[Tip] Restore Classic Download Confirmation Prompt in Mozilla Firefox
If you want to disable new automatic download behavior and restore classic download prompt window in Mozilla Firefox web browser, this article will help you.
In newer versions of Mozilla Firefox (version 98.0 and later), if a user tries to download a file from a website, Firefox starts downloading the file automatically without displaying the classic notification window prompting the user to select open with or save file options.
As soon as you click on a download link present on a website, Firefox starts the download and displays the download progress in the new Download panel or flyout icon present on its toolbar as shown in following screenshot:
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In previous versions of Firefox, the browser used to show a confirmation dialog box asking the user to select whether Firefox should open the file using an application or save the file on his computer system or cancel the downloading.
Following screenshot shows the classic download behavior in Firefox older versions:
This new feature is called “Optimized Download Flow” which skips the download confirmation dialog completely and downloads the file automatically. This feature has been developed to minimize the interruptions and allow users to focus on other tasks. One more thing! The downloaded files will be immediately saved on your hard disk. Firefox will no longer put them in Temp folder.
Many Firefox users many not like this new download behavior and want to bring back old classic download prompt window in Firefox.
Fortunately, there is a hidden secret preference/flag available in Firefox which can be modified to disable the new download behavior and re-enable classic download prompt window in Firefox newer versions.
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If you also want to restore classic download prompt box in Firefox, following steps will help you:
1. Open Firefox and type about:config in the addressbar and press Enter. It’ll show you a warning message, click on “Accept the Risk and Continue” button. It’ll open Firefox’s hidden secret advanced configuration page i.e. about:config page.
2. Now type improvements in Search filter box and look for following preference in the window:
browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel
The preference value is set to true by default, which means the new automatic download behavior is activated and enabled in Firefox.
3. To deactivate and disable the new behavior and restore classic download prompt feature, double-click on browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel preference and set it to false. Alternatively, you can click on the Toggle icon given next to the preference name.
That’s it. Now try to download a file in Firefox browser and you’ll get back the classic download prompt dialog box in Firefox.
PS: To restore default settings and enable new automatic download feature again in Firefox, set the above mentioned preference to true.
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Thanks. Why would anyone use Firefox to download Edge?
Is there anyway to restore temporary folder instead of downloads folder for the open with mode? I don’t want to delete them manually, since temp folder clears automatically depending of the OS. Now, even if I use the classic open with option instead of Save file, it downloads to default downloads folder, which is annoying.
Not working in latest firefox.
I tried your method VG and it does not work.
Worked like a charm.
Thanks VG! working!
Thanks, it worked. I hope they will not kill this flag later.
This new automatic Downloads window feature was very, very annoying with the “Auto save HTML” plugin.
Thank you, just what I needed to get the “open with” option back on the menu.
thank you sooooooooooooo much! I only ever need to open and print….I do not need all of these files on my computer. taking away that option has been a nightmare! works just like it did, now. again….THANK YOU!
I am soooooooooooooooooo happy!
While I don’t mind the automatic saving of the file, I do not like that it now constantly creates a pop up notification stating that it’s complete which stays up until I click it to make it go away – I’d rather have a quickly fading away notification or better yet, a means of toggling those download completion notifications off completely.
(Notes: Modifying the “browser.download.manager.showAlertOnComplete” setting to false *does not* affect this behavior.)
Thank a lot! the new notification pop up was driving me crazy.
FINALLY!
30 minutes of searching, and Google kept showing me old a** comments/help “guides”, or completely wrong information that messed up my Firefox browser.
THANK YOU, ASKVG!!!
PS: This update was dumb. Why would Mozilla force such a feature? If it ain’t broken, DO NOT “FIX” IT!
Thank you! This stupid update was really annoying me with that feature.
Worked like a charm VG, thanks, you’re the man or woman. What a stupid update from Firefox, I’m so tired of the relentless fixing of nonexistent problems and responding to the inevitable outcry with an Apple-style “we know what’s best for you”
THANK YOU! Works perfectly. The new pop up window was driving me crazy, it’s so useless and annoying!
You, sir, are a true man of culture.
I salute thee.
this new feature was causing my downloads folder to clog up with junk. it’s a waste of time. my downloads folder is for things i want downloaded.. not a bunch of useless stuff that i just want to open, read, print, share, etc.
i was confused with what was going on and searched all through firefox settings to fix the problem. then i searched the internet to figure out what was going on and found out firefox recently decided to force every download onto the C drive. i wonder who came up with that dumb idea.
i found your help by searching webpages from the last month on how to stop automatic downloads on firefox. thank you so much for sharing this great information. firefox should realize their mistake and do something to fix it.
Oh my goodness, I could cry!! Thank you so much for this, it works perfectly!
The update caused so much stress and extra work as I had to manually delete all the automatically downloaded files I’d only wanted to view, and I’m so grateful you’ve shared this fix! Thank you!!!
I don’t know who had the idea to set this up in Firefox, but I’d be happy to knock his teeth out.