To choose where Firefox saves downloads, open the menu (three lines), choose Settings, go to the Downloads page, click Browse next to Save files to, and pick a folder. New downloads go to that folder from then on.
These steps follow Mozilla’s Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox help article.
In this article:
- Change the download folder
- Find a file you just downloaded
- See all your downloads
- Pause, remove or delete downloads
- Change what Firefox does with a file type
- Frequently asked questions
How to Change Where Firefox Saves Downloads
- Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner of Firefox.
- Choose Settings.
- Go to the Downloads page.
- Click the Browse button next to Save files to.
- Choose the folder you want to use.
Files you already downloaded stay where they are. Only new downloads use the new folder.
Result: Firefox saves new downloads to the folder you picked.
To change the default Downloads folder for all of Windows, see how to change the default download location in Windows 11.
How to Find a File You Just Downloaded
- Click the Downloads button (the arrow) in the toolbar. Mozilla notes the arrow turns blue when you have downloads you haven’t looked at yet.
- Find the file in the panel, which shows your five most recent downloads with their size and status.
- Click the folder icon next to the file to open the folder that holds it, or click the file itself to open it.
Mozilla notes the Downloads button isn’t in the toolbar by default when you haven’t downloaded anything in the current session. Use the menu instead (next section).
Result: you can open a new download or its folder in one click.
How to See All Your Firefox Downloads
The Library keeps a list of all your downloads unless you’ve cleared them from your history.
- Click the menu button and choose Downloads.
- Or click Show all downloads at the bottom of the Downloads panel.
The Library window lists each file with its size, source and download time.
Can’t find a file outside Firefox? See how to find downloads on Windows 11.
Result: you can find older downloads, not just the last five.
How to Pause, Remove or Delete Downloads in Firefox
Mozilla lists these options in the Downloads panel and Library:
- Pause or resume: right-click a download in progress and choose Pause, then Resume later.
- Cancel or retry: click the X beside a download to cancel it, then the refresh symbol to restart.
- Go to Download Page: right-click a file to revisit the page it came from.
- Remove From History: removes the entry from the list but doesn’t delete the file.
- Delete: right-click a file and choose Delete to remove the file from your disk.
- Clear Downloads: in the Library, clears the whole download history without deleting the files.
Result: you can tidy the list or delete files without leaving Firefox.
How to Change What Firefox Does With a File Type
- Click the menu button and choose Settings.
- On the Downloads page, scroll to Files and applications.
- Find the file type and click the arrow in the Action column.
- Choose what Firefox should do, such as open the file with an app or ask you each time.
A shortcut: right-click a file in the Downloads panel and choose Always Open Similar Files. Mozilla says that adds the file type to Files and applications, where you can change it later.
Result: Firefox handles each file type the way you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Firefox save downloads by default?
In the folder listed next to Save files to on the Settings > Downloads page. Click Browse to change it.
Does changing the folder move my old downloads?
No. Only new downloads go to the new folder.
Does Remove From History delete the file?
No. Mozilla says it removes the entry only. Use Delete to remove the file from your disk.
Why don’t I see the Downloads button?
It’s hidden by default when you haven’t downloaded anything in the current session. Open the menu and choose Downloads.
More Firefox guides: how to turn off automatic updates in Firefox, how to change Firefox tab settings, how to show the menu bar in Firefox and how to fix delayed typing in Firefox.
Before you reinstall Firefox or move to a new computer, learn how to back up and restore your bookmarks in Firefox.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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