If Firefox is not downloading or saving files on Windows 11/10 PC, these tips and tricks could fix the issue within moments. There could be many reasons why Firefox may fail to download files from the internet. Here we have discussed some of the common reasons along with solutions to get rid of this issue on your computer.
Firefox not downloading or saving files
If Firefox is not downloading or saving files in Windows 11/10, follow these steps:
- Verify internet connection
- Disable Firewall and internet security software
- Disable VPN and proxy
- Allow dangerous downloads
- Reset download folder settings
- Change download folder
To learn more about these steps, continue reading.
1] Verify internet connection
It is the very first thing you need to check when Firefox fails to download or save files from the internet. No matter whether you get this problem with a cloud storage website or any other software downloading website, you may encounter the same issue with both of them. If you do not have a valid internet connection, you may face it whenever you try to download any file.
Although your browser may continue with the browsing even with an unstable internet connection, downloading files requires you to have an uninterrupted internet connection. That is why you should check if you have any issues with your internet connection or not. For that, press Win+R to open the Run prompt and type this command:
ping 8.8.8.8 -t
If it shows a continuous result, you can follow other solutions. However, if it displays a ping loss issue, you need to change your internet connection.
2] Disable Firewall and internet security software
At times, firewalls and internet security apps could prevent you from downloading files from the internet. Although in-built utilities do not create much problems, third-party security applications may cause issues at times. If you use a third-party firewall or internet security or antivirus programs, you need to disable them temporarily to check if they are the reasons or not. If yes, you need to check the corresponding settings.
3] Disable VPN and proxy
A VPN or proxy helps you bypass various limitations and allows you to access blocked content on the internet. However, if the VPN or proxy server has some connectivity issues, you may not be able to download files from the internet. That is why it is recommended to disable VPN or proxy if you use any of them. To disable proxy in Windows 11/10, follow these steps:
- Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
- Go to the Network & internet section.
- Click on the Proxy setting.
- Choose the Automatically detect settings button.
After that, restart your browser and check if the problem still remains or not.
4] Allow dangerous downloads
Firefox automatically blocks suspicious files from being downloaded on your computer. However, there could be times when it may be a false alarm. In such situations, you can disable the corresponding setting and allow dangerous downloads in the Firefox browser.
Note: Do not toggle this setting until you know what you are doing. Changing this setting may get you into trouble.
To allow dangerous downloads in the Firefox browser, follow these steps:
- Open the Firefox browser and go to Settings.
- Switch to the Privacy & Security tab.
- Head to the Security section.
- Uncheck Block dangerous and deceptive content checkbox.
Then, try to download the same file.
5] Reset download folder settings
To reset download folder settings, do the following:
- Enter about:config in Firefox’s address bar.
- Click on the Accept the Risk and Continue button.
- Find browser.download.dir and click the Delete icon.
Do the same with these configurations as well:
- browser.download.downloadDir
- browser.download.folderList
- browser.download.lastDir
- browser.download.useDownloadDir
Once done, restart the Firefox browser.
6] Change download folder
If you recently changed the download folder, it is recommended to revert the change. For that, do the following:
- Open the Firefox browser.
- Click on the Menu button.
- Head to the Files and Applications section.
- Click the Browse button.
- Choose the Downloads folder and click the Select Folder button.
After that, you should not get the same issue.
Read: Edge couldn’t download: Blocked, No permission, Virus detected, Network issues
Why are my files not downloading?
There could be various reasons why your files are not being downloaded by the Firefox browser. This article explains some of the common issues along with the solutions so that you can get rid of the problem. In most cases, it happens due to the security settings, Firewall and internet security apps’ settings, etc.
How do I fix browser not downloading?
If your browser is not downloading files from the internet, you need to go through the aforementioned solutions. You should start the troubleshooting process by checking your internet connection. Then, you need to disable Firewall and internet security software. Next, disable the VPN and proxy apps, reset the download folder settings, etc.
That’s all! Hope it helped.
