![Firefox logo](https://assets-prod.sumo.prod.webservices.mozgcp.net/media/uploads/products/2020-04-14-08-36-13-8dda6f.png)
Changing download "save to" options
Before the new update whenever I downloaded a file it would ask where to save the file to every time, now it just asks once then automatically saves any new files I download to the same folder as the previous ones, forcing me to then go to that folder and manually move it to the correct folders. Is there any way to change it back to the right way it was done before they decided to remove our choice? My setting is set to "Always ask you where to save files", with the emphasis on "Always".
All Replies (11)
You should be able to go into Tools -> Settings -> General and set the Action for the types of downloads to Always Ask for those type you want it to.
MarkRH said
You should be able to go into Tools -> Settings -> General and set the Action for the types of downloads to Always Ask for those type you want it to.
Yes, and as I said in my original post it was on before and after the latest update, but that it asks only once where I want to save and then doesn't ask again. Please read the question till the end, as I did mention it there, though I just realized I forgot to mention that "Always ask you where to save files" is in Settings -> General, as I believed that would be obvious, guess not...
Open Firefox on your PC Next, click on the icon with three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of the browser. Now click on Options Scroll down until you reach the Files and apps section. Check the "Always ask where to save files" option.
jeyson1099 said
Open Firefox on your PC Next, click on the icon with three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of the browser. Now click on Options Scroll down until you reach the Files and apps section. Check the "Always ask where to save files" option.
can anyone actually read the question? That option is already selected, that is the whole reason I asked in the first place, because that option DOES NOT WORK. but since words seem to be too hard to understand let me add a picture, hopefully that helps.
Are files being downloaded to your default "Downloads" folder only happening for types of files that are set to always open in Firefox or in an external application in your Applications settings? (See Manage file types and download actions in Firefox). If so, then this is supposed to happen in Firefox 98. Related bug report (see Bugzilla Etiquette before commenting). Bug 1754542 Always ask you where to save files setting does not work - update 98.0b2 (64-bit)
(quote)
- Gijs (he/him) Comment 4 • 2022-02-10 10:57 EST
<snip> When files are set to automatically open (in Firefox or another app), this is an expected result. We do this for files set to "always open" to avoid prompting for a location for files that the user is not interested in keeping permanently in a specific location.
This was a change in response to complaints by other Firefox users in bug 1738916 (ie if I've told Firefox to open files of type X to always open immediately, I don't want to be bothered with a question about where to save the file in the meantime - I only want that when I'm saving a file, rather than opening it). This behaviour also matches other browsers, AFAIK, so I don't think we'll want to change it.
If this doesn't describe your problem then see this related question, in case it helps: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1370443 Firefox not asking where to download files
For other changes to download handling in Firefox 98 see this article: How file downloads are handled in Firefox version 98 and above
AliceWyman said
Are files being downloaded to your default "Downloads" folder only happening for types of files that are set to always open in Firefox or in an external application in your Applications settings? (See Manage file types and download actions in Firefox). If so, then this is supposed to happen in Firefox 98. Related bug report (see Bugzilla Etiquette before commenting).
The problem is I didn't choose the "Open with" option, I chose "Save to" option, selected my folder, and it saved there, then I started another download and it did not ask at all, just immediately started the download to the same folder as I chose for the previous download, which meant I had to go to that folder manually and move the file to the correct place, and its been doing that ever since, asks once after every time I restart my pc then does not ask again and just keeps downloading it all to the same folder. And my setting has always been set to "Always ask you where to save files" in Settings -> General because I want to control where things download so I do not have to move them between folders in the first place. I understand others don't want to be bothered but now we who actually want that control can't get it because its been taken away, at least leave us the option to do things the old way. But thank you for actually reading the question and giving a fleshed out response that actually gave info, instead of a generic response that is actually mentioned as done in the original post.
Muudetud
Hinder777 said
The problem is I didn't choose the "Open with" option, I chose "Save to" option, selected my folder, and it saved there, then I started another download and it did not ask at all, just immediately started the download to the same folder as I chose for the previous download, which meant I had to go to that folder manually and move the file to the correct place, and its been doing that ever since, asks once after every time I restart my pc then does not ask again and just keeps downloading it all to the same folder. And my setting has always been set to "Always ask you where to save files" in Settings -> General <snip>
My setting is also "Always ask you where to save files" in Settings -> General -> Downloads and I don't see what you're seeing. I have Microsoft PowerPoint (ppt) files set to "Save File" and FLV Video files set to "Always ask" in Settings -> General -> Applications. I used this site for testing: https://filesamples.com/
When I tested ppt downloads from https://filesamples.com/formats/ppt multiple times, I was always asked where to save the file. When I tested flv downloads from https://filesamples.com/formats/flv multiple tiles and selected "Save File" in the "What should Firefox do with this file?" open with or save file prompt, I was also asked where to save the file each time.
If you don't get a better answer, the best I can suggest is to see what happens in Firefox Troubleshoot mode or in a new Firefox profile. See Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems.
MarkRH said
You should be able to go into Tools -> Settings -> General and set the Action for the types of downloads to Always Ask for those type you want it to.
I agree we should be able to go into tools to set that. But it doesn't work. That's the point.
I cannot believe how annoying and dysfunctional this aspect of Firefox is. Ideally, I would want to click a document that is available (like a PDF), have it open and then I can just print/save, or whatever. But instead, I click it, it downloads to a place i don't want it to go, then I have to open it and save it etc. Pretty bad design.
ETA: I changed the way PDFs are treated in Firefox - to "Open in Firefox" and that is better, but it still wants me to save in my \downloads folder which isn't where I want it saved. I would prefer that it ask every time and it doesn't, but at least this is one step closer to ideal.
Muudetud
I had the same problem as Hinder777. Almost all files I download are PDF and it used to ask where to save. Then it started downloading them directly to my download file. I changed the downloads setting to always ask but it continued to send to downloads file. After reading Alice Wyman post, I went to settings>General>Applications>PDF and used the drop down to change to always ask. That worked for me.
Firefox settings to open or save downloaded PDF files are covered in this article:
View PDF files in Firefox or choose another viewer.