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How do I save a pdf file shown in FF?

  • 16 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 4522 views
  • Last reply by firefox646

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Firefox displays pdf files very nicely, but how do I save the file to my download folder?

FF help says this is done by “clicking the download link” but I cant find any download links anywhere in the FF GUI, when the pdf is displayed.

I'm sure its there somewhere, but I just cant find it..

Help appreciated,

Cheers, Lars Bo

Firefox displays pdf files very nicely, but how do I save the file to my download folder? FF help says this is done by “clicking the download link” but I cant find any download links anywhere in the FF GUI, when the pdf is displayed. I'm sure its there somewhere, but I just cant find it.. Help appreciated, Cheers, Lars Bo

Chosen solution

I found a way to save a PDF file that is loaded as a web page, like a user manual. May not help save a web page to PDF though.

Wanting to save the manual for my Sennheiser headphones that I was referencing to remember how to turn on BT pairing, I instinctively touched the 3-dots menu up top (where the Print option used to be) and was coldly reminded there is no clear way to save the PDF with this browser. While there I decided to once more(with less emotion than the previous hundred times I’ve hunted for a solution to this insane issue) try the “Share Page with...” feature to see if there was an option there that might somehow enable saving of the file. No obvious choice so I thought what the heck I’ll Copy it (using the Copy button, conveniently located below the row of suggested apps) and then see if I can Paste it somewhere on the phone.

Opened the Files app, did a long press on the empty space between the files already housed in my downloads folder and voila!, the option to Paste appears and I successfully pasted the PDF into the downloads folder.

It’s of course entirely ridiculous that a user would have to use this method, in this day and age of modern UX research and design methodology, but here we are...#facepalm

Hope this helps someone! Come on FF, fix this issue!!!!

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (17)

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In the upper right there's a folder with an arrow. This is the download icon. Click pic to enlarge.

Modified by OBW47

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Thanks, but my browser doesnt look like that at all, see the attached screen shot.

Its a screen shot of FF Version 28.2 (2470) on my ipad running ios 14.1 showing a pdf file.

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I was afraid of that. I don’t see a way to save the file to Downloads. There is a way you can save the file to the iPad.

1. Open the document in FF 2. Press and hold a finger on the screen 3. Select Copy 4. Open the Files app 5. Scroll to an empty spot 6. Press an hold 7. Select Paste

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Thanks for the answer. Well, when I follow the procedure, FF just selects a single word and copies that, regardless where I press the screen. It doesn't save the file, unfortunately.

I guess the workaround is to use Safari or Chrome, when I want to save a downloaded pdf file.

Cheers

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Please clear my issue

Thanks

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Please resolve my issue

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I tried this again using the document in your photo and got a different result. As in my previous example, there is a download folder in the upper right, but it's not exactly the same layout. Here's the URL I used and a pic of my screen using FF 82.0.2.

[https://www.winningappliances.com.au/.../Breville-BES980BKS-the-Oracle--Coffee-Machine-User-Manual.pdf]

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I posted a reply with another shot at solving this, although I haven't seen it in the discussion yet. It contains a link to the manual you wanted to download. In my doggedness, I provided a screenshot using the Mac desktop version instead of the iOS system. Downloading a file is a snap on the desktop. Perhaps one day that setup will migrate to the iOS version also.

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Hello there,

I have the same dead issue, whether it be on my iPads or my iPhone. Once the file is downloaded, it is available and can be retrieved with the download tab but is just prisoner of Firefox.

How the heck do you get it out of the browser into another app (like the excelllent Documents app, goodreader, etc...)

Just like some of you folks, I have been reluctantly compelled to use another brower whenever I want to download something from a web page...

I must admit I fail to understand how this most basic and fundamental feature is missing in Firefox... (Or if it is, it should definitely be straightforward and user-friendly)

I'm sending positive waves so that this shortcoming is addressed soon...

In the meantime, if anyone of you has a trick, I'm all ears.

Thanks.

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OBW47 your such a time waster. If you don’t know the answer don’t post. All you are doing is sending people down blind rabbit holes

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Flying Nanard has the answer. If you want to download a PDF. or some other document format you need to download the document using another browser like Safari. Hopefully, Mozilla will fix this really basic issue one day

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I found my download in a file folder on my iPad. It opened in Firefox.

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Chosen Solution

I found a way to save a PDF file that is loaded as a web page, like a user manual. May not help save a web page to PDF though.

Wanting to save the manual for my Sennheiser headphones that I was referencing to remember how to turn on BT pairing, I instinctively touched the 3-dots menu up top (where the Print option used to be) and was coldly reminded there is no clear way to save the PDF with this browser. While there I decided to once more(with less emotion than the previous hundred times I’ve hunted for a solution to this insane issue) try the “Share Page with...” feature to see if there was an option there that might somehow enable saving of the file. No obvious choice so I thought what the heck I’ll Copy it (using the Copy button, conveniently located below the row of suggested apps) and then see if I can Paste it somewhere on the phone.

Opened the Files app, did a long press on the empty space between the files already housed in my downloads folder and voila!, the option to Paste appears and I successfully pasted the PDF into the downloads folder.

It’s of course entirely ridiculous that a user would have to use this method, in this day and age of modern UX research and design methodology, but here we are...#facepalm

Hope this helps someone! Come on FF, fix this issue!!!!

Modified by WoodForGood

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.......

Modified by Lars Bo Larsen

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WoodForGood said

I found a way to save a PDF file that is loaded as a web page, like a user manual. May not help save a web page to PDF though. Wanting to save the manual for my Sennheiser headphones that I was referencing to remember how to turn on BT pairing, I instinctively touched the 3-dots menu up top (where the Print option used to be) and was coldly reminded there is no clear way to save the PDF with this browser. While there I decided to once more(with less emotion than the previous hundred times I’ve hunted for a solution to this insane issue) try the “Share Page with...” feature to see if there was an option there that might somehow enable saving of the file. No obvious choice so I thought what the heck I’ll Copy it (using the Copy button, conveniently located below the row of suggested apps) and then see if I can Paste it somewhere on the phone. Opened the Files app, did a long press on the empty space between the files already housed in my downloads folder and voila!, the option to Paste appears and I successfully pasted the PDF into the downloads folder. It’s of course entirely ridiculous that a user would have to use this method, in this day and age of modern UX research and design methodology, but here we are...#facepalm Hope this helps someone! Come on FF, fix this issue!!!!

WoodForGood said

I found a way to save a PDF file that is loaded as a web page, like a user manual. May not help save a web page to PDF though. Wanting to save the manual for my Sennheiser headphones that I was referencing to remember how to turn on BT pairing, I instinctively touched the 3-dots menu up top (where the Print option used to be) and was coldly reminded there is no clear way to save the PDF with this browser. While there I decided to once more(with less emotion than the previous hundred times I’ve hunted for a solution to this insane issue) try the “Share Page with...” feature to see if there was an option there that might somehow enable saving of the file. No obvious choice so I thought what the heck I’ll Copy it (using the Copy button, conveniently located below the row of suggested apps) and then see if I can Paste it somewhere on the phone. Opened the Files app, did a long press on the empty space between the files already housed in my downloads folder and voila!, the option to Paste appears and I successfully pasted the PDF into the downloads folder. It’s of course entirely ridiculous that a user would have to use this method, in this day and age of modern UX research and design methodology, but here we are...#facepalm Hope this helps someone! Come on FF, fix this issue!!!!

Great, this works. However, no thanks to FF, the workaround is based purely on IOS functions, as you say.

Thanks, Lars Bo

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Seems that the most recent update has fixed this (v 32.1) and FF now allows for opening and saving PDF using the share sheet!

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firefox646 said

Seems that the most recent update has fixed this (v 32.1) and FF now allows for opening and saving PDF using the share sheet!

Apparently it doesn’t work for all online pdf files. For some web pages in the iOS “Share menu” the save file option doesn’t appear but when trying with Safari it has the option “Save to Files”. Don’t get this behavior discrepancy.

For example this PDF link: amazon whitepaper pdf

In the attached photos one screenshot is from the “Share menu” from Firefox, the other from Safari when trying to download the above posted link.

Modified by Floky