Mac Download Folder Preferences

| 29-03-2021
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This article will describe how Firefox handles downloads for different types of files and how you can change that behavior.

Now, to fix them, we must delete them — Clean up these Mac preference files makes the app create a new, default preference file. This can help your app(s) operate correctly again. So, today, we'll go over two ways on how to remove system preference files: the easy way (with a utility), and the hard way (manually). Mac computers come equipped with a Mail App to help organize your e-mail accounts. This article will show you how to reset your e-mail preferences to the default settings on Mac OS X. How To Reset Your Mail Preferences The procedure is as follows: Select Finder in your Menu Bar and open the 'Go' menu (at the top of the screen). The preference and support files for InDesign have similar locations. These files are primarily grouped into three locations, though there is data in additional locations as noted below. The Application folder: At the location of the application, or executable, are subfolders for presets and other support files.

  • For help with download problems, see What to do if you can't download or save files.
  • For help with embedded media on web pages, see Fix common audio and video issues.
  • For help changing the e-mail program that Firefox uses, see Change the program used to open email links.

Table of Contents

  1. The NSUserDefaults on Mavericks (at least) are cached and it is not recommended to edit the plist files manually. The actual files reside in a container folder (you may know this folder from sandboxing). But you can use the command line utility defaultsto edit, change or delete preferences. To delete the defaults (= reset defaults for your app.
  2. I have a Qt app that saves a number of settings, including its widgets and toolboxes positions, using an ini file. That allows for a easy restoring of defaults, just by removing the ini file.

When you click a link to download a file, you may see a dialog asking whether you want to save the file or open it with a specific application, if Firefox cannot handle the file internally. The Media type, also called the MIME type or Content type, as configured by the web server, will determine what action Firefox will take.

Note: Firefox will not be able to properly handle a file download if a misconfigured web server sends it with an incorrect Content type. For example, Firefox may display the content as plain text instead of opening the file in an application or asking you what to do. (To learn more, see Properly configuring server MIME types at MDN web docs.) You can contact the website in such cases or you can try a Firefox extension such as Content-Type Fixer to work around the problem.

When you tell Firefox to open or save the file and also check the option to 'Do this automatically for files like this from now on' (see below), a new Content Type and Action entry for that type of file will appear in the Applications section of the General panel in Firefox OptionsPreferences.

You can change what action Firefox takes for defined content types. This will not affect media embedded in a web page - only links to the files themselves.

  1. Click the menu button and select ..
  2. In the General panel, go to the Applications section.
  3. Select the entry for the file type you want to change.
    Multiple entries for the same file format or extension? Some file types can include more than one Internet Media type.
  4. The Action column will give you a drop-down menu, with options on action to take, whenever you click that type of file.
    • Preview in FirefoxOpen in Firefox: Select this if you want Firefox to display the content. It only applies to a limited number of file types that Firefox is able to decode, such as Portable Document Format (PDF).
    • Always ask: This will prompt you to select what action you want Firefox to take when you click on that type of file. This can be useful if Firefox is automatically saving a file type or is always opening it with a certain program and you want to be asked what to do.
    • Save File: This will always save the file to your computer using the Downloads window, whenever you click that type of file.
    • Use ... : Open the file with an application of your choosing.
  5. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

When you click on a link for a type of file that doesn't have a set content type and download action, Firefox will ask you how to handle the file:

  • Open with: Saves the file to a temporary folder and opens it in the default application for that file type. To select an application, click .
Warning: Do not choose Firefox to always open a certain file type, as doing so can cause a problem where Firefox repeatedly opens empty tabs or windows after you click on a link.
  • Save file: Saves the file to the download folder (specified in the General panel of Firefox OptionsPreferences).
  • Do this automatically for files like this from now on: Check mark this setting and then click to add a new entry to the Content Type list for that file type.
Is Do this automatically for files like this from now on disabled? This can happen if the website's server incorrectly specifies the Internet Media type of the file. It also can happen if the server assigns 'Content-Disposition: attachment' to the file.

If you are having problems with how Firefox is handling file downloads that you can't resolve, or if you just want to start fresh, you can restore the default content types and actions by manually deleting the file that stores these settings.

This will remove all customized content type actions. You will have to make those changes over again after you take the following steps.

  1. Open your profile folder:

    • Click the menu button , click Help and select Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
    Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.
  2. Close Firefox. Click the Firefox menu and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu and select Quit.
  3. Delete (or rename) the handlers.json file.
  4. Restart Firefox.

Some Mac users say that they can't download programs from other website except Mac App Store, or they may can't be opened the download file. When they click on the download file, it says 'xxx can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer'. For example:


If you are facing this problem while you are downloading & installing DoYourData Software, you can follow these simple steps to solve this issue.

Step 1: Click 'Launchpad' --> Find 'System Preference', and Open it --> Click 'Security & Privacy'.


Step 2: Change the setting, enable your Mac can download from 'Anywhere'.


If you have upgraded your Mac to macOS 10.12 Sierra or higher, you just click 'Open Anyway', like this:


Mac Download Folder Preferences

Step 3: Re-download the software or re-open the download file on your Mac. Then install it on your Mac, you can follow this guide: http://www.doyourdata.com/support/product/mac/install-and-activate-mac-software-doyourdata.html

DoYourData Mac software are 100% safe and clean. If you have any question, feel free to contact us by sending an email to [email protected].

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