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Why Firefox and Thunderbird by default, do not have the option like Chrome, after downloading a file, to open the file or the folder where the file was saved?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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In Firefox and Thunderbird you don't have the option after downloading a file, to open the file or the folder where the file was saved.

In Firefox and Thunderbird you don't have the option after downloading a file, to open the file or the folder where the file was saved.

Modified by Gad Feldan

Chosen solution

Press <Control> J to open the Download Manager. Right-click on whatever file.

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Chosen Solution

Press <Control> J to open the Download Manager. Right-click on whatever file.

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Thank you very much for your answer.

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Note that Firefox shows a blue highlighted down pointing arrow on the Navigation Toolbar when downloads have finished. The drop-down that opens if you left-click this icon shows downloads done in the current session and you can right-click an item in the list.


Firefox 57+ auto-hides the Downloads button on the Navigation Toolbar by default. The Download button should appear on the Navigation Toolbar once you open the Customize window. If you do not see the Download icon then click the Restore Defaults button to reset the layout in case you previously have moved this button. Once you see the Download button in customize mode then left-click this button to see the current auto-hide state and toggle its setting.

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Thank you very much for your answer. Do you know if there is any downloads button in Thunderbird as well ?

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This "arrow down" download button, which you also refer to as a "Download Manager" is not explained in the actual window that shows up when one first tries to "download a file from an e-mail". Likewise, if one clicks on it, one still is not informed on the ACTUAL LOCATION of the DEFAULT DOWNLOAD FOLDER.

The "Restore Defaults" button is well hidden.

In almost all computers that I know of, when one downloads an attached file from in an e-mail application, then the usual procedure is: "File, Save as, and save where." Further, the usual procedure is that there is a DEFAULT downloads folder. In Windows, this is currently C:\Users\name\Downloads. This is where downloads go. It's like with Thomas the Tank Engine: This is where choo choo goes! Alright, therefore Firefox should provide the user with the requested functionality: Download --- leads to FILE ---- leads to SAVE AS ------ leads to where the file is saved. 1-2-3 A B C

For any new user of Firefox, the FF default Downloads folder is UNKNOWN. If it is UNKNOWN, then the user does NOT KNOW where it is and where THE DOWNLOAD went. Therefore, BEING TRANSPARENT and making an OBVIOUS (VISIBLE) PROCEDURE such as FILE - SAVE AS - SAVE WHERE would be the thing to do. Why this is not clear to FF programmers is beyond the understanding of any new user, and thus, beyond my understanding as well.

Since you still don't get it: I repeat my question "How is the user supposed to know the unknowable?" This is not religion where one is supposed to "simply believe the unknowable". NO, it is IT, which stands for INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. IT, therefore, is based on INFORMATION, and you are supposed to provide the knowable INFORMATION, and not hide it away in some unknowable space. If you made the information clear, present and visible, then I would not be pestering you.

Do you understand the problem? I am currently acting as a "valuable conduit" between "ultra-knowledgeable programmers like you" and "new users who scratch their heads" about "why, oh why can't they make things clear?"

I am not providing any requested info, I am providing new info about how new users think, and how you might be able to help them. If you could just jump over your own shadow, and see that people do not know "what's what" and "where's where" from the get go, then your answers will become ever more helpful.

Finally, the reason I am repeating myself is that you "repeatedly" do not get what is visible, and what is hidden, and maybe, what is obvious, and what is unfathomable.

Modified by I thought there was cake

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You can right-click a file in the download button (down pointing arrow on Navigation Toolbar) to see more options.

You can leave feedback and comments via "Help -> Submit Feedback".


Firefox 57+ auto-hides the Downloads button on the Navigation Toolbar by default. The Download button should appear on the Navigation Toolbar once you open the Customize window. If you do not see the Download icon then click the Restore Defaults button to reset the layout in case you previously have moved this button. Once you see the Download button in customize mode then left-click this button to see the current auto-hide state and toggle its setting.