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Firefox v73 always defaults to "open with" for known file types

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Hi all, After upgrading to v73 all files ( rar, zip.. ) that I used to save to a directory of my choice now default to open with ( eg winrar ). The dialog window still shows up with the "open with / save file" options, but before, once I picked "save file" it did remember the last choice and had "save file" choice set on concurrent downloads - now it does not, it defaults to "open with". Now, when I un-register the eg. rar extension in Windows, and Firefox does not know what to open it with, it will remember the "save file" choice. As soon as I register the file type ( rar, 7z, zip.... ) it starts defaulting to "open with". It becomes a pain and adds one more step to the file download to set "save file"... It is also easy to just click "open" and instead of the download going to the desired directory, it opens it with the application it 'knows'. It is often far from the desired behavior, and it changed on 12FEB2020 when FF got updated to v73. I have also removed and edited handlers.json - no luck Thanks!

Hi all, After upgrading to v73 all files ( rar, zip.. ) that I used to save to a directory of my choice now default to open with ( eg winrar ). The dialog window still shows up with the "open with / save file" options, but before, once I picked "save file" it did remember the last choice and had "save file" choice set on concurrent downloads - now it does not, it defaults to "open with". Now, when I un-register the eg. rar extension in Windows, and Firefox does not know what to open it with, it will remember the "save file" choice. As soon as I register the file type ( rar, 7z, zip.... ) it starts defaulting to "open with". It becomes a pain and adds one more step to the file download to set "save file"... It is also easy to just click "open" and instead of the download going to the desired directory, it opens it with the application it 'knows'. It is often far from the desired behavior, and it changed on 12FEB2020 when FF got updated to v73. I have also removed and edited handlers.json - no luck Thanks!
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Réiteach roghnaithe

If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block content.

Firefox shows an highlighted shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar in case Tracking Protection is blocking content.

  • click the shield icon for more details and possibly disable the protection

You can check in the Web Console what content is blocked.

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I also looked for to separate/disable FireFox from looking up the known/registered file types in Windows - no luck either...

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paziu said

I also looked for to separate/disable FireFox from looking up the known/registered file types in Windows - no luck either...

regardless of all, FF should remember the last choice, not default to the specific action in the open/save dialog - as it was before v73

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Hmm, I haven't noticed this change. (I tested with a couple ZIP file links on one page, so didn't check very deeply.)

Do you download any files that you've set to Open automatically or do you have Always ask or Save file for everything? Just wondering whether that could have any effect.

Similarly, does it work properly (retaining your last choice) at the start of a new Firefox session and go bad later, or does it always default to Open from the start?

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Réiteach Roghnaithe

If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block content.

Firefox shows an highlighted shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar in case Tracking Protection is blocking content.

  • click the shield icon for more details and possibly disable the protection

You can check in the Web Console what content is blocked.

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jscher2000 said

Hmm, I haven't noticed this change. (I tested with a couple ZIP file links on one page, so didn't check very deeply.) Do you download any files that you've set to Open automatically or do you have Always ask or Save file for everything? Just wondering whether that could have any effect. Similarly, does it work properly (retaining your last choice) at the start of a new Firefox session and go bad later, or does it always default to Open from the start?

Hi, I have restarted FF multiple times, it is like this from the beginning, since it got upgraded to v73.0, thanks!

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cor-el said

If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block content. Firefox shows an highlighted shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar in case Tracking Protection is blocking content.
  • click the shield icon for more details and possibly disable the protection
You can check in the Web Console what content is blocked.

That did it!!!! I have found a site with a HTTP directory index ( index of .... ) and there was multiple rar and zip files... NoScript did not complain about any script trying to run on that site, and I was able to download a rar and a zip - any concurrent attempt on the same file type did remember the choice to save it - amazing!!! If FF is blocking content due to security, I do not mind, it was just unusual that suddenly, on the same site I could not DL files the way I used to. I will now look for a setting in FireFox, ublock, NoScript and Ghostery that causes it ( I always use the same combination of these 3 extensions on all PCs at home - Linux and Win10 ) - Thanks again!!!!