If you notice that that when you open the Downloads window, its list of downloads is blank, follow the instructions in this article.

For other downloading problems:

• For troubleshooting problems with downloading files, see the Unable to download or save files article.
• If the Downloads window fails to open when you download a file or try to open it, see the Downloads window does not open article.

Table Of Contents

• Set Firefox to retain download history
• Reset toolbars and controls
• Remove corrupt downloads file
• Further troubleshooting

Set Firefox to retain download history

If you open the Downloads window by clicking the Tools menu and selecting Downloads, and there are no entries listed, it may be because you have not set Firefox to remember what you've downloaded.

After you close the OptionsPreferences window, Firefox will retain a list of files you download.

Note: To clear the list of downloads automatically when Firefox is closed, see the Clearing private data article.

If the list of downloads is still blank after following the above instructions, continue with the next set of instructions.

Reset toolbars and controls

If Firefox is set to remember what you've downloaded, but the downloads window remains blank:

1. Close down Firefox completely: At the top of the Firefox window, click the File menu, and select the Exit menu item.Close down Firefox completely: On the menu bar, click the Firefox menu, and select the Quit Firefox menu item.Close down Firefox completely: At the top of the Firefox window, click the File menu, and select the Quit menu item.
2. In Windows, click Start, open the All Programs list, and navigate to the Mozilla Firefox folder. In the Mozilla Firefox folder, select Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode).Hold down the Option key, as you start Firefox.Go to your Terminal and run:

   firefox -safe-mode

   You may need to specify the Firefox installation path (e.g. /usr/lib/firefox-3.5).
3. Firefox should start up with a Firefox Safe Mode dialog.
   
   Note: You can also start Firefox in Safe Mode by clicking Start, selecting Run (or use the Start Search box in Windows 7 and Vista) and then entering the following in the text field:
   

   "%PROGRAMFILES%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

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

This will reset your Firefox toolbars. To make changes to the toolbars, see How to customize the toolbar article.

If the list of downloads is still blank after following the above instructions, continue with the next set of instructions.

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:
   • (Firefox 3.0 and 3.5): See How to find your profile
   1. (Firefox 3.6): At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information.... The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
   2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder.
2. From the menu at the top of the Firefox windowbar, select FileFirefox and then select the ExitQuit FirefoxQuit menu item.
3. Delete the downloads.sqlite file.

When you start Firefox again, your downloads should be remembered in the Downloads window.

Further troubleshooting

If the downloads history list is still blank after performing the steps above:

• Follow the instructions in the Troubleshooting extensions and themes article - attempt to download a file in Firefox's Safe Mode. If the list is shown properly, try to determine whether an addon is causing the problem.
• Follow the instructions in the Troubleshooting plugins article - disable your plugins to try to determine whether one of them is causing the problem.