This is a change to how Firefox 98 handles file downloads. In case it helps, see this article: How file downloads are handled in Firefox.

Hi Alice,

Thank you very much for your help. The article indeed describes the overall new behavior of Firefox for all file downloads. As I suspected, it is not only about pdf files.

The problem is, that I handle a lot of files on a daily basis and I do not need/want to download every single one of them. I just need to view and/or print through Acrobat Reader. Most definitely, I do not need to load my hard drive with temp pdf (or other) files every day, when working.

I get the idea "save one extra click", but that is what Settings are for: setting up the behavior preferred, based on the user's needs. I don't understand why this had to change, rendering Settings useless.

The article suggests right-click on file in download list (top-right) and select "Always open in Acrobat Reader". Indeed, all pdf's open with Acrobat Reader, yet they are ALSO downloaded in my Downloads folder.

Until now, files were temporarily stored in... Temp folder and since the file was open, say in Acrobat Reader, I could choose whether to save it in my hard drive or not.

This is really frustrating, filling up my hard drive for absolutely no reason at all.

Again, thank you very much for your reply, I really hope this goes away soon. Mozilla needs to figure this out.

Michael

Note that previously files you opened in an external application (PDF: Adobe Reader) were saved to the temp folder likely as read-only for safety. The new current behavior is that all files as saved to the default download location or if you use 'Always Ask' to the folder you specify. Files loaded to the temp folder might be removed at any time, so it is less likely that you lose a file if you have edited the downloaded file.

Hi cor-el,

Thank you for your reply.

My point exactly: all downloads used to go to Temp first. Combined with the setting to always open with a specific program (i.e.: pdf's with Acrobat Reader), files are always opened/processed with a reliable app and then IF necessary saved in a location on the hard drive.

If someone needs to ALWAYS save all downloaded files, then there is a setting for that too: "Save file". Then files are automatically saved to the default download folder (whether Win default or user edited). No one lost a downloaded file from the Temp folder. Even if so, you can always download it again! And if you need to save it... see my previous sentence.

This new behavior, where files are being automatically saved regardless of the setting (open with, save file, always ask) is utterly pointless and defeats the purpose of settings.

Again: I DON'T need/want to accumulate hundreds of unnecessary files in my drive on a daily basis. It is absurd.

Looking forward for v99.

Michael

I concur - this is a HORRIBLE change to how to handle files. I do technical designs and many times a day I need to open the data sheet for a particular product to check very specific features/specifications for it; if that product doesn't meet my needs, I (used to) then close the PDF - no harm, no foul. If it did match my needs, I would then save the PDF (File -> Save As) in the appropriate project folder.

Now, at the end of each day, I have dozens and dozens of PDFs on my desktop that I have to drag to the trash can. Whomever came up with this "improvement" should go work for MS and develop Edge, because that's the browser that has all the bad ideas built in.

PLEASE undo this in the next rev so I don't have to switch to another browser!!!

The people who answer questions here, for the most part, are other users volunteering their time (like me), not Mozilla employees or Firefox developers. If you want to leave feedback for Firefox developers, you can go to the Firefox Help menu and select Submit Feedback... or use this link. Your feedback gets collected by a team of people who read it and gather data about the most common issues.

You can also file a bug report or feature request. See File a bug report or feature request for Mozilla products for details.

Hi Alice!

Thank you for your time and pointing out to the right direction. I have already posted my thoughts on the appropriate forum.

It appears that I am not the only one asking for this annoying new behavior to go away.

In the mean time, I am posting here a temp solution from the user Ujudkma, who came up with it:

about:config -> Accept the Risk and Continue -> improvements -> browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel: false

Michael

I have the exact same issue. My download folder gets cluttered with every single file I ever opened! This is TERRIBLE behavior, both in terms of disk space and privacy. The argument "Firefox no longer saves files to a temporary folder because of the downsides to saving files in a location that is hard to discover." is nonsense. If I open a file in an external application and decide I do want to keep it, I will simply use the "Save As..." function from inside that application. Otherwise I expect the file to be gone after logging out.

I also have the same problem, and it is very frustrating having to remove PDFs from my downloads folder at the end of the working day!! I just can't understand why a feature needs to be changed when it works properly. I agree with the above Firefox users who hope this 'improvement' is cancelled in the next version of the browser!!

I also have this problem. I have my downloads set to ask every time but they are only going into the download folder where I can't even choose the name of the file. I have to edit the file name, save it to my preferred destination file, and then make sure that is deleted out of the downloads folder. This is such a waste of time and is counter-productive. If it isn't fixes soon, I will turn to a different browser.

Add me to the list, excruciatingly frustrating update! Given that there is a 'save as' option in the pdf viewer the excuse given to make this change is ludicrous.