Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Strange changes when using local files on Android.

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Paul

more options

I used to open local HTML and text files in Firefox that were stored on my Android 11 phone. There were two options available: Firefox was in the "Open With" lists for HTML and text files. Also, I could use a file URI like file:///storage/emulated/0/Download. I also used shortcuts with local images on the home screen. Firefox is no longer listed in the Open With lists. The file URI stopped working too. It still works in Chrome, but when I open the URI with "file: ///" I am redirected to google search because the URI is not recognized. Thus, my old bookmarks with local files became unusable. Home screen shortcuts also stopped working. I am getting an "App isn’t installed" message. However, there is one strange point. Fortunately, I realized that I can still work with local files. I still had a tab open with one of my local files and that tab was still working. I can go to the top level file:///storage/emulated/0/, open any directory or file, and then go back to the top levels. So, I had one tab working with local files and I tried to duplicate that tab. Obviously copying/pasting URI and bookmarks took me again to the google search page. Then I tried collections and the collections work well. Using collections, I can open tabs with local files. I'm pretty sure that collections only work because I have open tabs with local files, and if I close all tabs with local URIs, the collections also will stop working. I cannot prove it because it might be irreversible. Thus, I have several questions. - Why is Firefox missing from the "Open With" list for HTML and text mime types? - Why, unlike Chrome, Firefox stopped opening the file URI, for example file:///storage/emulated/0/Download ? - Why does collections allow me to open local directories and files when at least one tab with a local file is still open? - Why do shortcuts with local files give an "App isn’t installed" error?

I used to open local HTML and text files in Firefox that were stored on my Android 11 phone. There were two options available: Firefox was in the "Open With" lists for HTML and text files. Also, I could use a file URI like file:///storage/emulated/0/Download. I also used shortcuts with local images on the home screen. Firefox is no longer listed in the Open With lists. The file URI stopped working too. It still works in Chrome, but when I open the URI with "file: ///" I am redirected to google search because the URI is not recognized. Thus, my old bookmarks with local files became unusable. Home screen shortcuts also stopped working. I am getting an "App isn’t installed" message. However, there is one strange point. Fortunately, I realized that I can still work with local files. I still had a tab open with one of my local files and that tab was still working. I can go to the top level file:///storage/emulated/0/, open any directory or file, and then go back to the top levels. So, I had one tab working with local files and I tried to duplicate that tab. Obviously copying/pasting URI and bookmarks took me again to the google search page. Then I tried collections and the collections work well. Using collections, I can open tabs with local files. I'm pretty sure that collections only work because I have open tabs with local files, and if I close all tabs with local URIs, the collections also will stop working. I cannot prove it because it might be irreversible. Thus, I have several questions. - Why is Firefox missing from the "Open With" list for HTML and text mime types? - Why, unlike Chrome, Firefox stopped opening the file URI, for example file:///storage/emulated/0/Download ? - Why does collections allow me to open local directories and files when at least one tab with a local file is still open? - Why do shortcuts with local files give an "App isn’t installed" error?

All Replies (1)

more options

Hi

It is currently not possible to access device storage in Firefox for Android, bug yhisbus something that might be reviewed in a future update.