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Ask HN: Has Firefox Focus started deleting downloaded files on close

by pbnjeh on 2/4/24, 12:18 PM with 2 comments

Pixel 8 Pro (and, I think, also on 6 Pro). A couple of days ago, I lost a few files so downloaded, on the 6 Pro. But, I thought it was because I was low on storage space.

This evening, I've had it happen twice on the 8 Pro. Plenty of room on it. The second time, I checked the files' presence in Total Commander; they were in Download, where Focus put them and as expected. Then I closed Focus. Returned to Total Commander, to Find the files no longer listed.

I never experienced this until a couple of days ago on the 6 Pro, as mentioned.

I use Focus sometimes to visit JavaScript-dependent sites that I want to keep relatively isolated. This change in behavior, intended or not, is a real hassle. And Google turns up nothing on it.

by stefanos82 on 2/4/24, 12:36 PM
I don't know whether it relates to your case or not, but I have a similar issue which I "fixed" with a workaround.
I would open a PDF file in browser and when the Downloads window would open, I would right-click on it to clear the downloaded files from download list, not to permanently erase them!
As soon as I do so and close the entire window, it would delete the files from Downloads too!
My workaround was to change the default Action to Save File and that would be it; the same aforementioned steps do not erase the files from Download folder.
by pbnjeh on 2/4/24, 12:35 PM
Further testing shows deletion does happen when I close Focus normally. The files are all there until I delete tab history or choose the last open ta, whereupon they are deleted. This did not happen, previously. Browser history would disappear, but not downloaded files.
If I instead go into app info (long press its laugh icon and select from the pop up menu), and then force stop the app, the downloaded files remain and are not deleted.
I have some choice words for the developers about this silent change in behavior.