Follow the instructions in this article if you notice that the Downloads window fails to open when:

• Downloading files.
• Clicking on the Tools menu and selecting Downloads.

For other downloading problems:

• For troubleshooting problems with downloading files, see the What to do if you can't download or save files article.
• If the list of downloads in the Downloads window is blank, see the Downloads window is blank article.

Change Firefox settings

If you download a file and Firefox does not display the downloads window, you may have Firefox set not to open the Downloads window:

1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select Settings.
2. Select the General panel (Main panel in Firefox 3.5).
3. In the Downloads section, check the box for Show the Downloads window when downloading a file.
   
   
   
   
4. Click OKClose the preferences window

After you close the OptionsPreferences window, Firefox should open the Downloads window automatically when you download a file.

If the Downloads window still fails to open after downloading a file, continue with the instructions below.

Reset toolbars and controls

If Firefox is set to remember what you've downloaded, but the downloads window still fails to open:

Click the menu button , click Help, select Troubleshoot Mode… and click Restart in the Restart Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode? dialog.

1. In the Firefox Safe Mode window, select Reset toolbars and controls.
   
   
   
   
2. Click Make Changes and Restart.

This will reset your Firefox toolbars. To make changes to the toolbars, see Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars article. If the Downloads window still fails to open after downloading a file, continue with the instructions below.

Remove corrupt downloads file

If Firefox is set to remember what you've downloaded, but its list of downloads is still blank:

1. Open your profile folder:

   • Click the menu button , click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select More Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
   • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
   Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking Open Folder or if you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

2. Click the Firefox menu and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu and select Quit.
3. Delete the downloads.sqlite file.

If the Downloads window still fails to open after downloading a file, continue to the Further troubleshooting section below.

Further troubleshooting

If the Downloads window fails to open after performing the steps above:

• Follow the instructions in the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article - attempt to download a file in Firefox's Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode. If the list is shown properly, try to determine whether an addon is causing the problem.
• Follow the instructions in the Troubleshoot issues with plugins like Flash or Java to fix common Firefox problems article - disable your plugins to try to determine whether one of them is causing the problem.