I just discovered that Firefox 99.0 in private browsing mode is deleting all the files downloaded during the current session from the download folder when I choose to delete the browser cache. I always clear the browser cache before shutting down my computer. This is incredible!

Edit: Only those files that are downloaded without Firefox showing a download prompt are affected. I set “Always Ask Where To Save Files” but Firefox is still downloading my email attachments ”automatically”.

I think that's reasonable behavior:
* By using private browsing and deleting the browser cache, you are basically saying that you do not want Firefox to leave any traces of your browsing on the computer that you're using.
* The downloads you describe as being "automatic" are downloads that you did not consent to being placed there. Hence, this is a trace of your web browsing activity which, as stated in the previous point, you've stated you don't want to be left.
* Hence, it makes sense for Firefox to delete those files when it finishes, to avoid leaving a trace.

(A workaround, of course, is to manually copy the files while Firefox is running. Alternatively, you could not use private browsing if you want the computer to remember your browsing activity.)

It's strange that Firefox treats some files differently. These events are possible when clicking on a link to a pdf file:

1) Firefox asks for a download path.
2) Firefox directly opens the pdf file in a new tab without saving it in the usual download folder. These files don't show up on the download list.
3) Firefox directly opens the pdf file in the same tab and saves it in the usual download folder. These files show up on the download list, but are deleted along with the cache.

Idk which browsers to use these days, Firefox/Brave I mean any browser can be forked and worked on independently from the parent so I should keep using FF/Brave until the license changes from something free/open to something else...and then fork

Thanks for that!

I was able to toggle off the download window popping up on each download and I also set FF to ask for all files before downloading. However, it still shows a behavior that I think was different before: if it asks whether I want to download or open a file and I pick the latter, it opens AND downloads the file, and the file stays in my download folder even after I have closed it again, so it's not just in a cache but permanently on disk until I manually delete it again.

Is this normal? Does anyone els experience it? Anything I can do to change it?

Yes, it's normal. The temp folder was considered a poorly discoverable location for average users, who'd be surprised that the files vanished after closing the browser. If you want the full rationale, see bug 1738574, comment 3.

I'm not aware of any way to revert to the previous behavior, if toggling browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel to false doesn't do it. Also, that preference itself is on borrowed time, as explained previously.

You're welcome.

One of the latest Firefox updates made my Bookmarks Library always open at 'Other Bookmarks', which I never use.

Is there any way to make the Library always open at 'Bookmarks Menu' instead?


Edit: Also, thanks for letting me know how to remove the always open download window.

I see. :/

Thanks for the explanation!