- Clear Firefox downloads history or change the downloads folder if you can’t download any specific files.
- Remove any recently added extensions from your Firefox browser and check again.
- You can also use the Firefox Refresh feature to delete all custom browser settings and try downloading the file again.
Basic Fixes:
- Pause and resume the download: After restarting a failed download, it can get stuck and fail again. To fix this, try pausing and resuming the download.
- Check your network connection: Downloads need a stable Wi-Fi connection to work. If you’re facing problems related to downloads on Firefox, it is recommended that you check your Wi-Fi services and ensure you’re connected to a stable network.
- Disable VPN: VPN services can also cause problems with downloads, as they might limit data speeds and even restrict certain websites due to changes in your geolocation. To fix that, go to your VPN app and click on the Disconnect button.
- Clear Firefox cookies and cache: Every browser saves information to load the web page faster and ensure a smooth experience. However, this data can also cause problems if it becomes compromised. When this happens, clear Firefox’s cache and cookies.
- Check for browser updates: Keeping your browsers up-to-date has become a necessity. If your browser faces issues like download failures, it might be a good idea to check and install the latest browser updates.
- Reinstall Firefox: If your downloads are still failing, reinstalling Firefox can be your last resort to fixing it. This will not only eliminate any errant custom settings but also clear problems caused by a bad update or data error.
Fix 1: Clear Firefox Download History
Firefox also keeps track of the files you have previously downloaded. However, having an extensive download history can cause downloads to freeze and fail. To fix that, clear your Firefox download history. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Open Firefox . Click on the hamburger icon and select History .
Step 2: Here, click on Manage History .
Step 3: Now, go to Downloads and click on Clear Downloads . Your Firefox download history will now be cleared.
Fix 2: Remove Firefox Browser Extensions
Extensions help in adding customized features to your browser. However, they can sometimes interfere with your browser settings, causing their performance to be less than ideal. And so, removing extensions can help fix issues with failed Firefox downloads. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Open the Firefox browser. Click on the hamburger icon and click on Settings .
Step 2: At the bottom left corner, click on Extensions & Themes .
Step 3: In the Extensions tab, click on the menu options for the extension you want to remove. Click on Remove .
Step 4: Click on Remove to confirm.
You can repeat these steps to remove other extensions from Firefox. Once done, try downloading your file again.
Fix 3: Change the Download Location
Firefox downloads can fail if the folder they’re being saved to is corrupted. So, it’s better to change your download location in Firefox settings before downloading the file again. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Open Firefox Settings and go to the General tab . Scroll down to Downloads and click on Browse .
Step 2: Here, select the relevant folder and click on Select Folder . The location for saving your Firefox downloads will now be changed.
Fix 4: Reset the Download Folder
If changing the download folder does not fix the issue, try resetting it to its default settings to ensure its settings are not causing Firefox downloads to fail. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Open Firefox . In the search bar, type about:config and press enter .
Step 2: Click on Accept the Risk and Continue .
Step 3: In the search bar, type browser.download.lastDir and press enter . Then, click on Delete to reset the value.
After this, close the tab and restart Firefox. Your download folder has now been reset.
Fix 5: Change Firefox File Type Settings
If your Firefox downloads are still failing, try changing the Firefox file type settings. As Firefox is configured to handle all file types differently, it might prevent you from downloading a certain file type. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Open Firefox > click on the hamburger icon > Help .
Step 2: Now, click on More troubleshooting information .
Step 3: Scroll down to Profile Folder and click on Open Folder .
Step 4: Here, locate the handlers.json file and delete it .
Alternatively, you can also rename the handlers.json file to ‘handlers.json.old’. Then, restart Firefox and download the file again.
Fix 6: Disable Firefox Safe Downloads
The Firefox Safe Downloads setting helps protect your device against downloads that it perceives as malicious. However, this setting can also restrict your downloads, causing them to fail. To fix this, you can disable this setting.
Step 1: Open the Firefox browser. In the search bar, type about:config and press enter .
Step 2: Now, click on Accept the Risk and Continue .
Step 3: Here, type block_download_insecure and press enter . Then, click on the toggle to change the value to false. Close the tab and try downloading the file again.
Fix 7: Use Firefox Refresh
Firefox Refresh helps remove all non-essential settings and components, such as extensions, add-ons, permissions, etc., without deleting user data. This can help reset your browser and fix issues like download failures while keeping your data safe. Here’s how to use it.
Step 1: Open Firefox and type about:support in the search bar. Press enter to open Firefox’s troubleshooting page.
Step 2: From the menu options, click on Refresh Firefox . When prompted, again click on Refresh Firefox to finish the process.
Once the refresh process finishes, try downloading the file again on your Firefox browser to see if the issue has been fixed.
