How do you know your downloads window is open, if you can't see it?

Perhaps it is closed and you expected it to stay open. (and that would agree with what you said about last two updates -- the default was changed)

Tools > Options > General

Downloads:

[X] Show the Downloads window when downloading a file

  [_] Close it when all downloads are finished

To view the Downloads window at anytime use "Ctrl+J" {"Cmd+J" on Mac"}

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Keyboard%20shortcuts
• More complete list (Windows oriented) see key at top to help with Mac/Linux
  http://dmcritchie.mvps.org/firefox/keyboard.htm

Please mark "Solved" one answer that will best help others with a similar problem -- hope this was it.

Thanks for your reply.

As I said in the original post, I have selected the relevant option (as you have also suggested) for the downloads window to open when downloading files.

When I click on 'Window' on the menu bar on the top of the page, the window shows as open (as it lists all the open windows at any one time); yet when i click on it, the window doesn't appear.

I have done a search on here and the web in general to try and find a solution, and tried various things, none of which have made the downloads window re-appear.

Also, as I know your answer may help someone else, to get to the options when using a mac, you click on 'Firefox' on the top menu bar, 'Preferences' then the option can be found on the general tab.

Below shows the location by screenshot.

Try:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Corrupt_localstore.rdf

Actually I was trying to point out that there are two options, not just one option. One option is what you mentioned 1st time and 2nd time. But does Ctrl+J work or not.

Downloads:

    [X] Show the Downloads window when downloading a file

        [_] Close it when all downloads are finished

I had no idea what you meant by this:

<<When I click on 'Window' on the menu bar on the top of the page, the window shows as open (as it lists all the open windows at any one time); yet when i click on it, the window doesn't appear. >>

But I see now from your picture that on your Mac there is a menu item named "Window" there is no such menu item on Windows version of Firefox.

If the download is very short then the Download window will not open at all regardless of options.