Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Downloading files / pics management seems broken

more options

It seems after latest update the download management is broken.

I used to be able to download a jpeg or image and it would automatically download it to a pic folder I have set up. And if I download a pdf or some other file type it would download it to my dedicated Firefox download folder.

Now No matter what I do it treats all the file types the same as far as where they go when downloaded and it will not remember my last folder for that file type.

I know there is a section in the settings to tell FF what to do with each file type, but FF no longer will automatically download jpegs for example to the pics folder I set up, FF always just puts the jpegs in my FF download folder for all other file types.

It's been the same way for a long time and it worked fine, no it seems with last update functionality has been broken compared to how it used to be.

Is there any way to go back to previous behavior? Just like many FF updates lately, it seems to break things and make things more difficult than they used to be.

Windows 10 64

It seems after latest update the download management is broken. I used to be able to download a jpeg or image and it would automatically download it to a pic folder I have set up. And if I download a pdf or some other file type it would download it to my dedicated Firefox download folder. Now No matter what I do it treats all the file types the same as far as where they go when downloaded and it will not remember my last folder for that file type. I know there is a section in the settings to tell FF what to do with each file type, but FF no longer will automatically download jpegs for example to the pics folder I set up, FF always just puts the jpegs in my FF download folder for all other file types. It's been the same way for a long time and it worked fine, no it seems with last update functionality has been broken compared to how it used to be. Is there any way to go back to previous behavior? Just like many FF updates lately, it seems to break things and make things more difficult than they used to be. Windows 10 64

All Replies (6)

more options

Version 98 made that inspired change. https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/98.0/releasenotes/ You may be able to reset preferences using the method outlined here. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file#w_changing-download-actions If that doesn't work, changing the preference mentioned in this quote from searchfox. org may help. browser.download.useDownloadDir - bool True - Save files directly to the folder configured via the browser.download.folderList preference. False - Always ask the user where to save a file and default to browser.download.lastDir when displaying a folder picker dialog https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

WARNING: Changing preferences through this interface not officially supported Hidden settings edited using the about:config tool are explicitly not supported, which means that Mozilla makes no guarantees they will be supported in the future, or that Mozilla will fix them if they break. Mozilla does not test these preferences, and will not in the future. That includes security and performance testing which these preferences may affect.

[Warning added by moderator]

Modified by Chris Ilias

more options

BWX232 said

I used to be able to download a jpeg or image and it would automatically download it to a pic folder I have set up. And if I download a pdf or some other file type it would download it to my dedicated Firefox download folder. Now No matter what I do it treats all the file types the same as far as where they go when downloaded and it will not remember my last folder for that file type.

As far as I know, Firefox doesn't have a built-in feature to use different download folders for different content types when saving. If you have Firefox ask you where to save every time, it usually suggests that last folder used for downloads from the source site.

Is it possible you have been using an add-on to intercept and manage downloads, and it stopped working the way it worked before? If the extension is still installed, you should be able to find it on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. On the right side, find the "Manage Your Extensions" heading.

Can you recognize any related to download folders? Let us know what you find.

more options

Thanks for responses. I will check them out.. but..

OMG then after you download the file or image and click on the download icon. It OPENS the image, does NOT go to the folder where it is, as in the past and then the dang button disapears!!?!? Just gone! Nope! No soup for you!

Now you must navigate to the entire download pop out winder to do anything! !!???? AHhhhrge!!

I need to curse or throw something at the screen at this point.


WHY oh why do they keep wrecking this browser with ridiculous and pointless changes that do nothing but add complexity, more menus, more clicks to do the same thing, and more confusion, and all with the great added bonus of less functionality.


I'm about done with this bloated mess of a browser. So sick of this crp. Honesty. What the hell.

more options

jscher2000 said

BWX232 said

I used to be able to download a jpeg or image and it would automatically download it to a pic folder I have set up. And if I download a pdf or some other file type it would download it to my dedicated Firefox download folder. Now No matter what I do it treats all the file types the same as far as where they go when downloaded and it will not remember my last folder for that file type.

As far as I know, Firefox doesn't have a built-in feature to use different download folders for different content types when saving. If you have Firefox ask you where to save every time, it usually suggests that last folder used for downloads from the source site.

Is it possible you have been using an add-on to intercept and manage downloads, and it stopped working the way it worked before? If the extension is still installed, you should be able to find it on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. On the right side, find the "Manage Your Extensions" heading.

Can you recognize any related to download folders? Let us know what you find.

Nope no downloading extensions at all.

Before I could right click, save image as, and it would go to my PIC folder. I could download a different type of file and it would go to the FF d/l folder. That is now broken.

Now after vers 98, all images saved go to FF download folder, where I only put files and stuff.

Now for every single image I download, I have to either tel FF to put it in the PIC folder or else FF will put it in the FF d/l folder if I have recentrly downloaded anything else, then navigate in windows to it, then cut or copy the image, then open and navigate another window, then paste it there.

Before it would just put the jpgs and stuff in the last place you put it, and ask you for other types or other types would go to the FF d/l folder.

They totally broke it, as well as the other bad decisions about the d/l icon disappearing and not going to the d/l folder. They broke functionality that's been in FF for years and years.

more options

Right-click > Save Image As should always open a file browsing dialog. By default, Firefox either will show your default download folder or the last folder you used when you saved something from that site. Does your Firefox still remember the last folder where you downloaded from that site?

If not, there might be an issue with restrictive privacy settings preventing Firefox from saving that information.

more options

Be assured that we have passed on your feedback to the Firefox team. They've been asking users here have been saying, and we've included your comments.

When opening a file from any browser, the file would be downloaded to the Windows "TEMP" folder. Many people couldn't find files that they had opened or delete them. This change makes downloading to the Downloads folder the default behaviour. If you choose, you can make Firefox ask what to do with specific file types.

Here's how to make it ask: 1. Click on the Downloads icon in the toolbar (it should automatically open when you download a file). 2. Right-click on the file and enable Always Open Similar Files 3. Go to Settings, and scroll down to the Applications section 4. Beside the file type, click in the Action column and set it to Always ask