File types and download actions
With most media files, if you click a link to them you will be prompted to download them. Some media types associated with some plugins (Adobe Acrobat, Quicktime, Windows Media Player and Macromedia Flash, for example) will open automatically inside a browser window or in an external player instead.
Changing how media files are handled
This will not affect media embedded in a web page - only links to the files themselves.
Firefox 1.0.x
Tools -> Options -> Downloads -> Plug-Ins. Disable the desired file types by clicking on the checkmark and they will give a download prompt instead.
Firefox 1.5.x
Tools -> Options -> Downloads -> Download Actions -> View & Edit Actions. Select a file type that you would rather have download or open with an external application and click 'Change Action...'
- If you want the file to open with the default external program for that file type, select "Open them with the default application"
- If you want the file to open with an external program other than the default, select "Open them with this application" - you will then be prompted to select the application to open them with.
- If you want the file to give a standard Open With/download to download prompt then select 'Save them on my computer'
Resetting media file handling
If problems arise, you can return Firefox to the default actions for opening or saving media files as follows [1]:
- Type about:config into the address bar.
- Find the preference browser.download.pluginOverrideTypes and, if it is present, right-click on it and select reset.
- Find the preference plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types and, if it is present, right-click on it and select reset.
- Close Firefox, then open your profile folder (Windows 2000/XP users, read this for help finding it).
- Delete (or rename) the file mimeTypes.rdf.
