In Firefox 97 and 98+ there have been changes to the download panel.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manage-downloads-preferences-using-downloads-menu
• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/98.0/releasenotes/

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.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

After the automatic update to version 98, I'm finding that Firefox insists on putting a copy of my downloaded files into the Download file even after I turned that off in the General tab of Settings.

Before Firefox 98, the behavior varied:

• Many PDFs - stored in cached web content
• Files you "Open" - stored in the system Temp folder
• Files you "Save" - stored in your download folder (or other folder if you have Firefox ask you where to save every time)

Now "Open" stores files like "Save".

Over the years, many people complained that they "lost" downloads when the Temp folder was cleaned up by the system or by other applications. Switching to the download folder was intended to solve that problem. Of course now some people are expressing a preference for less important downloads disappearing by themselves.

It reminds me of "You can't please all of the people all of the time." I don't know whether anyone has the stomach to make it configurable.

In Firefox 97 and 98+ there have been changes to the download panel.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manage-downloads-preferences-using-downloads-menu
• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/98.0/releasenotes/

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.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

This solution doesn't seem to solve the problem. The problem is that Firefox 98 is now saving a copy of every single downloaded file to the Downloads folder, even though we've told Firefox not to in the settings. This means that we now need to micromanage the Downloads folder to delete all the pictures, videos, text documents, etc. that we just wanted to view temporarily, not to save for the long term.

Is there no setting in about:config that stops Firefox from saving every file in the Downloads folder except for those we've specifically asked it to?

EDIT: Solution found on TenForums: https://www.tenforums.com/browsers-email/192158-read-if-firefox-98-downloading-pane-really-bothers-you.html#post2394472

1. Navigate to about:config 2. Find the setting browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel and toggle it to False. This will restore the original download behavior.

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]

After the automatic update to version 98, I'm finding that Firefox insists on putting a copy of my downloaded files into the Download file even after I turned that off in the General tab of Settings. Also found it odd that I was unable to take a screenshot of these settings, but had to use Printscreen to do so!

I found the solution on TenForums: https://www.tenforums.com/browsers-email/192158-read-if-firefox-98-downloading-pane-really-bothers-you.html#post2394472

1. Navigate to about:config 2. Find the setting browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel and toggle it to False. This will restore the original download behavior.

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]

Hi WillW, please assume that all roll-back preferences are temporary while bugs are worked out, and:

(1) They make not work correctly in later versions as older code is removed, and (2) At some point they will be removed completely.

Hi WillW, please assume that all roll-back preferences are temporary while bugs are worked out, and: (1) They make not work correctly in later versions as older code is removed, and (2) At some point they will be removed completely.

That day when the option is removed completely is the day I stop updating Firefox.