I can download, but when opening It downloads again instead of opening
I download a file and it shows in the download list and leaves an icon on my desktop. When I double (or single) click on the icon or on the name in the list it downloads again instead of opening. Doesn't open or bring up anything to Save or choose what to open with. I end up with a lot of the same file on the list and a lot of icons on my desktop. I can go to another browser other than Firefox and it will open with no problem. Has worked correctly in the past. Windows 7 Firefox 53.0.2 auto updates
All Replies (18)
What's your computer system and Firefox version?
Please be sure, are you downloading the file or its link?
As I posted in my question, Windows 7 and Firefox 53.0.2. I'm downloading the file and not the link and It works if I download from my Chrome browser with no problems. I mostly use Firefox though and want to be able to download from there. I've tried several different downloads from different locations and they all do the same--download but won't open but re-downloads instead.
Right-click one of those shortcuts. Is it listed as a file or a shortcut?
What kind of file is this about?
Did you check the properties of the desktop shortcut to see what action is taken if you click this file?
What response do you see in the Network Monitor if you download the file?
See also the Live Http Headers extension.
FredMcD said
Right-click one of those shortcuts. Is it listed as a file or a shortcut?
When I right click on the shortcut it brings up Open, Open with, Scan with MS Essentials, etc. Doesn't say file or shortcut. Clicking on Open it downloads again and doesn't open.
cor-el said
What kind of file is this about? Did you check the properties of the desktop shortcut to see what action is taken if you click this file? What response do you see in the Network Monitor if you download the file? See also the Live Http Headers extension.
I may be downloading an invoice from an email, or a catalogue page from a brochure, or an invoice from a website. None of these will open but just re downloads. All these will open if I download from Explorer or Chrome Browser. I'm not tech savvy enough to know about the Monitor or Live Http headers.
You can try to use "Open with" to open the file with a text editor to check its content.
Can you confirm the file extension (file type)?
If this is a file type that is associated with Firefox then Firefox will show the open with download dialog because Firefox doesn't know how to handle this file. Make sure that you never select Firefox to handle a specific file if you get a download dialog.
In that case you can check for issues with the mimeTypes.rdf file.
Try to rename/remove the mimeTypes.rdf file in the Firefox profile folder to reset all file actions.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/mimeTypes.rdf
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/File_types_and_download_actions#Resetting_download_actions
You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
Modified by cor-el
cor-el said
What kind of file is this about? Did you check the properties of the desktop shortcut to see what action is taken if you click this file? What response do you see in the Network Monitor if you download the file? When I click on properties it says " Firefox HTML Document (.PDF)" If I right click and click on Open with Firefox it re downloads if I click on Open with Chrome it opens in Chrome.
Modified by annie8848
That means that Firefox currently doesn't handle PDF files.
Is the built-in PDF Viewer enabled?
cor-el said
That means that Firefox currently doesn't handle PDF files. Is the built-in PDF Viewer enabled?
I don't see any PDF viewer listed in Plug Ins
No.
The built-in PDF Viewer isn't a plugin (only the Flash plugin is supported), but is a built-in component.
Did you check on the about:config page that pdfjs.disabled is set to false to make sure the PDF Viewer isn't disabled?
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I'll be careful" to continue.
cor-el said
No. The built-in PDF Viewer isn't a plugin (only the Flash plugin is supported), but is a built-in component. Did you check on the about:config page that pdfjs.disabled is set to false to make sure the PDF Viewer isn't disabled? You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I'll be careful" to continue.
It does say FALSE after pdfjs.disabled on the list
Modified by annie8848
I went to Applications and saw after the PDF it said SAVE FILE so I changed it to ALWAYS ASK. Now it will ask me what to open it with. If I choose Firefox (default) instead of re-downloading it opens another tab but does not open the document. Just stays a white page. I tried most the other options and the only one that will open the pdf is Chrome. I read something that said extensions will interfere with opening but I only have one ad blocker in extensions and I disabled it and it didn't make a difference.
Do you otherwise have a problem with viewing PDF files in Firefox?
You can open the file in a text editor (right-click: Open with) to see if this is really a PDF file (should start with %PDF-x.x).
annie8848 said
FredMcD saidRight-click one of those shortcuts. Is it listed as a file or a shortcut?When I right click and go to Properties it says "Type of File: Firefox HTML Document (.PDF) " In the list of Open With it doesn't seem to give me any option of a PDF Viewer, other than other browsers. If I choose Firefox it opens a new tab with a blank white page. If I choose Chrome it will open the Chrome Browser and open the document.
What is the setting in Application for "Portable Document Format (PDF)" (Preview in Firefox)?
It sounds that you do not have a PDF viewer installed on your operating system. In such a case Firefox will set itself as the default application for PDF files, but in your case is the built-in PDF Viewer not working and you get an open with dialog.
Some PDF test pages here:
cor-el said
What is the setting in Application for "Portable Document Format (PDF)" (Preview in Firefox)? It sounds that you do not have a PDF viewer installed on your operating system. In such a case Firefox will set itself as the default application for PDF files, but in your case is the built-in PDF Viewer not working and you get an open with dialog. Some PDF test pages here:
The test pages did not open either when picking Open with Firefox (default) Just opened a new tab that remained blank. So I imagine you are right the the PDF Viewer is not working or not installed. (It was months ago because it used to work). Maybe I somehow deleted it by mistake. How do I get it back?