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Firefox Keeps Changing File Extensions for 'Odd' File Type

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  • Last reply by AliceWyman

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Like I said in the title, Firefox keeps changing the file extension for 'odd' file type when downloading them. I say 'Odd' because I download this type of file almost every day. They're a .ts4script file type, which is a file type for modding The Sims 4. Up until today they were downloading just fine, but now firefox keeps changing them into .zip files.

While this slightly makes sense as a .ts4script IS a zipped up file that contains python files it's very annoying to have to manually change the file type after downloading more than a few at the same time...

Is there maybe a setting I may have accidentally changed or something?

Like I said in the title, Firefox keeps changing the file extension for 'odd' file type when downloading them. I say 'Odd' because I download this type of file almost every day. They're a .ts4script file type, which is a file type for modding The Sims 4. Up until today they were downloading just fine, but now firefox keeps changing them into .zip files. While this slightly makes sense as a .ts4script IS a zipped up file that contains python files it's very annoying to have to manually change the file type after downloading more than a few at the same time... Is there maybe a setting I may have accidentally changed or something?
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

This is very similar to a thread about .story files that the server in that case also identified as being application/zip type files (.story files converted to .zip upon download).

I don't know why Firefox 84 has started "correcting" the file extension in these cases. Perhaps it was to fix some other problem?

(I have attached the Browser Console info showing the Content-Type sent by the server, for reference.)


If you would consider using an add-on to work around this, I have a suggestion.

I have an extension called Content-Type Fixer that checks the file extensions of downloads and lets you override the Content-Type. Here's how you would set that up for these files:

(1) Install the extension: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/content-type-fixer/

(2) Click its Zzzz button to start it

(3) Trigger the download (you can cancel after you get the dialog)

(4) Click the toolbar button again to open the menu, then "Add/Edit Content Types (View Log)"

(5) Near the top of the log, find the problem download, and click its "Add" button

(6) I don't think there is an official MIME type for these files, so you can simply keep the suggested fictitious MIME type and click Save Content-Type

(7) Switch to your tab with the link and try the download again -- the dialog should look more like the attached image:

Success? That should continue while the extension is "awake" (if you need to go back to the built-in handling, you can disable the overriding from the menu or turn off the extension).

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All Replies (4)

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Chosen Solution

This is very similar to a thread about .story files that the server in that case also identified as being application/zip type files (.story files converted to .zip upon download).

I don't know why Firefox 84 has started "correcting" the file extension in these cases. Perhaps it was to fix some other problem?

(I have attached the Browser Console info showing the Content-Type sent by the server, for reference.)


If you would consider using an add-on to work around this, I have a suggestion.

I have an extension called Content-Type Fixer that checks the file extensions of downloads and lets you override the Content-Type. Here's how you would set that up for these files:

(1) Install the extension: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/content-type-fixer/

(2) Click its Zzzz button to start it

(3) Trigger the download (you can cancel after you get the dialog)

(4) Click the toolbar button again to open the menu, then "Add/Edit Content Types (View Log)"

(5) Near the top of the log, find the problem download, and click its "Add" button

(6) I don't think there is an official MIME type for these files, so you can simply keep the suggested fictitious MIME type and click Save Content-Type

(7) Switch to your tab with the link and try the download again -- the dialog should look more like the attached image:

Success? That should continue while the extension is "awake" (if you need to go back to the built-in handling, you can disable the overriding from the menu or turn off the extension).

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jscher2000 said

This is very similar to a thread about .story files that the server in that case also identified as being application/zip type files (.story files converted to .zip upon download).

Thank you, that does work, I just wish that I didn't have to rely on an extension for something that was working a couple days ago, and also already using 20+ extensions for various things.

I will use it seeing as I download multiple files with this extension pretty much every day. Thank you for sharing your extension by the way, I appreciate that there is a way to fix this even if it's not an ideal solution for myself.

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jonzn4SUSE said

Here is a link to my handler_json file text. Create a new one with the text from the below link. https://pastebin.com/2tD9XFEC

I did try to make a new handler json file, copy and pasted yours exactly, but still no luck on my end. It's sad but I have ended up using the extension that was linked to, which solves my problem at the moment, and thank you for talking to me for these last couple of days trying to help out. I really appreciate it.

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dewdrp said

jonzn4SUSE said

Here is a link to my handler_json file text. Create a new one with the text from the below link. https://pastebin.com/2tD9XFEC

I did try to make a new handler json file, copy and pasted yours exactly, but still no luck on my end. It's sad but I have ended up using the extension that was linked to, which solves my problem at the moment, and thank you for talking to me for these last couple of days trying to help out. I really appreciate it.

This post was marked as spam by the forum software. I cleared the flag.

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