Change what Firefox does when you click on or download a file
Greetings and thank you for your time. I am so tired of every update changing how Firefox Android handles video and audio file types ~ MIMEs. I want a permanent setting to propting us , to ask us what I want to do when we click on a video or audio link. Maybe everyone else just wants to play it. But I don't and I'm sure I'm not alone. -_-
It would be wonderful if Firefox Android would have the same answers as Firefox for desktop specifically: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file#w_download-actions
Maybe I'm not searching correctly but I spent hours searching for a solution before posting this question. Also for previous FFA versions this question is always being asked after every update! WHEN will we as a community stop disabling the ability to control what we do with audio and video links! -_-
Please do not suggest a third-party plugin when this is an innate browser function!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Все ответы (10)
Hi Glenn
Do you have an example of a site where downloading a file is a problem?
This will help me to replicate the problem here and hopefully find a solution for you.
Oh my, I know we get in the habit of tackling support questions by "please show me the problem" as I did for over 20 years as IT support, but that isn't always needed.
As in this case I did give a link to FF desktop support which explains with examples the exact QUESTION and problem we are experiencing in FF Android, as also does the title in my question.
Just google anything like: "change how firefox android plays media files" You will see this problem going back over a decade! With almost all the question having 1000s of views.
This should be THE Top Menu Item! "Control how FireFox handles files and media links!" But no let us hide it deep in About.Config and move it around every chance we get... Mu Ha Ha. -_-
Maybe my question was too vague, I apologize and I will gratefully comply.
Please pick any web page that has a link to an .mp4 or .mp3 or any other video or audio MIME link. Then apply the same question...
HOW DO WE CONTROL WHAT FF DOES WHEN WE CLICK ON IT (click on a MIME, PDF, video, audio, mp4, mp3... link)?
Additionally a 2nd sub-question to be more specific: HOW DO WE MAKE FF prompt "ASK US WHAT WE WANT TO DO" like the option we used to have and still need.
So you know at least one reason this is needed, out of 3 I can think of.
We need to download the files before we leave the house/location that has (fast) internet, then have: __ 1. No internet access, or __ 2. The file is too big or __ 3. Costly to use slower mobile data.
I'm assuming the solution will be like previous version that allowed us to choose preferences in About.Config > ~Media.play
Really, Thank you for your time helping the community and overlooking my complaining. As I'm sure you can relate, it is so painful to keep seeing essential, obvious and common sense features, omitted or removed, especially as an programmer/app dev. AAAaaaahhhhhhh! 8-(
Изменено Glenn 8D
Hi
When you long press on the link to a file that you wish to save to your mobile device, you should see a menu appear appear with the available options.
I'm sorry and as I'm sure you know that is not the answer to my question.
It is not telling me where I can go in Firefox code and change how FF handles MULTIMEDIA links. Really any links other than url/http addresses.
Besides No, long press doesn't often work! FOR EXAMPLE: go to ODB.ORG select "READ NOW" , then try LONG PRESS on > Download MP3 (which is an mp3 link) I do not get an option to save the audio or even save as file.
Anyways that is not my question but thank you.
Let me ask my question a third time.
"How can We control what Firefox does when WE press on a MULTIMEDIA link, or any file link, any LINK OTHER THAN A URL OR HTTP?"
In addition or More precisely the question is:
"WHERE IS THE CODE IN FF THAT I NEED TO CHANGE, TO CHANGE HOW FIREFOX HANDLES LINKS? "
THIS IS AN OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY APPLICATION RIGHT?
I imagine I need to be in a developer forum instead of here, as I guess I'm talking about config or coding? -_-
Thank you for any direction towards a answer to my question.
Изменено Glenn 8D
If you select the "download as .mp3" link the file will open and you can long press on that screen to download the file.
In the new Firefox Preview browser, just long pressing on the download link presents the menu from which you can choose to download the file.
Our developers are focussing on Firefox Preview as the future of Firefox on the Android platform. If you want to get involved in the project you can do so at:
Thank you for the reply, however that is not the answer to my specific question.
We already know that to click on the link, then FF opens up another window , then we can long press on the Play buttonand a menu with download option will appear.
However the clarified question was. "WHERE IS THE CODE IN FF THAT I NEED TO CHANGE, TO CHANGE HOW FIREFOX HANDLES LINKS? "
Sorry, I'll be more specific: In ABOUT:CONFIG Where can we config how Firefox handles Media or any file links? Personally, I would like all links to be set to ask me. -_- I imagine it's somewhere in Media settings as an example screenshot .
Thanks.
Изменено Glenn 8D
I assume you have found this in your research, but just in case:
Desktop Firefox
Certain content types like HTML, text, images, audio, and video are treated as web content to be displayed in a tab. If you disable the "stand alone" media player in about:config, then Firefox will treat media links as downloadable content instead of web content. However, I don't know whether there is an equivalent on Android. (Either way, embedded players still work the same.)
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.
(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste alone and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Double-click the media.play-stand-alone preference to switch the value from true to false
Those lnks are in my opening question! See above. -_- Solution It's real simple , Press and hold on any link Firefox needs to give us the options to choose how to handle it what app to open or whether to open to a new tab, They already all kinds of options, Just not the right one, They've intentionally removed SAVE AUDIO, ! THAT'S A ID-10-T ERROR. What the beep is wrong with them? Common sense just right over their head. "Save As" was one of the first, and always needed options. HELLO ¯\_ಠ_ಠ_/¯
Изменено Glenn 8D
The current version of Firefox for Android does not have the option of direct download. However, if you use a file manager application (e.g. I use Amaze), then you can use that to save the file with the share option. If you use this often, it will also show beside the Gmail and Messenger icons, so you can reach it with a single tap.
The next version of Firefox (codenamed Fenix) is currently in Nightly, in that you will be able to download the files directly with Firefox.
And just a friendly reminder, this is a volunteer support forum, if you would like to get help, try to be as civil and on to the point as possible.
Yes I'm a little less then perfectly civil with developers making the same errors with ~10 major versions releases and people that don't read the post that they reply to. -_- We DONT need another third-party app or download manager! We need Firefox to keep their hand off it and let us DL the files we want to our devices.
did you see the attached screenshot if they can make all that other link options happen how about just leave it alone and let us download it! -_-
I'm done, the solution is find and use a different browser until they fix the common sense errors that is missing in this version.