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Can't download anything, dialog box never appears

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by FredMcD

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Starting last night Firefox will not let me download anything. If I click on a download link, my Mac toolbar goes gray like normal, but no download dialog box ever appears. I have confirmed the dialog box isn't hiding behind any open windows on my desktop, and I have tried rebooting my system with no change.

Please help me fix this.

Starting last night Firefox will not let me download anything. If I click on a download link, my Mac toolbar goes gray like normal, but no download dialog box ever appears. I have confirmed the dialog box isn't hiding behind any open windows on my desktop, and I have tried rebooting my system with no change. Please help me fix this.

Chosen solution

This turned out to not be a Firefox problem. My computer suddenly decided it is going to retain a second desktop for my other display, even when its turned of, which it has never done before. For some reason Firefox was choosing to put the dialog box on this other desktop that I didn't know existed.

Sorry for bothering you all and thanks for the advice.

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All Replies (5)

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By default, Firefox 98+ will automatically save files to your default Downloads folder. You can use the Downloads button on the toolbar, or the main list opened by Command+J, to see whether any new files have been added there or there are failure notices.

If you selected "Always ask you where to save files" on the Settings/Preferences page, then before finalizing the download, Firefox should display a Finder window to choose where to save the file (and allowing you to rename it). Is that what is missing?

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https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/98.0/releasenotes/ Firefox has a new optimized download flow . . . .

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manage-downloads-preferences-using-downloads-menu Changes to how file downloads are handled in Firefox version 98

  • Firefox no longer asks what to do for each file by default
  • Downloads panel automatically opens
  • Downloaded files are saved to disk
  • Set a default app to open a file type
  • "Always Open Similar Files" option from the Downloads panel
  • Frequently asked questions


You can set this pref to false on the about:config page to prevent opening the download panel on each download.

  • browser.download.alwaysOpenPanel = false

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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Firefox 98 changed Always Ask to Save in Settings > General > Applications. Check your settings there and change them to what you want.

Modified by Terry

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Chosen Solution

This turned out to not be a Firefox problem. My computer suddenly decided it is going to retain a second desktop for my other display, even when its turned of, which it has never done before. For some reason Firefox was choosing to put the dialog box on this other desktop that I didn't know existed.

Sorry for bothering you all and thanks for the advice.

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That was very good work. Well Done.