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Firefox is leaving copies of viewed pdf files in the download directory

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by millerjr

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When I choose to view a pdf file in Acrobat, Firefox 60.0.2 for mac leaves a copy of the file in the download directory. It has to be manually deleted later, very messy.

When I choose to view a pdf file in Acrobat, Firefox 60.0.2 for mac leaves a copy of the file in the download directory. It has to be manually deleted later, very messy.

Chosen solution

See also this pref on the about:config page.

  • browser.helperApps.deleteTempFileOnExit

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

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All Replies (6)

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So what would like to do. As you are asking Firefox to download it so acrobat can view it. It then has to be deleted some how from the download icon Open File Location or Show all Downloads and removed with right click with 2 options.

Or if your not planning on keeping the file have Firefox open the PDF instead. Then it is in temp folder.

Use Acrobat for files you want to keep or modify or whatever with it's functions.

Would you want to delete all downloads....use the icon...

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Or find a download manager to go along with the rest of your Extensions.

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Hi millerjr,

Yes, that's the way Firefox on macOS currently works. I don't know if that's intentional, but I don't know of any plans to change that behaviuor.

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Chosen Solution

See also this pref on the about:config page.

  • browser.helperApps.deleteTempFileOnExit

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

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Thanks Chris and cor-el, the help is greatly appreciated. I'll try cor-el's suggestion and post the results here.

Just so I know for future reference, what is the official way to suggest a change, or find out if there is a reason that the change could or should not be done.

This not intended to step on anyone's toes, I'm just using this as an example. In this case is there a reason Acrobat can not pick up the pdf from the temp directory? I think that might have the desired result.

Is that a valid question/suggestion to make? And is this the proper place to do so?

Many thanks!

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Thanks cor-el! That solves the problem for me.