PDFs opened using, Windows Default application, Always Ask, fails to occur
The behavior of FireFox saving PDF files has changed. I am using WIN10, FireFox 98.0.1 and have it setup to use windows default application and always ask where to save for PDFs.
BEFORE the problem: The PDF opens in Acrobat Pro IX. After clicking save I would be asked, where to save. I select the location to save the PDF. Then after this, subsequent PDFs downloaded would be saved to the last saved location. This process would repeat for a new website PDF load and save. This is the behavior I want now.
NOW with the problem: The PDF opens in Acrobat Pro IX. 1. Immediately, after a reboot, the save icon on Adobe is grayed out. I select save as and point to the desired directory. 2. For any subsequent PDF opened, the Adobe save icon is available. Files are saved to the desktop.
Please note I believe I once did get a popup asking where to save and I know I selected desktop. Since that selection I am no longer asked where to save.
Please note I have looked and tried some of the suggestions at: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cant-download-or-save-files#w_choose-a-different-download-folder
but some of this advice needs to be updated for the new FireFox version--ex no JSON file is found at the file location covered in the advice.
I believe this issue started after the last FireFox update. Please help me restore behavior listed above under “BEFORE the problem”. Thanks.
All Replies (6)
Hello,
The problem automatically saving PDFs to desktop persists. There is no query for the desired location. If the default PDF app is closed, that app will ask if you want to save even though the file is automatically saved by Firefox.
The FireFox setup is: Downloads: Always ask where to save files. PDF Always ask PDF Use Windows default application
Firefox now fills my desktop with PDFs and I need to prune these on a regular basis.
The only help related to this found was: https://www.ghacks.net/2022/01/19/firefox-will-soon-download-files-automatically-instead-of-displaying-a-prompt/
This appears to confirm Firefox is causing the issue. Unfortunately, I am still not able to get FireFox to prompt for were to save PDFs.
Please help. Thanks.
You have 4 choices for PDF handling on the Settings page, Applications list:
- Open in Firefox - uses the built-in viewer, saves the file in the web content cache
- Always Ask - displays a dialog to choose between Open and Save
- Save File - follows your instructions between "Save files to" or "Always ask you where to save files" (the setting a bit up the page above Applications)
- Use [relevant application] - automatically saves the file in the folder next to "Save files to:" a bit further up the page before passing that path to Acrobat -- the change in Firefox 98 is that Firefox used to use the Windows system Temp folder instead of your default download folder
It is a bit inconvenient to use the Desktop as a default download location. What I'm doing for now is this set of settings:
(1) Change the default download folder to a "temp" folder I created (2) Set Firefox to always ask where I want to save a file so I can choose a real folder when I want to keep the file
On the Settings page, it looks like this:
Hello jscher2000,
Thanks for your help.
What you suggest is roughly what I have already done. I also redid this again now, but get the same result: Firefox always saves the file to the direct listed in; Downloads Save file to [directory selected] even when I then check “Always ask” where to save files.
The Content Type, Action for PDF (application/forced-download) is “Always ask”.
Is there anything else I should try?
Thanks.
When a particular content-type is set to Always Ask, the choices in the dialog should mirror setting those manually. In other words:
- "Open with [relevant application]" should behave like "Use [relevant application]" and auto-save in the "Save files to:" folder
- Save should behave like Save File and open a Windows file browsing dialog to let you choose the folder
That said this part --
The Content Type, Action for PDF (application/forced-download) is “Always ask”.
is a special case. The standard PDF content-type is application/pdf (as you might expect) and should be listed under Portable Document Format (PDF). What is that one set to?
Okulungisiwe ngu jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
Hello jscher2000,
It is also set to “Always Ask” and “Use Windows default application”, which is Acrobat Professional XI.
I have tried toggling all these settings to see if that forces a change but I do not get a change in the undesirable behavior.
Thanks for your continued support.
almost same problem for me, "Always ask" is the only option that works, everything else gives "failed"