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Firefox is not asking where to save downloads.

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I am having the identical problem as this person was.

https://support.mozilla.org/hsb/questions/1370443

I'm using Windows 11, Firefox 106.0.3. I have already selected "always ask." I do not see any way I can change the thing that says "Downloads." I see that there is a suggested fix, and I also see that an apparently knowledgeable person has advised against using that fix.

This is very basic browser functionality, and being unable to save to particular folders adversely affects my productivity. Is this issue being dealt with? What problems can I expect to occur in the future if I make the suggested fix?

Thanks in advance.

I am having the identical problem as this person was. https://support.mozilla.org/hsb/questions/1370443 I'm using Windows 11, Firefox 106.0.3. I have already selected "always ask." I do not see any way I can change the thing that says "Downloads." I see that there is a suggested fix, and I also see that an apparently knowledgeable person has advised against using that fix. This is very basic browser functionality, and being unable to save to particular folders adversely affects my productivity. Is this issue being dealt with? What problems can I expect to occur in the future if I make the suggested fix? Thanks in advance.
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

One possible reason for Firefox not to ask where to save the file is if Firefox was instructed to Open the file, either in the built-in PDF viewer or in an external application. In that case, Firefox auto-saves the file without prompting for a location. You would need to switch the relevant content type(s) to "Save File" or "Always ask" instead.

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The 'fix' mentioned in that thread was temporary; evidently it no longer has effect. I use the preference in about:config mentioned below with comments from searchfox. org.

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 [not a preference] when displaying a folder picker dialog

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

Modified by Terry

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To deactivate and disable the new behavior and restore classic download prompt feature, double-click on browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel preference and set it to false. Alternatively, you can click on the Toggle icon given next to the preference name.

taken from here


Please be careful with all about:config changes. Please read Firefox Advanced Customization and Configuration Options to learn more.

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Chosen Solution

One possible reason for Firefox not to ask where to save the file is if Firefox was instructed to Open the file, either in the built-in PDF viewer or in an external application. In that case, Firefox auto-saves the file without prompting for a location. You would need to switch the relevant content type(s) to "Save File" or "Always ask" instead.

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@jsher2000, thank you. I will investigate that tomorrow, trying to replicate what I did.

Possibly an important thing that I failed to mention was that I was in a Sharepoint? Maybe that was the cause of the problem. What I recall is first right-clicking and selecting download. I don't think the pdf file opened anywhere. I think the only thing that happened was that it downloaded to "Downloads" without asking for a location. I subsequently opened it and tried to download the opened file, but the same thing happened (it didn't ask for a location). I was eventually able to download a zipped file of all documents, and it did ask where to save that. But I won't always desire to download all documents, as I did this time. Usually I take what I need and leave the rest.

Again, I will try to replicate the sequence of steps tomorrow. Thanks again!

I will be cautious with making configuration changes.

Edit: I can't say for certain the same thing happened yesterday, but today the file both opened AND downloaded, as you said. Thank you!

Modified by Oh Good Grief!