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

Why do email attachments always download as generic "viewattachment" and no file type?

  • 2 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by corb555

more options

I am using Optimum Online Webmail and everytime an attachment is emailed to me, it downloads as "viewattachment" and I have to manually change the name of the file AND the extension in order for it to open properly in the application used. I didn't use to have to do this and it seems it's only been recent, so I'm not sure what has changed. I am using the newest version of Firefox on a Mac OS X. The same thing happens with opening email in Firefox in Internet Explorer, so it's not a Mac problem. I also contacted Optimum and they said it's a Firefox problem. Lastly, I tried assigning the correct applications to use upon opening certain file types in Firefox preferences and that didn't work either. I still have the same issue. Please advise as soon as possible as it's quite annoying to have to do this all the time. Other than this problem, I think Firefox is the best browser out there.

I am using Optimum Online Webmail and everytime an attachment is emailed to me, it downloads as "viewattachment" and I have to manually change the name of the file AND the extension in order for it to open properly in the application used. I didn't use to have to do this and it seems it's only been recent, so I'm not sure what has changed. I am using the newest version of Firefox on a Mac OS X. The same thing happens with opening email in Firefox in Internet Explorer, so it's not a Mac problem. I also contacted Optimum and they said it's a Firefox problem. Lastly, I tried assigning the correct applications to use upon opening certain file types in Firefox preferences and that didn't work either. I still have the same issue. Please advise as soon as possible as it's quite annoying to have to do this all the time. Other than this problem, I think Firefox is the best browser out there.

All Replies (2)

more options
more options

i have the same problem. this only happens with Firefox, not any other browser and seems to only happen with Optimum webmail. I can download from other sites fine with Firefox, and can download from Optimum fine with IE, Chrome, and Safari. This started a few months ago.