check page does not have information on all plugin versions
  2. Update Adobe Reader (PDF plugin):
    • From within your existing Adobe Reader (if you have it already installed):
      • Open the Adobe Reader program from your Programs list
      • Click Help > Check for Updates
      • Follow the prompts for updating
      • If this method works for you, skip the "Download complete installer" section below and proceed to "After the installation" below
    • Download complete installer (if you do NOT have Adobe Reader installed):
      • Use the links below to avoid getting the troublesome "getplus" Adobe Download Manager and other "extras" you may not want
      • Use Firefox to download and SAVE the installer to your hard drive from the appropriate link below
      • Click "Save to File"; save to your Desktop (so you can find it)
      • After download completes, close Firefox
      • Click the installer you just downloaded and allow the install to continue
        • Note: Vista and Win7 users may need to right-click the installer and choose "Run as Administrator"
      • Download link: ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/
        • Choose your OS
        • Choose the latest #.x version (example 9.x, for version 9)
        • Choose the highest number version listed
          • NOTE: 10.x is the new Adobe Reader X (Windows and Mac only as of this posting)
        • Choose your language
        • Download the file, SAVE it to your hard drive, when complete, close Firefox, click on the installer you just downloaded and let it install.
        • Windows: choose the .exe file; Mac: choose the .dmg file
    • Using either of the links below will force you to install the "getPlus" Adobe Download Manager. Also be sure to uncheck the McAfee Scanner if you do not want the link forcibly installed on your desktop
    • After the installation, start Firefox and check your version again.
  3. Update the Flash plugin to the latest version.
    • Download and SAVE to your Desktop so you can find the installer later
    • If you do not have the current version, click on the "Player Download Center" link on the "Download and information" or "Download Manual installers" below
    • After download is complete, exit Firefox
    • Click on the installer you just downloaded and install
      • Windows 7 and Vista: may need to right-click the installer and choose "Run as Administrator"
    • Start Firefox and check your version again or test the installation by going back to the download link below
    • Download and information: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
      • Use Firefox to go to the above site to update the Firefox plugin (will also install plugin for most other browsers; except IE)
      • Use IE to go to the above site to update the IE ActiveX
    • Download Manual installers.
  4. Update the Java plugin to the latest version.