Compare Revisions

The Downloads panel and Library keep track of files you download. We'll show you how to access, manage, change settings and find your files.

Your Downloads panel and Library keep track of files you download while using Firefox. Learn how to manage your files and configure your download settings. __TOC__ = How do I access my downloads? = You can access downloads from your current browsing session by clicking on the Downloads button (the down arrow on your toolbar). The arrow will appear blue [[Image:Fx57blueDLarrow]] to let you know there are unviewed downloaded files. *During a download, the Downloads button gradually fills with color to show your download's progress. *Click on the Downloads button to open the Downloads panel. The Downloads panel displays your three most recently downloaded files, along with its size and download status: ;{for mac}[[Image:show downloads 57]]{/for}{for win}[[Image:win downloads 57]]{/for} *To see all of your downloads at any time, go to the Library by clicking on {menu Show all Downloads} at the bottom of the Downloads panel. ;[[Image:show all downloads 57]] {note}'''Note:''' Your toolbar does not include a Downloads button when you have no downloads in your current browsing session. You can use the {for not fx89}Library [[Image:57 library icon]]{/for}{for fx89}menu [[Image:Fx89MenuButton]]{/for} button on your toolbar to access previous downloads (see below).{/note} =See downloads history= The Library displays information for all of your downloaded files, unless you've cleared them from your history. [[Template:OpenDownloadsLibrary]] The Library window will open showing a list of your downloaded files. ;[[Image:Fx57DownloadsLibrary]] == Download protection == <!-- test site: http://testsafebrowsing.appspot.com/ --> Before beginning a download, Firefox will attempt to protect you from potentially malicious or unsafe downloads and will block downloads from insecure connections. See the Mozilla blog posts, "[https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2016/08/01/enhancing-download-protection-in-firefox/ Enhancing Download Protection in Firefox]" and "[https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2014/07/23/improving-malware-detection-in-firefox/ Improving Malware Detection in Firefox]" for more information. If something is suspected, the download will not begin, but rather: Potentially malicious downloads are detected using Google Safe Browsing Service. A red dot will appear on the Download arrow: ;[[Image:malicious download toolbar 57]] Click on the red-tagged Download arrow to open the Downloads panel. The file name will be displayed along with the warning message, *''This file contains a virus or malware.'' ;[[Image:malicious download panel 57]] Other files covered under download protection may be potentially unwanted downloads (explained in the [https://www.google.com/intl/en/about/company/unwanted-software-policy.html Google Policy]) that may make unexpected changes to your computer. Or, a download may not be malicious or unwanted but simply not commonly downloaded. A yellow dot will appear on the Download arrow: ;[[Image:uncommon download 57]] Click on the yellow-tagged Download arrow to open the Downloads panel. The file name will be displayed with one of these warning messages: *''This file may harm your computer.'' *''This file is not commonly downloaded.'' === How do I handle unsafe downloads? === When you see a malicious file or other types of potentially unsafe files in the Downloads panel, click on the right-facing arrow to choose what to do with the file, as shown in this example: ;[[Image:uncommon download panel 57]] You will be given more information about the type of unsafe file and the option to open or remove the file: ;[[Image:unknown file options 57]] '''Tip:''' The (right-click) context menu includes other options for handling any potentially harmful or malicious files listed in the Downloads panel that are pending download: ;[[Image:context downloads 57]] For example: [[Template:contextmenu]] on one of the potentially unsafe files that are pending download and select {menu Allow Download} to save the file to your computer. = How can I manage my downloaded files? = You can check on past downloads at any time. Click on the Downloads button (alternatively, click the {for not fx89}Library [[Image:57 library icon]]{/for}{for fx89}menu [[Image:Fx89MenuButton]]{/for} button and then click {menu Downloads}) to open the Downloads panel. The Downloads panel displays your three most recently downloaded files, along with its size, source and download time. You can manage your files directly in the Downloads panel or in your library. Options will appear to the right of each file during each stage of the download. ;{for win7,win8,win10}[[Image:show dl folder win 57]]{/for}{for mac}[[Image:show dl folder mac 57]]{/for} *'''Pause''': You can pause any downloads currently in progress by {for win,linux}right-clicking{/for}{for mac}pressing {key Ctrl} and clicking{/for} on the file and selecting {menu Pause}. When you want to continue downloading the file, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}press {key Ctrl} and click{/for} the file entry and select {menu Resume}. *'''Cancel''' [[Image:fx icon cancel download]]: If you no longer need to download a file, click the X button at the right of the file entry. This button turns into a refresh symbol; click it again to restart your download. *'''Open the file''': When a download has finished, you can click on the entry directly to open the file. *{for win,linux}'''Open Containing Folder''' [[Image:fx icon Open the file's folder]]: Once a file has finished downloading, the icon to the right of the file entry becomes a folder. Click the folder icon to open the folder that contains that file.{/for}{for mac}'''Show In Finder''' [[Image:fx icon Open the file's folder Mac]]: Once a file has finished downloading, the icon to the right of the file entry becomes a magnifying glass. Click the magnifying glass icon to show that file in the Finder.{/for} To set the folder where your downloads go, see [[#w_change-where-downloads-are-saved|Change where downloads are saved]], below. *'''Go to Download Page''': {for win,linux}Right-click{/for}{for mac}Press {key Ctrl} and click{/for} on the file to bring up the menu. Choose this option to visit the webpage where the file came from. *'''Remove the file's entry''': If you do not wish to keep a record of a particular download, simply {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}press {key Ctrl} and click{/for} the file entry, then select {menu Remove From History}. This will remove the entry from the list but will not delete the file itself. *'''Retry a Download''' [[Image:fx icon retry download 16x16]]: If for any reason a file does not finish downloading, click the button to the right of the entry - a refresh symbol - to retry. *'''Clear Downloads''': Click the {button Clear Downloads} button at the top of the Library window to clear the entire history of downloaded items. This will not delete the downloaded files. = Change where downloads are saved = File downloads are saved in the folder specified in Firefox [[T:optionsorpreferences]]. To change that folder: # [[T:optionspreferences]] # In the {menu General} panel, find the '''Downloads''' section under ''Files and Applications''. # Click the {for win,linux}{button Browse}{/for}{for mac} {button Choose}{/for}button next to the '''Save files to''' entry. # Choose the downloads folder you wish to use. =Change which applications open downloads= You can change what applications are used for handling downloads while browsing the Web: #[[T:optionspreferences]] #In the {menu General} panel, scroll down to the '''Applications''' section. #;{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,=fx78,=fx79,=fx80}{for mac}[[Image:Fx77Applications-PDF-Mac]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:Fx78Applications-PDF]]{/for}{for win}[[Image:Fx78Applications-PDF-Win]]{/for}{/for}{for fx81}[[Image:ChangeApplicationSettings]]{/for} #Click on the arrow under the Action column for the file type you wish to change and select the viewer you wish to use from the drop-down menu. #*{for not fx81}Note that PDF files are viewed in Firefox by default.{/for}{for fx81}Note that some file types (XML, PDF, SVG, WebP Image) are opened in Firefox by default.<!--https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1639067-->{/for} For more information, see [[Change what Firefox does when you click on or download a file]].