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Cannot drag files from download list

  • 6 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 32 views
  • Last reply by yves

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I am working on a new computer with Kubuntu and have FF installed via .deb.

On my previous computer, I could drag files from the downloads dropdown (eg download a file and then drag it into gmail as an attachment).

Now this is not possible. Instead, I need to go to the downloads folder in order to drag and drop a file. An extra step and rather annoying.

The problem is persists in Safe Mode.

Is there any way to get the old functionality back?

I am working on a new computer with Kubuntu and have FF installed via .deb. On my previous computer, I could drag files from the downloads dropdown (eg download a file and then drag it into gmail as an attachment). Now this is not possible. Instead, I need to go to the downloads folder in order to drag and drop a file. An extra step and rather annoying. The problem is persists in Safe Mode. Is there any way to get the old functionality back?

All Replies (6)

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You can try Firefox from the official Mozilla server if you currently use a version from the repositories of your Linux distribution to see if it behaves differently.

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Thank you for your swift reply. I have seen this page but then decided to leave it as I have no idea what to do with the tar.bz2 file.

I have downloaded it and extracted. Can you please explain what to do next?

For me personally, Firefox = Firefox... However, it seems that there are different versions of FF, depending on the repositories of the distribution?

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In the meantime I have tried the executable file in the folder (firefox). This starts the browser and the drag and drop functionality works perfect. Good news already.

Next step is installing this version. If you could help me with this...

All the best and thank you!

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On Linux you do not install an application that is offered via an archive like in this case tar.bz2, you merely extract the contents of the archive to a folder and run the main file. You can create a .desktop file to launch the application via the desktop or add/pin the file to the OS launch bar. So what you did by extracting the archive content and run the firefox executable is the way to do this on Linux.

Some distro versions like the Snap Firefox version have limitations when it comes to folder access like via drag/drop.

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Great and thank you. This works. Now I have 2 versions of FF on my laptop. Can you please help me one last time?

How can I remove the other version. It has been installed using this manual : https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/04/how-to-install-firefox-deb-apt-ubuntu-22-04

THANK YOU for your help ;-)

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I might have found the issue.

In order to have the gestures (2 finger swipe left and right), I have followed this : https://fostips.com/enable-2-finger-swipe-back-forward-gesture-in-firefox-in-ubuntu/

This adds the gestures, but disables the drag possibility from the download pane.

Any solutions?

Modified by yves