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Downloads tab

  • 7 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 464 views
  • Last reply by thany

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How do I get the currently processing downloads in a tab?

Currently it always opens as a separate window, as part of Library - together with History, Tags (?), and Bookmarks. I don't quite understand why Downloads is a part of Library. I would think Library stores permanent-ish items, wheras downloads (the items in the list, not the files) are disposable once complete.

Anyway, I have seen older (I think?) versions of Firefox, or just arbitrarily different versions of Firefox (one such being TorBrowser), where Downloads open as a tab rather than a separate window. But how do I achieve this in the latest mainstream version?

How do I get the currently processing downloads in a tab? Currently it always opens as a separate window, as part of Library - together with History, Tags (?), and Bookmarks. I don't quite understand why Downloads is a part of Library. I would think Library stores permanent-ish items, wheras downloads (the items in the list, not the files) are disposable once complete. Anyway, I have seen older (I think?) versions of Firefox, or just arbitrarily different versions of Firefox (one such being TorBrowser), where Downloads open as a tab rather than a separate window. But how do I achieve this in the latest mainstream version?

Chosen solution

Unfortunately Ctrl + J opens a window (the Library) and can not be reassigned.

My first suggestion would be the only option to open Downloads in a tab.

Sorry .....

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All Replies (7)

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Hello thany,

Would you give this a try please :

Type in the address bar about:downloads

Then bookmark it - that way, you can open it in a new tab any time you want.

Would that work for you  ?

(pressing Ctrl + J would open Downloads in a separate window, but that is not what you want, is it  ?)

Modified by McCoy

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That's almost right. I want Ctrl+J to open downloads in a tab. If TorBrowser an other or older versions of Firefox can do it, this version can, too.

I'm too used to hitting Ctrl+J, so bookmarking that page cannot make sense to me. So while it does do what I'm after, it doesn't quite solve the issue.

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Chosen Solution

Unfortunately Ctrl + J opens a window (the Library) and can not be reassigned.

My first suggestion would be the only option to open Downloads in a tab.

Sorry .....

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Hi, just a thought: You can see your downloads by clicking the download button at the right-hand end of the toolbar. This auto-hides by default, but if you want it to be there all the time, open the 3-bar menu > Customize; you should now see the downloads button, and if you click on it you can deselect Auto-hide, then click Done to close Customize. (If when you are in Customize, the button isn't there, look for and drag to the toolbar from the palette).

Should you want it to auto-hide again, just right click it > Auto-hide in Toolbar.

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What I don't understand then, right, is how TorBrowser manages to open the downloads in a tab by default. It doesn't look like thay're using an addon, and I can't imagine them putting effort into modifying Firefox just for that.

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thany said

What I don't understand then, right, is how TorBrowser manages to open the downloads in a tab by default.

Every browser has its own features .....

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McCoy said

thany said
What I don't understand then, right, is how TorBrowser manages to open the downloads in a tab by default.

Every browser has its own features .....

You don't understand. TorBrowser is based on Firefox. Much like WaterFox and the likes.

This is why I stated the devs won't put all their effort into making a Downloads tab, so this feature must somehow be hidden somewhere in base Firefox. It can't not be. How else has TorBrowser managed to inherit & expose this feature??

Also Firefox has had downloads in a tab in the past. I vividly remember this.