Firefox created a second Downloads folder/library when it opens PDF
Firefox created a second Downloads folder/library when it opens a PDF to view in the browser.
file:///C:/Users/Name/Documents/Downloads/NightSkyNotesJan2022OrionDetail.pdf
I seem to remember finding lots of temp pdfs and other files in a temp folder under user/appdata/local or roaming and having to delete this files manually from time to time. Putting the files in an easy to find folder is a good step but my Downloads Library/folder had previously been moved to D:\Downloads via choose new target from the library properties. D drive is an internal HD, C drive is an SSD. Why didn't Firefox just use the existing Downloads library instead of creating a new one on the C drive?
Ideally, if you are viewing a pdf in a Firefox tab it would delete the file if you did not download it so it does not clog up your drives. If I know i want to keep a pdf I would save to my chosen folder and view in Acrobat instead of reading in a browser tab.
I agree with a previous post i saw requesting an option for the user to specify a temp file folder on another drive when viewing pdfs to preserve some life on the SSD boot drive.
Windows 10, Firefox 101.0.1
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You might try this if possible:
This new feature is called “Optimized Download Flow” which skips the download confirmation dialog completely and downloads the file automatically. This feature has been developed to minimize the interruptions and allow users to focus on other tasks. One more thing! The downloaded files will be immediately saved on your hard disk. Firefox will no longer put them in Temp folder.
Many Firefox users many not like this new download behavior and want to bring back old classic download prompt window in Firefox.
Fortunately, there is a hidden secret preference/flag available in Firefox which can be modified to disable the new download behavior and re-enable classic download prompt window in Firefox newer versions.
If you also want to restore classic download prompt box in Firefox, following steps will help you:
1. Open Firefox and type about:config in the addressbar and press Enter. It’ll show you a warning message, click on “Accept the Risk and Continue” button. It’ll open Firefox’s hidden secret advanced configuration page i.e. about:config page.
2. Now type improvements in Search filter box and look for following preference in the window:
browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel
The preference value is set to true by default, which means the new automatic download behavior is activated and enabled in Firefox.
3. To deactivate and disable the new behavior and restore classic download prompt feature, double-click on browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel preference and set it to false. Alternatively, you can click on the Toggle icon given next to the preference name.
Thanks for the tip. Any thoughts on why Firefox created a second Downloads library instead of using the default downloads library on my D drive?
Firefox 98 changed where files are saved when passing them to an application (including, in this case, itself). Before Firefox 98, it used the Windows Temp folder for "Open with [relevant application]". Now it uses your default downloads folder -- the one that is next to "Save files to" on the Settings page. Could you check that field?
Firefox 102 has a hidden setting to switch back to using the Windows Temp folder. I haven't tested it much, but for future reference, it's name is browser.download.start_downloads_in_tmp_dir.
I've found why FFox was saving the pdf that opened in a tab to the download folder that's not the default for this PC, In settings, general, Downloads it was set to "C:\Users\Mike\Documents\Downloads". Firefox must have reset this location which is the stock PC default when doing an update. When I set up this PC, I changed all the libraries to the D drive. The standard default downloads location is not under 'Documents' folder/library but a separate library directly under 'This PC' like the Documents, Pictures, Music, etc. Firefox should not be creating a second Documents folder with only a Downloads subfolder that just contains Firefox downloads. The earliest file in this folder is a pdf file that I viewed in firefox date 5/31/22. Checking my Retrospect Backup session contents I find that C:\Users\Mike\Documents\Downloads did not exit in an early May backup and is there in early June.
We have noticed on both Windows 10 PC and Laptop that Firefox updates often change your set preference for what action to do with pdf files when browsing.
When downloading pdf file, firefox will ask for the location again unlike default download which will automatically download the file to the location set by yourself.
By clicking the download button on the top right of website, firefox will allow you to choose the download location
