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Downloads disappear after finishing?

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So about 5 days ago this problem started.

I've tried everything, uninstalling, reinstalling, installing older versions of Firefox, everything in the help file about this, going into about:config to set scanning to false, uninstalling my virus program (avast), etc.

They only thing I didn't try is restore points because they didn't go back far enough.

What could this possibly be? The moment the download finished it's absolutely gone.

So about 5 days ago this problem started. I've tried everything, uninstalling, reinstalling, installing older versions of Firefox, everything in the help file about this, going into about:config to set scanning to false, uninstalling my virus program (avast), etc. They only thing I didn't try is restore points because they didn't go back far enough. What could this possibly be? The moment the download finished it's absolutely gone.

Valgt løsning

I completely uninstalled my anti-virus (avast) and had no luck. I went to see if maybe Windows Defender was causing the problem, and it was!

That was weird... Well in case anybody has this problem, don't just disable live scanning in your normal anti-virus, go to Windows Defender too.

Start > Windows Defender > Tools > Options > Real Time Protection off.

Thanks everyone.

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Alle svar (6)

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Type "about:config" in the location bar. "Promise to be careful" :) Filter for "downloadmgr" All rows in bold are changed ones. Right click them to choose "Reset" Restart FF Test a download. Find it working.

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Disappearing from Downloads window, or not saving file to hard drive, or both?


  1. Firefox button > Options > Options (or Tools > Options) > Privacy, check "Remember download history"
  2. See --> http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_save_or_download_files#Temporarily_disable_antivirus_or_update_security_software (items 9-11 first, then other items on that page). Same information in this article --> https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Unable%20to%20download%20or%20save%20files
  3. Clearing download history using Clear Recent History or clearing automatically when closing Firefox
  4. If using CCleaner or a similar program, check your Firefox settings in that application
  5. Setting your downloads folder --> https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Options%20window%20-%20General%20panel (Downloads section)


If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.

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When I type in downloadmgr nothing appears... I saw this solution before and the same thing happened. Are values missing then?

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Okay this is what happens: I download any file (.exe .docx , etc.) the download windows opens. If I go to open the download folder the file is there downloading. Now the minute the download finishes, the file disappears from the folder and if I go to the Download window to open it nothing happens and the Right Click, Open, and Open Containing folder options are greyed out. Edit: Go to Download Page is also grey.

I've tried everything in those links you gave me, some of it twice. The only thing I didn't try is checking for spyware, etc, so I'm doing that real quick. Edit: Done, didn't help.

Ændret af trialdownloader den

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If Open and Open Containing Folder in the right-click context menu in the Download Manager window are grayed then that means that the file is no longer in the original download location.

It is possible that your anti-virus software is corrupting the downloaded files or otherwise interfering with downloading files by Firefox.

Try to disable the real-time (live) scanning of files in your anti-virus software temporarily to see if that makes downloading work.

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Valgt løsning

I completely uninstalled my anti-virus (avast) and had no luck. I went to see if maybe Windows Defender was causing the problem, and it was!

That was weird... Well in case anybody has this problem, don't just disable live scanning in your normal anti-virus, go to Windows Defender too.

Start > Windows Defender > Tools > Options > Real Time Protection off.

Thanks everyone.