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When I downloaded a file, I used to get a box which asked what I wanted to do, save the file or open. Now, I cannot open any download, it defaults to automatically saving. How can I get the box back which asks me what I want to do.

When I downloaded a file, I used to get a box which asked what I wanted to do, save the file or open. Now, I cannot open any download, it defaults to automatically saving. How can I get the box back which asks me what I want to do.

Chosen solution

Hi, Firefox 98 changed the standard behavior from "ask what to do" to "save file." Here are two places to look to adjust that:

(1) You can try changing the behavior for specific content types on the Applications list on the Settings page. This article has the steps:

Manage file types and download actions in Firefox

(2) If the particular content type is not listed there, try this next: open the Downloads list, right-click the file, and choose Always Open Similar Files.

Firefox then should add a new entry in the Applications list with a "Use [relevant application]" action. You can use the steps in the previously mentioned article to change it to an Always Ask action if you prefer.

(3) If that menu item is missing for these downloads, the site might be misidentifying the file as generic binary content instead of saying specifically the actual type of file. This is harder to work around...

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Chosen Solution

Hi, Firefox 98 changed the standard behavior from "ask what to do" to "save file." Here are two places to look to adjust that:

(1) You can try changing the behavior for specific content types on the Applications list on the Settings page. This article has the steps:

Manage file types and download actions in Firefox

(2) If the particular content type is not listed there, try this next: open the Downloads list, right-click the file, and choose Always Open Similar Files.

Firefox then should add a new entry in the Applications list with a "Use [relevant application]" action. You can use the steps in the previously mentioned article to change it to an Always Ask action if you prefer.

(3) If that menu item is missing for these downloads, the site might be misidentifying the file as generic binary content instead of saying specifically the actual type of file. This is harder to work around...