The option is not likely to return.

The download manager changed in Firefox 20. The old download panel disappeared and has been replaced by a new model. See the following:

• http://mikeconley.ca/blog/2013/04/02/downloading-stuff-in-firefox-its-better-now/

You can view your downloads:

• last 3 are shown by clicking the "down" arrow or the download/download-progress icon in the toolbar
• see all of your current session downloads by opening a tab or a new window, entering about:downloads in the URL/Location bar and press the Enter key
• open the Library window in Firefox and you will see a new major heading "Downloads"

A possibility is to open the about:downloads page in a new window.

This is not a "helpful reply". I teach a course on-line and need to open 900 student files each course, many each hour. It is a waste of time to have to go to the download list each time to open the file. This defect needs to be changed.

Yet another example of "if it ain't broke. don't fix it". Of course evelopers must work to upgrade software, but most of the time they seem to pay little or no attention to the user interface as it affects EVERYONE. I am pysically disabled and use a programmed switch control to insert text and choose from the toolbar. Having to now Manually open the download wndow is an extra I can do without. Disabled people may be a minority, but computers and the software that runs on the machine is vital to our abilty to communicate and deploy as a tool at work as well as at home. The current download window (I use Firefox 26 on a Mac) does not meet access standards.

downloading-stuff-in-firefox-its-better-now/

LOL It's not better, not even close.

The old download window behaviour should be brought back as an option. At the very least.

Waiting for that, or proper detailed instructions for downgrading FF. I can't consider this issue solved until one of those 2 criteria are met.