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.

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.

Rohkem teavet

Teema arhiveeriti. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Most downloaded files like .zip, .doc open in hex editor

  • 6 vastust
  • 1 on selline probleem
  • 24 views
  • Viimati vastas initials

initials
initials
more options

When I open downloaded files using the small popup menu (the one that opens when you click the "arrow pointing downwards" button) they are opened using the text editor.

When I click "Show All Downloads" and open the files from there, they use the right program. This happens in safe mode as well.

I'm using Ubuntu, files open correctly in the file manager.

When I open downloaded files using the small popup menu (the one that opens when you click the "arrow pointing downwards" button) they are opened using the text editor. When I click "Show All Downloads" and open the files from there, they use the right program. This happens in safe mode as well. I'm using Ubuntu, files open correctly in the file manager.

Muudetud initials poolt

All Replies (6)

guigs
guigs
more options

Is there a stored mime type in the Application settings?

initials
initials Küsimuse esitaja
more options

guigs said

Is there a stored mime type in the Application settings?

There are multiple entries for zip files, with names like application/zip etc. I have them all set as "Always ask".

When I clicked the dropdown, most of them have the entry "Use Archive Manager (default)", but on some of them the entry is "Use (default)" (with two spaces).

I'll try changing them, and find a zip file to download.

EDIT: I can't seem to reproduce this. Google drive and github both works correctly.

Muudetud initials poolt

initials
initials Küsimuse esitaja
more options

guigs said

Is there a stored mime type in the Application settings?

I've reproduced the original problem. I configured a server to always return a mimetype of "application/octet-stream". The downloaded file will be opened with a hex editor.

Since there are no entry for that mimetype, I can't change it.

guigs
guigs
more options

Seamonkey 1.x used to let you add a new file type, but not anymore.

This suggests an add on OpenDownload: http://mntnoe.com/2010/02/workaround-for-handling-applicationo...

Addon: click here

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

If the content type is "application/octet-stream" then Firefox then Firefox will always offer to save the file. I don't know why Firefox would open the file in a hex editor.

Try to rename (or delete) the mimeTypes.rdf file in the Firefox profile folder to reset all file actions.

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:

initials
initials Küsimuse esitaja
more options

cor-el said

If the content type is "application/octet-stream" then Firefox then Firefox will always offer to save the file. I don't know why Firefox would open the file in a hex editor. Try to rename (or delete) the mimeTypes.rdf file in the Firefox profile folder to reset all file actions. You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:

I deleted mimetypes.rdf and reset the config in the article, but it doesn't solve the problem. It still offers to open files with the hex editor.