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This article will describe how Firefox handles downloads for different types of files and how you can change that behavior.

This article will describe how Firefox handles downloads for different types of files and how you can change that behavior. *For help with download problems, see [[What to do if you can't download or save files]]. *For help with embedded media on web pages, see [[Fix common audio and video issues]]. *For help changing the e-mail program that Firefox uses, see [[Change the program used to open email links]]. __TOC__ = Download actions = When you click a link to download a file, you may see a dialog asking whether you want to save the file or open it with a specific application, if Firefox cannot handle the file internally. The [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_type Media type], also called the MIME type or [https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/Content-Type Content type], as configured by the web server, will determine what action Firefox will take. {note}'''Note:''' Firefox will not be able to properly handle a file download if a misconfigured web server sends it with an incorrect Content type. For example, Firefox may display the content as plain text instead of opening the file in an application or asking you what to do. (To learn more, see [https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Learn/Server-side/Configuring_server_MIME_types Properly configuring server MIME types] at MDN web docs.) You can contact the website in such cases or you can try a Firefox extension such as [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/content-type-fixer Content-Type Fixer] to work around the problem. <!--https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1302591-->{/note} When you tell Firefox to open or save the file and also check the option to "Do this automatically for files like this from now on" ([[#w_adding-download-actions|see below]]), a new Content Type and Action entry for that type of file will appear in the '''Applications''' section of the {menu General} panel in Firefox [[T:optionsorpreferences]]. = Changing download actions = You can change what action Firefox takes for defined content types. This will not affect media embedded in a web page - only links to the files themselves. # [[T:optionspreferences]] # In the {menu General} panel, go to the '''Applications''' section. # Select the entry for the file type you want to change. {note}'''Multiple entries for the same [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_format file format or extension]?''' Some file types can include more than one Internet Media type.{/note} # The Action column will give you a drop-down menu, with options on action to take, whenever you click that type of file. #;{for not fx77}{for mac}[[Image:Fx76Applications-PDF-Mac]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:applications-fx57-pdf]]{/for}{for win}[[Image:Fx61Applications-pdf-win7]]{/for}{/for}{for fx77}{for mac}[[Image:Fx77Applications-PDF-Mac]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:Fx78Applications-PDF]]{/for}{for win}[[Image:Fx78Applications-PDF-Win]]{/for}{/for}<!-- need linux image for fx77+ showing drop-down options --> #*{for not fx77}'''Preview in Firefox'''{/for}{for fx77}'''Open in Firefox'''{/for}: Select this if you want Firefox to display the content. It only applies to a limited number of file types that Firefox is able to decode, such as Portable Document Format (PDF).<!-- "Open in Firefox" since fx77 - see https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1581383--> #*'''Always ask''': This will prompt you to select what action you want Firefox to take when you click on that type of file. This can be useful if Firefox is automatically saving a file type or is always opening it with a certain program and you want to be asked what to do. #*'''Save File''': This will always save the file to your computer using the [[Find and manage downloaded files|Downloads window]], whenever you click that type of file. #* '''Use ... : ''' Open the file with an application of your choosing. # [[Template:closeoptionspreferences]] = Adding download actions = <!-- http://kb.mozillazine.org/File_types_and_download_actions#Opening_dialog and https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=218257 --> When you click on a link for a type of file that doesn't have a set content type and download action, Firefox will ask you how to handle the file: ;{for win, linux}[[Image:Fx4WinOpeningFile]]{/for}{for mac }[[Image:MacOpeningFile]]{/for} * '''Open with''': Saves the file to a temporary folder and opens it in the default application for that file type. To select an application, click {for mac}{button Choose...}{/for}{for win,linux}{button Browse...}{/for}. {warning}'''Warning:''' Do not choose Firefox to always open a certain file type, as doing so can cause a problem where [[Firefox repeatedly opens empty tabs or windows after you click on a link|Firefox repeatedly opens empty tabs or windows after you click on a link]].{/warning} * '''Save file''': Saves the file to the download folder (specified in the '''General''' panel of Firefox {for win}[[Firefox options, preferences and settings|Options]]{/for}{for mac,linux}[[Firefox options, preferences and settings|Preferences]]{/for}). * '''Do this automatically for files like this from now on''': Check mark this setting and then click {button OK} to add a new entry to the Content Type list for that file type. {note}'''Is ''Do this automatically for files like this from now on'' disabled?''' This can happen if the website's server incorrectly specifies the Internet Media type of the file. It also can happen if the server assigns "Content-Disposition: attachment" to the file. <!-- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=453455 --> {/note} = Resetting download actions for all content types = If you are having problems with how Firefox is handling file downloads that you can't resolve, or if you just want to start fresh, you can restore the default content types and actions by manually deleting the file that stores these settings. {note}This will remove all customized content type actions. You will have to make those changes over again after you take the following steps.{/note} # [[T:profileFolder]] # Close Firefox. [[T:closeFirefox]] # Delete (or rename) the {filepath handlers.json} file. # Restart Firefox. = Misconfigured Web Servers = If you click a link and Firefox acts incorrectly, then there could be a problem with the configuration of the web servers. A Misconfigured Web Server, in a broad sense, is a web server that has not set up and tightened its securities right (read more [https://www.whitehatsec.com/glossary/content/server-misconfiguration here]). When related to downloads, it can mean the web server does not include the correct content-type ([https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Configuring_server_MIME_types MIME Type]) on the file, as Firefox browsers need the correct content-type to handle the file for security reasons (read more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_sniffing here]).