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Regarding PDF downloads in new web browser

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 9 views
  • Last reply by Terry

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Hello! I updated the my browser to v 98.0 (64-bit) on my Manjaro Linux with 5.10.102-1-MANJARO kernel.

The browser works fine. However, there is one thing which is completely breaking my workflow is the new way Firefox handles its PDF downloads.

Previously: - if I used to click on PDF links such as (http://www.africau.edu/images/default/sample.pdf) see google-chrome img they opened in browser and if I downloaded the PDF it would ask me where to store the file. - Downloading PDF on WhatsApp, University website, LinkedIn like apps, it would prompt the "Always Ask" prompt

After the update the applications settings have changed

Now: It is either "always ask" (even in case of links like: http://www.africau.edu/images/default/sample.pdf which is annoying or if I change the setting to "Open in Firefox" on downloading material, when clicked without CTRL+Click (my previous workflow I simply used to click to download material) opens the downloaded PDF in-place so the loaded University website or whatsapp app is closed.

I am really annoyed and I've cycled through all the application settings and none of them seem to work like before.

How do I fix this?

Thank you so much for your help.

Best wishes.

Hello! I updated the my browser to v 98.0 (64-bit) on my Manjaro Linux with 5.10.102-1-MANJARO kernel. The browser works fine. However, there is one thing which is completely breaking my workflow is the new way Firefox handles its PDF downloads. Previously: - if I used to click on PDF links such as (http://www.africau.edu/images/default/sample.pdf) see google-chrome img they opened in browser and if I downloaded the PDF it would ask me where to store the file. - Downloading PDF on WhatsApp, University website, LinkedIn like apps, it would prompt the "Always Ask" prompt After the update the applications settings have changed Now: It is either "always ask" (even in case of links like: http://www.africau.edu/images/default/sample.pdf which is annoying or if I change the setting to "Open in Firefox" on downloading material, when clicked without CTRL+Click (my previous workflow I simply used to click to download material) opens the downloaded PDF in-place so the loaded University website or whatsapp app is closed. I am really annoyed and I've cycled through all the application settings and none of them seem to work like before. How do I fix this? Thank you so much for your help. Best wishes.
Attached screenshots

Modified by invincibleknigght

All Replies (6)

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https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/98.0/releasenotes/ Firefox has a new optimized download flow . . . .

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manage-downloads-preferences-using-downloads-menu Changes to how file downloads are handled in Firefox version 98

  • Firefox no longer asks what to do for each file by default
  • Downloads panel automatically opens
  • Downloaded files are saved to disk
  • Set a default app to open a file type
  • "Always Open Similar Files" option from the Downloads panel
  • Frequently asked questions


You can set this pref to false on the about:config page to prevent opening the download panel on each download.

  • browser.download.alwaysOpenPanel = false

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

WARNING: Changing preferences through this interface not officially supported Hidden settings edited using the about:config tool are explicitly not supported, which means that Mozilla makes no guarantees they will be supported in the future, or that Mozilla will fix them if they break. Mozilla does not test these preferences, and will not in the future. That includes security and performance testing which these preferences may affect.

[Warning added by moderator]

Modified by Chris Ilias

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FredMcD said

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/98.0/releasenotes/ Firefox has a new optimized download flow . . . . https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manage-downloads-preferences-using-downloads-menu Changes to how file downloads are handled in Firefox version 98
  • Firefox no longer asks what to do for each file by default
  • Downloads panel automatically opens
  • Downloaded files are saved to disk
  • Set a default app to open a file type
  • "Always Open Similar Files" option from the Downloads panel
  • Frequently asked questions
You can set this pref to false on the about:config page to prevent opening the download panel on each download.
  • browser.download.alwaysOpenPanel = false
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

Hey! This helped a little. How can I revert the "save to disk" part too? thank you.

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Sorry, All I know is what I posted. I called for more help.

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I don't have version 98. Download preferences are listed on searchfox (remove the blank space in the link below). This is an extract.

browser.download.useDownloadDir - bool True - Save files directly to the folder configured via the browser.download.folderList preference. False - Always ask the user where to save a file and default to browser.download.lastDir when displaying a folder picker dialog. https://searchfox. org/mozilla-central/source/browser/components/preferences/main.js#2914

Modified by Terry

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terry21 said

I don't have version 98. Download preferences are listed on searchfox (remove the blank space in the link below). This is an extract. browser.download.useDownloadDir - bool True - Save files directly to the folder configured via the browser.download.folderList preference. False - Always ask the user where to save a file and default to browser.download.lastDir when displaying a folder picker dialog. https://searchfox. org/mozilla-central/source/browser/components/preferences/main.js#2914

Hi! I could not find "browser.download.folderListpreference" in my about:config. How do I go about solving the issue? Thank you

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Sorry, I have now marked the relevant preference in bold in my previous post and here. browser.download.useDownloadDir

WARNING: Changing preferences through this interface not officially supported Hidden settings edited using the about:config tool are explicitly not supported, which means that Mozilla makes no guarantees they will be supported in the future, or that Mozilla will fix them if they break. Mozilla does not test these preferences, and will not in the future. That includes security and performance testing which these preferences may affect.

[Warning added by moderator]

Modified by Chris Ilias