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Firefox doesn't open files automatically

  • 9 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

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Hello, So I've had this problem for some time and only recently did I decide to try to solve it but with no luck. Under 'Downloads' 'Save files to' is enabled and under 'Applications' I set it to open jpg and png image files with Xnview, the default image viewer for my computer, and by checking 'Do this automatically for files like this from now on' box on download. Yet every time I download an image of either type the file does not open automatically. I don't have this problem in Chrome. I've tried refreshing/resetting Firefox; reinstalling Firefox; creating a new profile; restarting with no addons; but still the issue persists.

Help would be appreciated! Thanks.

Hello, So I've had this problem for some time and only recently did I decide to try to solve it but with no luck. Under 'Downloads' 'Save files to' is enabled and under 'Applications' I set it to open jpg and png image files with Xnview, the default image viewer for my computer, and by checking 'Do this automatically for files like this from now on' box on download. Yet every time I download an image of either type the file does not open automatically. I don't have this problem in Chrome. I've tried refreshing/resetting Firefox; reinstalling Firefox; creating a new profile; restarting with no addons; but still the issue persists. Help would be appreciated! Thanks.

All Replies (9)

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What O/S are you using and did you check file associations?

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When you select to save a file, the file is only saved to disk. If you choose to open the file, it is downloaded to temp storage, then it is opened by whatever it set to open it.

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WestEnd said

What O/S are you using and did you check file associations?

I have Windows 10 and the default app for images is Xnview. I think it's Firefox specific though since I tested another image viewer and also on Chrome 'Always open files of this type' works as expected.

FredMcD said

When you select to save a file, the file is only saved to disk. If you choose to open the file, it is downloaded to temp storage, then it is opened by whatever it set to open it.

So when I select it to open the file and check the box 'Do this automatically for files like this from now on', the latter is meant to do nothing?

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That depends on the settings.

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FredMcD said

That depends on the settings.

And what are these settings?

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Sorry, wrong word. It depends on your choice. Open, or Save.

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Cicala said

FredMcD said
That depends on the settings.

And what are these settings?

PNG and JPG images are little tricky because by default Firefox displays them itself. How are you getting a download dialog for the images?

If the server has forced a download by setting this HTTP header on the transmission --

content-disposition: attachment

-- then Firefox will not follow the "do this every time" for historical reasons that I can't remember. However, the workaround of using an add-on to strip off that header would then cause Firefox to display the image in a tab, so that doesn't work for this kind of download. Hmm...

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I have the same issue with Teamviewer files. Any suggests on resolving, or if Mozilla can fix the bug, that'd be great :-)

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Note that "Do this automatically for files like this from now on" applies to a specific MIME type that the server sends and not to the file extension.