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

Open file association with Applications is not working. Firefox always uses Content Type of "file" to open files.

more options

Even though the XLSX file in the example (images attached) is identified as such, when trying to open the file, the Launch Application window appears which is for files of "file" Content Type. This started occurring about 3 months ago, after a Firefox Update. I do not know to which version unfortunately. It affects all users so it's not profile related. I tried to Refresh Firefox and Restart with Add-ons Disabled from Tools > Help > Troubleshooting information but it didn't help.

Even though the XLSX file in the example (images attached) is identified as such, when trying to open the file, the Launch Application window appears which is for files of "file" Content Type. This started occurring about 3 months ago, after a Firefox Update. I do not know to which version unfortunately. It affects all users so it's not profile related. I tried to Refresh Firefox and Restart with Add-ons Disabled from Tools > Help > Troubleshooting information but it didn't help.
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Hello,

turns out it was a bug on the Firefox version I was using. As soon as updated to 68.4.2 issue is resolved.

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/68.4.2/releasenotes/

"Fixed various issues opening files with spaces in their path"

Thank you RobertJ for all your help

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (10)

more options

Hello Pavlos V,

Do you have your Applications handler set up properly?

This article should help with that: Change what Firefox does when you click on or download a file __________________________________________________________________

If nothing in the article helped you solve the issue, you can reset your Applications handler.

Type (or paste) about:support in the address bar and press Enter under Application Basics next to Profile Folder click the Open Folder button Close Firefox.

In your Profile Folder rename handlers.json to something like handlersOLD.json If you see a file named mimeTypes.rdf, rename that one to mimeTypesOLD.rdf

Close the folder window and launch Firefox. Your Applications handler will be reset to the default. You can set how to handle XLSX's and set how to handle other file types as you encounter them.

more options

RobertJ said

Hello Pavlos V, Do you have your Applications handler set up properly? This article should help with that: Change what Firefox does when you click on or download a file __________________________________________________________________ If nothing in the article helped you solve the issue, you can reset your Applications handler. Type (or paste) about:support in the address bar and press Enter under Application Basics next to Profile Folder click the Open Folder button Close Firefox. In your Profile Folder rename handlers.json to something like handlersOLD.json If you see a file named mimeTypes.rdf, rename that one to mimeTypesOLD.rdf Close the folder window and launch Firefox. Your Applications handler will be reset to the default. You can set how to handle XLSX's and set how to handle other file types as you encounter them.

Hello RobertJ,

thank you for that. My Application handlers are set up properly and renaming handlers.json file didn't help, unfortunately. I have done standard troubleshooting, investigation over the web, and I believe this is a bug rather than a profile issue.

Any more ideas are most welcome!

more options

Have you checked the file association in Windows? As far as XLSX files on your PC: go to any XLSX file, right click on it, select Open With and Choose Another App. In the selection window that opens select Excel and tick the checkbox next to Always Use This App To Open XLSX Files. If Excel isn't shown, Scroll down and click on More Apps... If it isn't in that list, scroll down and select Look for another app on this PC... In the Open With... window, find Excel select Excel and Open. If that still doesn't work, go to - Windows Settings -> Apps -> Default Apps (on the left) listed under the Reset button, you will see Choose Default Apps By File Type

You can also check: Choose Default Apps By Protocol

Modified by user104147805413306348376805769878442569366

more options

Sorry, double-check the edit of that last reply

more options

Hello RobertJ,

I have checked file association for Windows, nothing out of the ordinary there.

I have investigated further and realized that Firefox Open file association with Applications is working fine on Windows Server 2012 but it's not working when Firefox is used as a RemoteApp.

So, I'm not entirely sure if the issue is related to Firefox or not but it did start when Firefox was updated.

more options

I agree with you: I'm not entirely sure if the issue is related to Firefox. I saw an Undocumented Hotfix for MS Office download early on the 11th and there have been quite a few posts in regard to Office files not opening properly since then. I didn't have any issues downloading and opening an XLSX from the same source as in your screenshot. If everything above checks out OK, you may have to take a look in the Registry. Let us know what you find.

more options

Go figure. I just now got an MS Office update from the 14th downloaded.

more options

And still OK downloading and opening an XLSX from File Examples Download.

more options

Chosen Solution

Hello,

turns out it was a bug on the Firefox version I was using. As soon as updated to 68.4.2 issue is resolved.

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/68.4.2/releasenotes/

"Fixed various issues opening files with spaces in their path"

Thank you RobertJ for all your help

more options

I'm glad to hear that you figured out the problem. I was glad to see that fix, also.


Browse Safe !