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Downloads Location

  • 2 replies
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  • Last reply by Terry

FitAintBrkDntFxIt
FitAintBrkDntFxIt
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Recently, files that I download from online have been going into Microsoft's very convenient little folder called, "Downloads."  ::: rolls eyes :::

At first, I chalked this up to being distracted and having not chosen the location to where I wanted something downloaded - I have always preferred downloading to a specific location of my choosing. However today, when I went to download a receipt, and thinking about where the best place was to put it, progress for the download was immediately displayed - I was never presented with a window allowing me to navigate to a location.

When it happened the second time, and finding another file I had downloaded a week ago in the "Downloads" folder, I went into settings. I discovered that under DOWNLOADS, in the box, "Save files to:" it has "Downloads." But below that, I have a checkmark beside, "Always ask you where to save files," as I have always done.

I cannot remove "Downloads" from the box. If I clik the "Browse" button next to that box, my only option would be to pick another location, which of course, will simply become another *permanent* download location.

Shouldn't my checkmark by "Always ask" over-ride what's in the "Save files to" box?

How do I fix this?

Recently, files that I download from online have been going into Microsoft's very convenient little folder called, "Downloads." ::: rolls eyes ::: At first, I chalked this up to being distracted and having not chosen the location to where I wanted something downloaded - I have always preferred downloading to a specific location of my choosing. However today, when I went to download a receipt, and thinking about where the best place was to put it, progress for the download was immediately displayed - I was never presented with a window allowing me to navigate to a location. When it happened the second time, and finding another file I had downloaded a week ago in the "Downloads" folder, I went into settings. I discovered that under DOWNLOADS, in the box, "Save files to:" it has "Downloads." But below that, I have a checkmark beside, "Always ask you where to save files," as I have always done. I cannot remove "Downloads" from the box. If I clik the "Browse" button next to that box, my only option would be to pick another location, which of course, will simply become another *permanent* download location. Shouldn't my checkmark by "Always ask" over-ride what's in the "Save files to" box? How do I fix this?
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jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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It depends on what action you are taking with a particular download. You have an Applications list below that Download section with actions for known content types, and then a general catch-all option for unlisted content types. The action options are:

"Save file" => Firefox should follow that checkbox in determining whether to show the file browsing dialog.

"Use [relevant application]" => Firefox will auto-save the file and pass the path to the application to open it from disk.

"Always ask" => Firefox should show a dialog giving you Open or Save File options. Then:

- If you choose "Save file", see the earlier entry. - If you choose "Open in Firefox" (for PDFs) or "Open with [relevant application]", Firefox will auto-save the file and pass the path to the application to open it from disk.

"Open in Firefox" (for PDFs) => Depending on how the server sends the file, it either will be auto-saved in the web content cache (web address shows in the address bar) or will be auto-saved to disk (file address shows in the bar). Recently, Firefox got a hidden option to always use the web content cache.

Where does Firefox auto-save files you ask it to Open?

Before Firefox 98, Firefox used the Windows Temp folder. Starting in Firefox 98, it uses the "Save files to:" folder. Starting in Firefox 102, there's a hidden option to go back to the Temp folder.

Hopefully that's a good general overview of the times you see the file browsing dialog. Do you want info on either of the hidden options?

Terry
Terry
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You could try making this preference false in about:config. browser.download.useDownloadDir

From searchfox .org : bool True - Save files directly to the folder configured via the browser.download.folderList preference. False - Always ask the user where to save a file and default to browser.download.lastDir when displaying a folder picker dialog

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox