The Downloads window keeps track of files you download while using Firefox, including files you open and save to your computer. This article describes what information is displayed, how to access the Downloads window, manage files within it and set downloading optionspreferences.

The Downloads panel and your Library keep track of files you download while using Firefox, including files you open and save to your computer. This article describes what information is displayed, how to access your downloads, manage your files and set downloading optionspreferences.

The Downloads window will open when you download a file (that setting can be changed in the OptionsPreferences window - General panel). You can also access the Downloads window as follows:

• At the top of the Firefox window, click the Tools menu and choose Downloads.At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button and then choose Downloads.
  
  On the menu bar, click the Tools menu and then choose Downloads

The Downloads button - a down arrow next to the Home button - will flash greenblue to alert you when you begin downloading a file.

• Click the Downloads button to show your three most recently downloaded files in a small panel.
  

You can also access your larger Library of all downloaded files as follows:

• Click the Downloads button, then click Show All Downloads.

Note: During downloads, the arrow icon changes into a timer bar that estimates the time left in your download. Clicking this icon will still bring up the Downloads panel. Once your download is finished, the arrow icon turns green blue and remains so until you've clicked it to review your downloads.

What does the Downloads window display?

The Downloads window displays information about each download, such as the file name, file size, time remaining before the download is complete, where the file was downloaded from, and the time or date of the download.

What do the Downloads panel and Library display?

The Downloads panel displays information about the last three files you downloaded, such as the file name, file size, time remaining before the download is complete, where the file was downloaded from, and the time or date of the download.

The Library displays this information for all of your downloaded files, unless you've removed them from your History.

The Downloads window keeps convenient download actions easily accessible for each of your downloads:

• Pause: You can pause any downloads currently in progress by clicking the Pause button beside the file entry. This may be useful, for example, if you need to open a small download started after a large download. Pausing downloads gives you the choice to decide which of your downloads are most important. When you want to continue downloading those files, simply use the Resume button to finish those downloads.
• Cancel  : If after starting a download you decide you no longer need that file, canceling the download is simple: just use the Cancel button beside that file entry to cancel it and free up your connection for your browsing and other downloads.
• Open the file: When a download has finished, you can double-click on the entry to open the file.
• Open the file's folder: Right-clickHold down the control key while you click on an entry for a file that has finished downloading and select Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. To set the folder where your downloads go, see Startup, home page, tabs, and download settings.
• Remove the file's entry: If you do not wish to keep a record of a particular download, simply right-clickpress Ctrl and click the file entry, then select Remove From List. This will remove the entry from the list but will not delete the file itself.
• Retry a Download: If for any reason a download does not complete, use the Retry button next to the file entry and Firefox will restart the download for you.

You can also clear the whole list by clicking the Clear List button at the bottom of the window. This will not delete the downloaded files.

In the Downloads panel and in your Library, there is an icon button to the right of each file entry that changes with which part of the download process your file is currently in.

• Pause: You can pause any downloads currently in progress by right-clickingpressing Ctrl and clicking on the file entry and selecting Pause. This may be useful, for example, if you need to open a small download started after a large download. Pausing downloads gives you the choice to decide which of your downloads are most important. When you want to continue downloading those files, right-clickpress Ctrl and click the file entry and select Resume.
• Cancel : If after starting a download you decide you no longer need that file, canceling the download is simple: just click the X button at the right of the file entry. This button turns into a refresh symbol; click again to restart your download.
• Open the file: When a download has finished, you can click on the entry to open the file.
• Open Containing Folder : Once a file has finished downloading, the icon to the right of the file entry becomes a folder. Click the folder icon to open that file's containing folder. To set the folder where your downloads go, see Startup, home page, tabs, and download settings.Show In Finder : Once a file has finished downloading, the icon to the right of the file entry becomes a magnifying glass. Click the magnifying glass icon to show that file in the Finder. To set the folder where your downloads go, see Startup, home page, tabs, and download settings.
• Remove the file's entry: If you do not wish to keep a record of a particular download, simply right-clickpress Ctrl and click the file entry, then select Remove From History. This will remove the entry from the list but will not delete the file itself.
• Retry a Download : If for any reason a download does not complete, click the button to the right of the entry - a refresh symbol - to retry.
• Clear Downloads: Click the Clear Downloads button at the top of the Library window to clear the entire history of downloaded items. This will not delete the downloaded files.

Downloads settings

You can change several download settings, such as the folder where files are saved and whether to keep the Downloads window open or close it after the download is complete, in your Firefox optionspreferences. For more information, see Startup, home page, tabs, and download settings.

Change where downloads are saved

You can change the folder where files are saved in the Firefox optionspreferences. For more information, see Startup, home page, tabs, and download settings.