What to do if you can’t download or save files

This article describes steps to take if you are unable to download or save files using Waterfox.

Check the Downloads panel for blocked downloads

Waterfox includes a download protection feature to protect you from malicious or potentially harmful file downloads. If Waterfox has blocked an unsafe download, you will see a warning message about the file in the Downloads panel, along with options for handling the pending download. You can open the Downloads panel to view completed and pending downloads by clicking on the Downloads button (the down arrow on your toolbar). See the articles Where to find and manage downloaded files in Waterfox and How does built-in Phishing and Malware Protection work? for more information.

Clear the download history

Clearing the download history can fix some problems with downloading files:

Click the Downloads icon , and then click Show all downloads. The Downloads window will open.
In the Downloads window, click Clear Downloads.
Close the Downloads window.

Choose a different download folder

Waterfox may not be able to download files if there is a problem with the folder in which downloaded files are saved:

Click the menu button and select Settings.
Select the General panel.
Find the Downloads section under Files and Applications.
Click the Browsebutton next to the Save files to entry.
Choose a different download folder for saving files.
Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you’ve made will automatically be saved.

Reset the download folder

If you have tried the above suggestions, you can restore the default Waterfox download folder settings:

Warning: Changing advanced preferences can affect Waterfox’s stability and security. This is recommended for advanced users only.

Type about:config in the address bar and press Enter. A warning page may appear. Click Accept the Risk and Continue to go to the about:config page.
In the Search field, enter browser.download.
If any of the following settings are in bold text, reset their values. To reset a value, click the Delete or Reset button, depending on the preference:
- browser.download.dir
- browser.download.downloadDir
- browser.download.folderList
- browser.download.lastDir
- browser.download.useDownloadDir
If desired, you can revert back to your preferred download folder settings in your Waterfox Options General panel, in the Downloads section under Files and Applications.

Change file type settings

If downloading certain file types does not work, check to make sure Waterfox is not set to handle those file types differently from others. See Manage file types and download actions in Waterfox for instructions on how to view and change how different file types are handled.

Configure Internet security software

Internet security software, including firewalls, antivirus programs, anti-spyware programs, and others can block certain file downloads. Check the settings in your security software to see if there is an setting that may be blocking downloads.

To diagnose whether Internet security software is causing problems, you can try temporarily disabling it, seeing if downloads work, and then re-enabling the software.

Enable downloads blocked by Security Zone Policy

Downloading an executable file (e.g., an .exe or .msi file) may fail, with the Downloads window showing Canceled under the file name.

This happens because Waterfox honors your Windows security settings for downloading applications and other potentially unsafe files from the Internet. To resolve this problem, use the solution given below.

Reset system Internet Security settings

You can reset your system Internet security settings in Internet Explorer. See How to reset Internet Explorer settings at Microsoft Support for instructions.