We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

some small issues with the new Library window, with possible suggestions

more options

Here are my issues, in order of priority, with the first issue being the one I care to have addressed the most.

-I'm OK with the downloads being moved to this awkward new "Library" window. However, the main issue I have right now is that the Library window doesn't appear automatically upon starting a download. I'd like it to. Please point me toward an option to allow me to do this or please implement this, since it seems to me to be a necessary feature for this transition, considering helpful functionality was lost.

-I'd like to be able to hide the left panel with a toggle button at the top. This would help to complete the convenient and compact visible UI for checking download progress.

-The downloading progress bar in the Windows taskbar should be on the "Library" taskbar button instead of the main Firefox taskbar button, to indicate that a non-website file is being downloaded and it's visible in the Library window.

-Please re-add "Open File" to the right-click menu for downloaded files in the Library window. I realize double-clicking on the files works to do this, but it's not obvious and I used to right-click and click "Open File".

-There is an ugly and pointless column on the left side of the right-click menu for downloaded files.

As you can surely tell, I was satisfied with the "Downloads" window that existed before this version and I would definitely prefer it with its full functionality (which is still not addressed by the addon, https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/downloads-window/ ). Also, frankly, I would prefer the nice functionality to be inside Firefox without any addons. Having the window appear upon downloading a non-website file is a very user-friendly feature and should still be accessible at least optionally.

Here are my issues, in order of priority, with the first issue being the one I care to have addressed the most. -I'm OK with the downloads being moved to this awkward new "Library" window. However, the main issue I have right now is that the Library window doesn't appear automatically upon starting a download. I'd like it to. Please point me toward an option to allow me to do this or please implement this, since it seems to me to be a necessary feature for this transition, considering helpful functionality was lost. -I'd like to be able to hide the left panel with a toggle button at the top. This would help to complete the convenient and compact visible UI for checking download progress. -The downloading progress bar in the Windows taskbar should be on the "Library" taskbar button instead of the main Firefox taskbar button, to indicate that a non-website file is being downloaded and it's visible in the Library window. -Please re-add "Open File" to the right-click menu for downloaded files in the Library window. I realize double-clicking on the files works to do this, but it's not obvious and I used to right-click and click "Open File". -There is an ugly and pointless column on the left side of the right-click menu for downloaded files. As you can surely tell, I was satisfied with the "Downloads" window that existed before this version and I would definitely prefer it with its full functionality (which is still not addressed by the addon, https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/downloads-window/ ). Also, frankly, I would prefer the nice functionality to be inside Firefox without any addons. Having the window appear upon downloading a non-website file is a very user-friendly feature and should still be accessible at least optionally.

Modified by AlexFolland

All Replies (3)

more options

This post was originally a request to have my original post edited and I'd like to delete it since I found the hidden "EDIT THIS QUESTION" button, but there seems to be no post deletion button, so I'm editing this post to explain its presence.

Modified by AlexFolland

more options

Firefox manages downloads in the Downloads folder in the Library (History > Show All History)

  • Downloads are treated as history items: clearing history removes included download items and vice verse.
  • When downloads are in progress you see an animated download button on the Navigation Toolbar showing an estimate of the remaining time
  • The Download button gets a green highlight once all download are finished to make you aware that new downloads are available.
  • Pause and Resume can be found in the right-click context menu of an item.

You can display the new Downloads Manager in a tab by opening the about:downloads page and possibly open this page in a separate window.

more options

Currently there's no built-in option to show any window (Library dialog or other window) at the commencement or completion of a download. As cor-el noted, there is an add-on which displays a compact download list. To submit "wish list" items for future versions of Firefox, you can use

Help > Submit Feedback

(because posts here get buried quickly by newer ones...)