When you click a link to download a file, the MIME type determines what action Firefox will take. You may already have plugins such as Windows Media Player, QuickTime, and RealPlayer installed that will automatically handle the download. Other times, you may see a dialog asking whether you want to save the file or open it with a specific application. 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", an entry appears for that type of file in the Firefox Applications panel, shown below.

When you click a link to download a file, the MIME type determines what action Firefox will take. You may already have plugins such as Using the Windows Media Player plugin with Firefox, Using the QuickTime plugin with Firefox, and Using the RealPlayer plugin with Firefox installed that will automatically handle the download. Other times, you may see a dialog asking whether you want to save the file or open it with a specific application. 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", an entry appears for that type of file in the Firefox "Download Actions" window, shown below.

This will not affect media embedded in a web page - only links to the files themselves.

1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the ToolsFirefoxEdit menu, and select Options...Preferences....
2. Select the Applications panel.
3. The Applications panel will display. Select the type of file for which you want to change the default action. (Note that multiple entries may exist for the same file extension, one for each MIME 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.
   
   
   
   
   • Always ask: will prompt you to select what you want to do with file, whenever you click that type of file.
   • Save File: will always save the file to your computer using the Downloads window, whenever you click that type of file.
     • Open the file with an application or plugin of your choosing.
     1. Click OK to close the Options windowClick Close to close the Preferences windowClose the Preferences window after making changes.

This will not affect media embedded in a web page - only links to the files themselves.

1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the ToolsFirefoxEdit menu, and select Options...Preferences....
2. Select the Content panel, then click Manage….
3. The Download Actions window appears. Select the type of file for which you want to change the default action by clicking once on top of its row. (Note that multiple entries may exist for the same file extension, one for each MIME type.) Then, click Change Action….
4. The Change Action window will give you the option to:
   1. open up the selected file with the default application
   2. open up the file with an application of your choosing
   3. save the file on your computer, or
   4. use a plugin when available
5. Click OK to save your changes and close the Change Action window.
6. Close the Change Action window.
7. Click OK to close the Options windowClick Close to close the Preferences windowClose the Preferences window.