Firefox manages downloads in the Downloads folder in the Library (History > Show All History) *Downloads are treated as history items: clearing history removes included download items and vice verse. *When downloads are in progress you see an animated download button on the Navigation Toolbar showing an estimate of the remaining time *The Download button gets a green highlight once all download are finished to make you aware that new downloads are available. *Pause and Resume can be found in the right-click context menu of an item. You can display the new Download Manager in a tab by opening the about:downloads page and you can consider to open this page in a separate window. ----- In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes": *do not clear the Browsing History *Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" > Settings *https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Clear+Recent+History Make sure that you do not run Firefox in (permanent) Private Browsing mode (Never Remember History). *https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Private+Browsing *Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history" *Deselect: [ ] "Always use private browsing mode"