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"Resetting download actions..." remove or rewrite this section?

  • 7 Replies
  • Last reply by AliceWyman
  1. AliceWyman 6258 posts

    I'm submitting a revision to delete this section:

    Resetting download actions for all content types

    If you are having problems with how Firefox is handling file downloads that you can't resolve, or if you just want to start fresh, you can restore the default content types and actions by manually deleting the file that stores these settings. {note}This will remove all customized content type actions. You will have to make those changes over again after you take the following steps.{/note}

    1. [[T:profileFolder]]
    2. Close Firefox. [[T:closeFirefox]]
    3. Delete (or rename) the {filepath handlers.json} file.
    4. Restart Firefox.

    Deleting the handlers.json file removes the mailto content type in Firefox 100 after I tested it, and it also changes all default actions to Save File.

    Fx100settingsAfterDeletingHandlersJSON Fx100settingsAfterDeletingHandlersJSON

    Here are the Applications settings in a new Firefox 100 profile: Fx100settings-NewProfile Fx100settings-NewProfile

    Here are the mailto settings in a new fx100 profile: Fx100settings-mailto Fx100settings-mailto

    We could add instructions to create a new Firefox profile and then copy the handlers.json file from the new profile to the original profile but that might be too complicated for the typical Firefox user. We owuld also have to explain how to reset the original profile as the default.

    I'm submitting a revision to delete this section: = Resetting download actions for all content types = If you are having problems with how Firefox is handling file downloads that you can't resolve, or if you just want to start fresh, you can restore the default content types and actions by manually deleting the file that stores these settings. {note}This will remove all customized content type actions. You will have to make those changes over again after you take the following steps.{/note} # [[T:profileFolder]] # Close Firefox. [[T:closeFirefox]] # Delete (or rename) the {filepath handlers.json} file. # Restart Firefox. ---- Deleting the handlers.json file removes the mailto content type in Firefox 100 after I tested it, and it also changes all default actions to Save File. Fx100settingsAfterDeletingHandlersJSON [[Image:Fx100settingsAfterDeletingHandlersJSON]] Here are the Applications settings in a new Firefox 100 profile: Fx100settings-NewProfile [[Image:Fx100settings-NewProfile]] Here are the mailto settings in a new fx100 profile: Fx100settings-mailto [[Image:Fx100settings-mailto]] ---- We could add instructions to [[Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles|create a new Firefox profile]] and then copy the handlers.json file from the new profile to the original profile but that might be too complicated for the typical Firefox user. We owuld also have to explain how to reset the original profile as the default.
  2. AliceWyman 6258 posts

    Another option might be to change the content to suggest a Refresh and link to Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings, which explains which customizations (including download actions) are removed.

    I did a Refresh in a test profile just now and it resets all download actions to settings in a new profile.

    Another option might be to change the content to suggest a Refresh and link to [[Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings]], which explains which customizations (including download actions) are removed. I did a Refresh in a test profile just now and it resets all download actions to settings in a new profile.

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  3. AliceWyman 6258 posts

    Comparison with Firefox 95: After deleting handlers.json in a Firefox 95 test profile, the mailto content type entry was NOT removed (neither were the irc and ircs protocol entries) ... but download actions for types that are "Open in Firefox" by default in a new profile, were set to Always Ask:

    Fx95settingsAfterDeletingHandlersJSON Fx95settingsAfterDeletingHandlersJSON

    Fx95settings-NewProfile Fx95settings-NewProfile

    Comparison with Firefox 91esr: Same as Firefox 95 (After deleting handlers.json in a Firefox 91 esr test profile, the mailto, irc and ircs content type entries were NOT removed ... but download actions for types that are "Open in Firefox" by default in a new profile, were set to Always Ask.)

    '''Comparison with Firefox 95:''' After deleting handlers.json in a Firefox 95 test profile, the mailto content type entry was NOT removed (neither were the irc and ircs protocol entries) ... but download actions for types that are "Open in Firefox" by default in a new profile, were set to Always Ask: Fx95settingsAfterDeletingHandlersJSON [[Image:Fx95settingsAfterDeletingHandlersJSON]] Fx95settings-NewProfile [[Image:Fx95settings-NewProfile]] '''Comparison with Firefox 91esr:''' Same as Firefox 95 (After deleting handlers.json in a Firefox 91 esr test profile, the mailto, irc and ircs content type entries were NOT removed ... but download actions for types that are "Open in Firefox" by default in a new profile, were set to Always Ask.)

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  4. AliceWyman 6258 posts

    I think we should change the Resetting download actions for all content types section to suggest a Firefox Refresh and link to Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings but I'll wait for feedback. I submitted a new revision to suggest a Firefox Refresh...but I'll leave it pending review.

    I think we should change the '''Resetting download actions for all content types''' section to suggest a Firefox Refresh and link to [[Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings]] <s>but I'll wait for feedback</s>. I submitted a new revision to suggest a Firefox Refresh...but I'll leave it pending review.

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  5. AliceWyman 6258 posts

    A missing mailto entry after deleting the handlers.json file has been an issue since at least Firefox 98 according to https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1373061 and the solution in that thread turned out to be a Firefox Refresh.

    A missing mailto entry after deleting the handlers.json file has been an issue since at least Firefox 98 according to https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1373061 and the [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1373061#answer-1494809 solution] in that thread turned out to be a Firefox Refresh.
  6. AliceWyman 6258 posts

    (For the record)

    Revision id: 244645 Created: May 26, 2022, 4:35:20 PM Creator: AliceWyman Comment: Resetting download actions for all content types: Refresh Firefox instead of deleting handlers.json - see discussion Reviewed: Yes Reviewed: May 27, 2022, 7:46:05 AM Reviewed by: Chris_Ilias Is approved? Yes Is current revision? Yes Ready for localization: No

    Is there any reason this revision should not be marked ready for localization? I'll wait a few days for feedback before marking it RFL

    (For the record) Revision id: 244645 Created: May 26, 2022, 4:35:20 PM Creator: AliceWyman Comment: Resetting download actions for all content types: Refresh Firefox instead of deleting handlers.json - see discussion Reviewed: Yes Reviewed: May 27, 2022, 7:46:05 AM Reviewed by: Chris_Ilias Is approved? Yes Is current revision? Yes Ready for localization: No Is there any reason this revision should not be marked ready for localization? I'll wait a few days for feedback before marking it RFL
  7. Chris Ilias 2447 posts
    Is there any reason this revision should not be marked ready for localization?

    Localizers have complained about it in the past. If people add more revisions in the next few days, we force localizers to re-translate the same article many times in one week. Unless it's urgent, I always wait a few days before marking a revision as RFL.

    <blockquote> Is there any reason this revision should not be marked ready for localization? </blockquote> Localizers have complained about it in the past. If people add more revisions in the next few days, we force localizers to re-translate the same article many times in one week. Unless it's urgent, I always wait a few days before marking a revision as RFL.
  8. AliceWyman 6258 posts

    For the record, here is the reply I just posted in the Firefox support forum, https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1386990#answer-1528930 Mailto missing

    Thanks for letting us know that the Refresh Firefox method fixed the problem. That's the solution suggested in the Change the program used to open email links article (quote):

    Note: If the mailto Content Type is missing, or if action items such as Use Gmail are missing, a Firefox Refresh will restore all Content Types and actions to default settings. However, this will remove all customizations, including settings for other content types. See Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings and Manage file types and download actions in Firefox for more information.

    Creating a new profile, copying the handlers.json file from the new to your current profile, and then removing the new profile or setting your current profile as the default would also work but it's more complicated. The advantage with the new profile method is that it only resets Content Types and actions to default settings; it keeps the add-ons and other customizations that are removed with a Refresh.

    For the record, here is the reply I just posted in the Firefox support forum, https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1386990#answer-1528930 Mailto missing Thanks for letting us know that the [[Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings|Refresh Firefox]] method fixed the problem. That's the solution suggested in the [[Change the program used to open email links]] article (quote): <blockquote>'''Note:''' If the '''mailto''' Content Type is missing, or if action items such as ''' Use Gmail''' are missing, a Firefox Refresh will restore all Content Types and actions to default settings. However, this will remove all customizations, including settings for other content types. See [[Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings]] and [[Manage file types and download actions in Firefox]] for more information.</blockquote> [[Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles|Creating a new profile]], copying the '''handlers.json''' file from the new to your current profile, and then removing the new profile or setting your current profile as the default would also work but it's more complicated. The advantage with the new profile method is that it only resets Content Types and actions to default settings; it keeps the add-ons and other customizations that are removed with a Refresh.