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This article describes changes to how downloads are handled in Firefox 98 and above and answers some frequently asked questions.

{for not fx98}[[T:update fx desktop]]{/for} This article describes enhancements made to how downloads are handled starting in [[Find what version of Firefox you are using|Firefox version]] 98 and answers some frequently asked questions. __TOC__ =Firefox no longer asks what to do for each file by default= You are no longer prompted to choose a helper application or save to disk before downloading a file, unless you have [[Content types and download actions in Firefox#w_changing-download-actions|changed your setting]] for that type of file, for Firefox to always ask what action to take: [[Image:Fx78OpeningFLVfile|width=400]] {note}'''Note:''' After updating to Firefox version 98, "Always ask" download actions will be reset ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1736924 bug 1736924]).{/note} =Downloads panel automatically opens= Every time you start a download, Firefox will automatically bring up the Downloads panel by default, so you can experience minimal interruptions and easily find your downloaded files. To avoid having to close it several times, the panel won't show if there are multiple downloads in progress. [[Image:Fx97DownloadFile|width=400]] You can click on a file in the Downloads panel to open it even before it has finished downloading. Firefox will open the file immediately once it is available. =Downloaded files are saved to disk= The files you download will be immediately saved on your disk. Depending on the current configuration, they will be saved in your preferred download folder, or you will be asked to select a location for each download. Windows and Linux users will find their downloaded files in the destination folder (this is usually the Downloads folder). They are no longer put in the Temp folder first. {note}'''Note:''' You can now delete downloaded files directly from the Downloads panel or [[Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox#w_see-downloads-history|Downloads Library window]]. <!-- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1745624--> [[Template:contextmenu]] the file entry and select {menu Delete} from the context menu.{/note} =Set a default app to open a file type= When you [[Manage file types and download actions in Firefox|set an application to open files of a specific type]] in your Firefox preference settings, those files will open automatically, even files served by the website with "content-disposition: attachment". The same applies to PDF files that are set to open in Firefox by default. <!--https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1370450--> This is a fix to [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=453455 bug 453455]. ="Always Open Similar Files" and other Downloads panel options= When you download a file that can be opened with an installed application, you can [[Manage file types and download actions in Firefox#w_adding-download-actions|add a preference]] to always open similar files, from the Downloads panel context menu for the file. [[Template:contextmenu]] the file to see this menu item and other available options for that download. (The "Always Open Similar Files" option is also available for files listed in the [[Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox#w_see-downloads-history|Downloads Library window]].) [[Image:Fx98Downloads-FileContextMenu]] The following options are available. You will not see some of these options for files that have been deleted, renamed, or moved from the download folder. *'''Always Open Similar Files:''' Make Firefox automatically open downloaded files of the same type with the system default application. (<!-- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1738918 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1759374-->This option may be missing in some cases, such as files served by the website with the wrong content type, or executable files). *'''Show In Folder:''' Open the folder that contains your downloaded files and select the file used to open the context menu. *'''Go To Download Page:''' Open in a new tab the page from which the file was downloaded, even after leaving the site or closing the tab. *'''Copy Download Link:''' Copy the download link to share it, save it, or for any applicable use. *'''Delete:''' Remove a downloaded file from your disk. It will now appear in the list as {for not fx100}''File moved or missing''{/for}{for fx100}''File deleted''{/for}. *'''Remove From History:''' Remove a file from your list of downloaded files. The downloaded file is not deleted from your disk. *'''Clear Preview Panel:''' Clear the list of downloaded items in the preview panel that opens when you start a download. To learn more about managing downloads, see the article [[Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox]]. =Frequently asked questions= '''The "What should Firefox do with this file?" dialog was a helpful way to see when something downloaded. How do I notice this now?'''<br> The Downloads panel will show automatically after you start a download. '''I want to approve each download before it happens, is there still a way to do this?'''<br> Firefox no longer shows the dialog because downloads are usually intentional. Having to click a second time for a download to start is usually unnecessary. '''Why does Firefox keep asking me where to save files?'''<br> This will happen if you have configured your Firefox settings to always ask you where to save files. To check your download settings: #[[T:optionspreferences]] #In the General panel, find the '''Downloads''' section under ''Files and Applications''.{for win}<br>[[Image:Fx97ChangeDownloadLocation]]{/for} See [[Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox#w_change-where-downloads-are-saved|Change where downloads are saved]] for more information. '''When I open a file with an application, why is it also saved to my Downloads folder?'''<br> Before Firefox version 98, files you opened in Firefox with an application were also saved to the system Temp folder on Windows and Linux, even though you may not have been aware of it. Firefox no longer saves files to a temporary folder because of the downsides to saving files in a location that is hard to discover. Instead, files are saved to the "Save files to" folder location shown in Firefox settings, in the General panel '''Downloads''' section under ''Files and Applications''. (Firefox will not ask you to choose a folder when opening files if you have selected the "Always ask you where to save files" setting, to prevent unnecessary interruptions.) <!-- https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1738916 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1738574 --> '''I want to configure a different behavior for some files. How do I do that without the dialog?'''<br> When you select “Always Open Similar Files” in the context menu for a downloaded file, it will set Firefox to always open that type of file with the system default application. If you want a different behavior: #[[T:optionspreferences]] #In the General panel, go to the '''Applications''' section. #;[[Image:Fx97ChangeDownloadActions]] # Select the type of file you wish to change and use the drop-down menu to change the download action, such as using another application to open that type of file or having Firefox always ask you what to do. For more information, see [[Manage file types and download actions in Firefox]].