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When saving an image, why does Firefox download it again, although it is already downloaded and displayed?

  • 5 replies
  • 20 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

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If you right click an image on a website and choose "save image", it will be downloaded again. It is already in the browser cache though. There are addons which let you pick it from the cache.

Why doesn't Firefox just save the cached image and instead downloads it again? There seems to be no obvious rationale to do it like that (and lots to use the cached version).

If you right click an image on a website and choose "save image", it will be downloaded again. It is already in the browser cache though. There are addons which let you pick it from the cache. Why doesn't Firefox just save the cached image and instead downloads it again? There seems to be no obvious rationale to do it like that (and lots to use the cached version).

All Replies (5)

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Thanks you, but that's not an answer to my question.

I'm not looking for workarounds. I would like to know (preferably from someone at Mozilla) why the browser works this way and if they are going to change it.

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May I assume that the folks at Mozilla simply do not know why the browser behaves in this inexplicable way?

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this is a primarily community-driven support forum, so your eagerness to hear from someone from mozilla might not materialize.

however i cannot reproduce the behaviour that you're describing. when i right-click a picture file on a website that is cached & select "save image as..." there is no new network activity, so i presume the image is pulled from the cache (also works when i cut off the connection).

you might want to reset the browser or try it with a clean profile to see if you can solve it this way...

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Make sure that you do not run Firefox in (permanent) Private Browsing mode.

  • Edit > Preferences > Privacy: Use custom settings for history
  • Deselect: [ ] "Always use private browsing mode"

You can also check on the about:cache page if the browsing cache is enabled and working.

In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes":

  • do not clear Cache because Firefox will disable the disk cache in such a case
  • Edit > Preferences > Privacy: History: [X] Clear history when Firefox closes > Settings