One of the most common applications of web browsers is downloading stuff from websites. This can include pictures, documents, and even other freeware. Every time, a file is being downloaded on a browser, you get to track its progress and further conveniently access it via the Download button. This button is inherent in most browsers, but it can sometimes go missing or disappear once a particular download is finished.
In the absence of this download button, users have to open their File Explorer separately, and even locate the file if the default download location is something they are not familiar with. So today, we will be showing you how to enable the download button permanently on three of the most commonly used browsers; Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox.
How to always show the Downloads button in Microsoft Edge
After Microsoft Edge’s recent update, you get to monitor your downloads from a download bar on the top-right of the browser window. Unfortunately, a few moments after that download is completed, the option disappears unless you have enabled the download button to show on your toolbar. The process to do so is very simple.
Click on the triple-dotted icon in this download window, while one of your downloads is under progress and from the options select Show downloads button on toolbar.
On the other hand, if you want to disable the download button, open the same drop-down and this time click on Hide downloads button on toolbar.
Another way for you to enable the download button on Microsoft Edge is to open the Settings and More window, the triple-dotted icon on the top-right corner, right-click on Downloads from the options and select Show in toolbar.
A third way to achieve this is via the Edge settings. Open the Settings and More option (Alt+F) and click on settings here. This will open a separate window for you. From the options on the left-side pane, click on Appearance.
Scroll down a bit and under the Customize Toolbar head, you will find a Show downloads button option. Enable it and the downloads button will sit permanently on your toolbar thereafter.
We will now be talking about Google Chrome and Firefox.
How to always show the downloads button in Firefox
If you want to access the downloads they have made on the Firefox browser, you can open the Settings from the top-right corner. Here, click on Library and further select downloads. This will give you access to all the downloads made via Firefox.
The download button on Firefox, much like Edge disappears a while after the download completes. To make it stay up there, visit the Settings option and click on Customize Toolbar.
You will see the downloads button up top, but it will disappear once you’re done with your customizations. To prevent that, click on the download button and uncheck the Auto-fill box. Save these changes by clicking on Done and your download button will now be permanently housed on your taskbar.
There is another way you can do this, which is through a hidden configuration setting. First things first, type about:config in the address bar and press Enter. You will then be shown a warning sign. Accept it and move on.
You will then see a ‘Search preference name’ blank search bar. Here, type ‘autohide,’ which will help us narrow down to the relevant settings. The first option will say ‘browser.download.autohideButton’. If it is set to True, double-tap on it to switch it to False. If you don’t want the switch to happen with Boolean values, you can change it to Numbers or Strings too.
If you’re worried about the warning that you accepted just before this and want to re-enable it, search for the general.warnOnAboutConfig preference and change its value to true.
How to always show the downloads button in Google Chrome
Lastly, we talk about Google Chrome. There isn’t a download button here, per se, but a download bar that pops up every time something is downloaded at the bottom of your screen. For the most part, the download bar stays permanently unless it is manually toggled off, except if you have enabled all the downloaded files to open right after the download is complete. Thus, in this case, if you turn that option off, the issue will be resolved. Here’s how you can do that.
Open Google Chrome and visit the settings. Scroll down a bit and you will see the option to access further Advanced settings. Click on it.
Here in the Advanced Settings, you will see a downloads section. If your downloads do disappear post their completion, you will see an option that says Open certain file types automatically after downloading.
Click on the ‘Clear’ button next to it. If you are not able to see this option, this is because you haven’t set any of your files to open automatically once they’re done downloading.
We hope that this guide was able to help you bring back the download button on whichever browser you most actively use.
Read: How to turn on Show Downloads Menu when a download starts in Edge.
