Current Firefox versions store the downloads in the Downloads folder in the History Manager (Library)

• History > Show All History

Those are still there even if you delete the entries in the classic download manager window.

Involved prefs:

• browser.download.panel.removeFinishedDownloads = true
• browser.download.manager.retention = 0

Note that search & form history automatically expires.
See:

• http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/2009/05/13/happy-form-history-expiration-day/

OK, so if I understand correctly, it'll go away on its own after 180 days. No good. I want it to clear from the download list (Ctrl + J) automatically the way it used to, without having to push the 'Clear List' button. It does on my desktop, but does not on my laptop. The laptop is currently not saving ANY history in an attempt to make it quit; there are no downloads at all listed in history, but they are all on the download list window. So there is now no way to save browsing history, but NOT save download history? Or my download history was always saved (for my custom setting of xx days) with browsing history and I just didn't know it? I'm more confused than before.

You can override that with a hidden Integer pref browser.formfill.expire_days (bug 243136) that needs to be created.

• http://mxr.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/source/toolkit/components/satchel/nsFormHistory.js

// Determine how many days of history we're supposed to keep.
let expireDays = 180;
try {
      expireDays = Services.prefs.getIntPref("browser.formfill.expire_days");
} catch (e) { /* ignore */ }

This is an exercise in frustration and futility. I'll just live with it. You're speaking a different language from the ones I know. This looks like Greek (well, Geek). I'm not a programmer, just a simple-minded user. Guess I should just shut up and go back to IE. There are 10 types of people--- those who understand binary and those who don't. Guess I don't.

Type about:config in the location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key to open the about:config page, just like you open a website by typing the URL in the location bar.

If you see a warning message then you can confirm that you want to access the about:config page.

If you right-click on the about:config page then you see a context menu.
In that context menu select: New > Integer
For the name of the string copy/paste this text: browser.formfill.expire_days
Click OK and enter the preferred number of days as the value (e.g. 365 for one year; don't exaggerate and make it extremely large).

Make sure that the name doesn't have leading or trailing spaces.

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

Thanks! That fixed the Browsing History to delete after 30 days. But to the original issues which prompted this post, is there a similar entry (or some other way) to make the Classic Download window (Ctrl + J) clear my list after downloading, as it used to do? As I mentioned, it was still doing it even when I had changed settings to save NO history (dechecked "Save Browsing & Download History" in Options)

Did you look at these prefs?

• browser.download.panel.removeFinishedDownloads = true
• browser.download.manager.retention = 0

Well, I looked for them but there were so many choices I didn't look at them; couldn't find the right ones. That fixed it. Thanks SO much! I'll try to remember to check about:config next time I have a problem. Awesome.

You're welcome.

See also:

• https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Download_Manager_preferences