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how to set ff to open recently downloaded files instead of downloading them again

  • 18 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by junior9235

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I want to prevent ff from downloading a file that was previously downloaded (in the same session) and set ff to open the already downloaded file instead of downloading the same file again when you click on a link. You know sometimes you are looking for some info and it is not good having to wait for the file to download and open just to realize that it is the same file you already have downloaded minutes before and was in the Download folder already.

I want to prevent ff from downloading a file that was previously downloaded (in the same session) and set ff to open the already downloaded file instead of downloading the same file again when you click on a link. You know sometimes you are looking for some info and it is not good having to wait for the file to download and open just to realize that it is the same file you already have downloaded minutes before and was in the Download folder already.

All Replies (18)

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Hello,

Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.

(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)

  • You can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • Or open the Help menu and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.

Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode"

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.

To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help other users who have the same problem.

Thank you.

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Does the about:cache page confirm that the disk cache is enabled and working?

You can open about:cache via the location bar.

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I restarted in safe mode, however, every time I clicked a pdf linked file on a webpage it downloaded the file instead of opening from the cache. I do not know if it is the normal behavior or not, but I think It should open the file on the cache

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Hi Cor-el I open about:cache in the location bar but I do not know what all that info means. I have attached the prt screen

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Yes the disk cache is working properly, so that can't be a cause. It is possible that the files have a no-cache or similar directive send via the response headers to not cache the file and in that case Firefox will retrieve them again. The same happens if you download the same file more than once (such files are not in the cache, only files that are displayed in a tab possibly can).

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Cor-el, The pdf downloaded files are stored in a TEMP folder , not in the cache folder. I dont know if the files have no-cache directive however when I use the IE, the files are not downloaded each time the link is clicked. IE download the pdf file the first time. All clicks to download the file (after the first one) will open the file already downloaded file and do not download them again. It looks like it is a FF setting not a file restriction

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If the files are in the TEMP folder then they are intended to be passed to an external program and in that case they are out of control for Firefox (i.e. not in the Firefox profile folder).

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cor-el, your comment does not help. The downloaded files went to the temp folder because that was set up that way by the FF software during installation and there was not any way to change that at that time. The temp folder is the system folder were IE and ff save temp objects. I check at about:config but there is no way to change where temp objects should be placed. Do you know how to set the right folder for temp objects? Do you know how to make ff to open downloaded files and prevent it from downloading the file again ?

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According to your knowledge what should be the folder for the pdf downloaded files that permit ff to open instead of re-downloading?

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Files that go to the temp folder will always be downloaded another time when you click the link.

You set the temp folder via the %TMP% and %TEMP% environment variables in Control Panel > System.

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Well it looks like it is not like that using IE because files are not downloaded every time. what is supposed to be the folder for temp that permits FF to open the file instead of redownloading? I can change the temp folder at control panel >system if it resolves the problem

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nothing uhh??..are you just wasting peoples time with non valuable information until the post is abandoned or it is just my feeling?

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I don't think that it is possible to achieve what you want, but maybe other have suggestions.

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Have you tried a new profile/Windows safe mode? Maybe a antivirus is interfering?

Safe mode (Windows, with networking)

Profile Manager as a test.

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have you ever tried to achieve that or you are just saying something looking to close this post as solved? Please guys stop doing that. You are not helping with this. You know already that it cannot be done in FF so just stop of suggesting things that are non related to this post. My question is very basic by 2013. If FF still cannot do that just say it do play stupid games. thank you

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very disappointed with the mozilla support team

Do not waste the peoples time. You should say the truth no matter how hard it is

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Have you tried above?

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not solved the problem