If you notice that when you open the Find and manage downloaded files its list of downloads is blank, follow the instructions in this article.

For other downloading problems:

• For troubleshooting problems with downloading files, see the What to do if you can't download or save files article.
• If the Downloads window fails to open when you download a file or try to open it, see the Downloads window does not open article.

Set Firefox to retain download history

If you open the Downloads window by clicking the Tools menu and selecting Downloads, and there are no entries listed, it may be because you have not set Firefox to remember what you've downloaded.

1. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select OptionsAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu and then select OptionsOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select Preferences
2. Select the Privacy panel.
3. Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
4. Check the box for Remember download history.
5. Click OK to close the Options windowClick Close to close the Preferences windowClose the Preferences window

After you close the OptionsPreferences window, Firefox will retain a list of files you download.

If the list of downloads is still blank after following the above instructions, continue with the next set of instructions.

Reset toolbars and controls

If Firefox is set to remember what you've downloaded, but the downloads window remains blank: At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help menuOn the menu bar, click the Help menuAt the top of the Firefox window, click the Help menu and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.... Firefox will start up with the Firefox Safe Mode dialog.

1. In the Firefox Safe Mode window, select Reset toolbars and controls.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click Make Changes and Restart.

This will reset your Firefox toolbars. To make changes to the toolbars, see Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars article.

If the list of downloads is still blank after following the above instructions, continue with the next set of instructions.

Remove corrupt downloads file

If Firefox is set to remember what you've downloaded, but its list of downloads is still blank:

1. Open your profile folder:

   At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button, go over to the Help menuOn the menu bar, click on the Help menuAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.

2. Under the Application Basics section, click on Open Containing FolderShow FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window with your profile filesfolder will open.
Note: If you are unable to open or use Fire​fox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.
3. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select ExitAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and then select ExitOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and select Quit
4. Delete the downloads.sqlite file.

When you start Firefox again, your downloads should be remembered in the Downloads window.

Further troubleshooting

If the downloads history list is still blank after performing the steps above:

• Follow the instructions in the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article - attempt to download a file in Firefox's Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode. If the list is shown properly, try to determine whether an addon is causing the problem.
• Follow the instructions in the Troubleshoot issues with plugins like Flash or Java to fix common Firefox problems article - disable your plugins to try to determine whether one of them is causing the problem.