Save cached version of file instead of re-downloading?
Whenever I go to "Save file to device" on a picture, video, etc., there seems to be unnecessary delay, as though it is downloading the already downloaded file all over again. Confirmed by disabling wifi, trying to save an already completed file, and a message "Download failed" appearing.
Well, this is not so good. Wastes my bandwidth, and takes more time than it needs to.
To the point, how do I get the browser to just save the file that is already downloaded and cached, instead of redundantly downloading it again?
Okulungisiwe ngu Sterrence
All Replies (7)
Hi
What is the file that you are trying to download and where are you downloading it from? This will help me to recreate what you are seeing.
A small one to illustrate the point. If I view the video on the page, even after it has fully loaded, has played all the way, and looped, it still downloads instead of saving the already loaded file. It fails to save at all if I switch wifi off before saving.
I tap and hold on the already loaded media, and select "save file to device". This is not using the page's download button.
Hi
With access to a desktop copy of Firefox you can use the developer tools to inspect the media element on that page and download that directly.
I have no doubt I could save a file without re-downloading it from a desktop copy of Firefox, but that's outside the scope of the question. How do I do it on the Android version?
There are no plans to include developer tools in Firefox for Android.
I may seem exasperated here, because I am.
I never brought up developer tools. The question is merely about: Saving a file that already downloaded instead of wasting bandwidth, on Firefox for Android.
That's all! Nothing about desktop, nothing about developer tools, nothing off-topic, just that!
By using the developer tools you can (if you wish to not use the download button on the website in question) save the video file.