Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

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

How can I get FF to run install apps?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by James

more options

When I click on a download link for a upgrade app (.exe file) in IE, I am given the option of running or saving the file. I usually just run it.

In FF, I am not given the "Run" option, so I have to save it, then navigate to it, run it, and remember to delete it.

Is there some option I can set to get it to allow me to just run the program and not have to save it?

When I click on a download link for a upgrade app (.exe file) in IE, I am given the option of running or saving the file. I usually just run it. In FF, I am not given the "Run" option, so I have to save it, then navigate to it, run it, and remember to delete it. Is there some option I can set to get it to allow me to just run the program and not have to save it?

All Replies (4)

more options

Firefox has worked this way for about 7 years, so I don't think it's going to change. Someone might have posted an add-on to add the Run option; you can search at https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/.

Meanwhile, if you use the Downloads window (press Ctrl+j to display), it's easy to navigate to a download: right-click and choose Open Containing Folder to open the folder containing the download, or just double-click to run it.

more options

I'm sure that IE also downloads and saves the file somewhere (probably in the cache or in %temp%), but you probably won't notice it.

You need to remember downloads to be able to use the above posted steps.

To see all the History and Cookie settings, select:

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > History: Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history" > download history
more options

My point was not whether the file is saved or not. My point was that IE (the browser from that big, predatory, insensitive monolith) allows me to install an application with one click (if I don't want to keep the install file); whereas, FF (supposedly written by and for users) makes me go through a whole multi-step procedure.

more options

It is not built in Firefox due to security reason and because if some newer or impatient Windows user ran a iamreallyatrojan.exe (without scanning it first) and got infected, they will likely blame the Firefox browser or Mozilla and not themselves if only because Firefox had that feature (which it does not).


There was the "Open Download" extension https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/opendownload/

Modified by James