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Open file saves to downloads folder.

  • 4 replies
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  • Last reply by AliceWyman

Frogger60
Frogger60
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Hi all,

So I recently got a new laptop for work, so naturally installed the latest version of Firefox on it. I see in a previous version, they changed the way "Open file" works, so now instead of it downloading to your TEMP folder and opening the file and hiding where it is "saved", it now just SAVES the file to the Downloads folder and opens it.

This is a problem for me at work, as I essentially open 100s of files every day and my Downloads folder is just full of junk now that I would need to sort out from what is junk and what isn't. Is there a way to change this back to the way it was, or is there a way to make it so that when I tell Firefox to OPEN a file, that it saves it a different location from my default Downloads folder? This way I could simply schedule a task to auto delete files older than X days, without risking files that I actually want saved.

Thanks very much.

Hi all, So I recently got a new laptop for work, so naturally installed the latest version of Firefox on it. I see in a previous version, they changed the way "Open file" works, so now instead of it downloading to your TEMP folder and opening the file and hiding where it is "saved", it now just SAVES the file to the Downloads folder and opens it. This is a problem for me at work, as I essentially open 100s of files every day and my Downloads folder is just full of junk now that I would need to sort out from what is junk and what isn't. Is there a way to change this back to the way it was, or is there a way to make it so that when I tell Firefox to OPEN a file, that it saves it a different location from my default Downloads folder? This way I could simply schedule a task to auto delete files older than X days, without risking files that I actually want saved. Thanks very much.

Chosen solution

For the record, here is how the Firefox 102 Beta release notes describe this new opt-in preference setting:

Changed | There is now an enterprise policy (StartDownloadsInTempDirectory) and an about:config pref (browser.download.start_downloads_in_tmp_dir) that will once again cause Firefox to initially put downloads in (a subfolder of) the OS temp folder, instead of the download folder configured in Firefox. Files opened from the "what should Firefox do with this file" dialog, or set to open in helper applications automatically, will stay in this folder. Files saved (not opened as previously mentioned) will still end up in the Firefox download folder.

To enable this preference, open the Configuration Editor for Firefox by entering about:config in the Firefox address bar. Find browser.download.start_downloads_in_tmp_dir in the list of preferences and double-click on it to toggle the setting to true.

WARNING: Changing Firefox preferences from the about:config page can sometimes break Firefox or cause strange behavior. You should only do this if you know what you're doing. Please read Firefox Advanced Customization and Configuration Options to learn more.

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All Replies (4)

Terry
Terry
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You can now enable the following preference in about:config. browser.download.start_downloads_in_tmp_dir

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

Frogger60
Frogger60 Question owner
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Terry said
You can now enable the following preference in about:config. browser.download.start_downloads_in_tmp_dir https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

Would this not cause ALL downloads, whether it is Saved or Open to save in the Temp folder? Or would this default to the Temp folder and allow me to choose Downloads when I click Save?

  • EDIT* Tested and works correctly. Opened files save in the Temp folder and clicking on Save asks where to save the file, defaulting in the location you have set in options (Downloads by default).

Modified by Frogger60

AliceWyman
AliceWyman
  • Moderator
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Chosen Solution

For the record, here is how the Firefox 102 Beta release notes describe this new opt-in preference setting:

Changed | There is now an enterprise policy (StartDownloadsInTempDirectory) and an about:config pref (browser.download.start_downloads_in_tmp_dir) that will once again cause Firefox to initially put downloads in (a subfolder of) the OS temp folder, instead of the download folder configured in Firefox. Files opened from the "what should Firefox do with this file" dialog, or set to open in helper applications automatically, will stay in this folder. Files saved (not opened as previously mentioned) will still end up in the Firefox download folder.

To enable this preference, open the Configuration Editor for Firefox by entering about:config in the Firefox address bar. Find browser.download.start_downloads_in_tmp_dir in the list of preferences and double-click on it to toggle the setting to true.

WARNING: Changing Firefox preferences from the about:config page can sometimes break Firefox or cause strange behavior. You should only do this if you know what you're doing. Please read Firefox Advanced Customization and Configuration Options to learn more.

AliceWyman
AliceWyman
  • Moderator
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P.S. To learn more about this new preference setting, see Bug 1738574 Want an option to continue to use /tmp and autodelete downloads automatically opened in an application