Firefox Browser Add-ons
  • Extensions
  • Themes
    • for Firefox
    • Dictionaries & Language Packs
    • Other Browser Sites
    • Add-ons for Android
Log in
Preview of Content-Type Fixer

Content-Type Fixer by jscher2000

Firefox doesn't follow instructions for downloads? "Always Open Similar Files" is missing? This usually happens because the server sent Firefox a wrong/generic Content-Type header, or forces a download with Content-Disposition. Here's a fix.

4.7 (44 reviews)4.7 (44 reviews)
1,725 Users1,725 Users
You’ll need Firefox to use this extension
Download Firefox and get the extension
Download file

Extension Metadata

Screenshots
The Zzzz button indicates the extension is not listening/fixing responses. Click the button to start listening/fixing. Click again to drop the menu.Main menu provides the ability to turn the extension off, add or edit Content-Type overrides, enable/disable existing overrides, start automatically, or tweak content disposition. (ver 1.7)Click the switch in the left column to change between enabled (extension will change the Content-Type) to disabled.The Zzzz button indicates the extension is not listening/fixing responses. Click the button to start listening/fixing. Click the button again to drop the menu with choices to stop listening, add a custom Content-Type, start automatically, or tweak content disposition. (ver 1.6)
About this extension
You can find a new help page (for Firefox 98+) here: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ext/content-type-fixer.html

Operation

This extension does not monitor downloads until you enable it. Use the toolbar button to turn listening on (shows a yellow burst) and off (shows Zzzz). (If you want it on automatically, there is a checkbox on the menu for that.)

Content-Type

The extension checks the file extension on new page and download requests to see whether they have a file extension that should be assigned a specific Content-Type header. (It doesn't look at requests for embedded items like images, audio, or video.)

Automatically corrects the Content-Type for these extensions: .acsm, .css, .csv, .doc/docx, .epub, .pdf, .ppt/pptx, .psd, .rar, .rtf, .xls/xlsx, .zip, and .7z. Some image and video formats can be enabled with a click.

To add more, turn on the extension, try to download a file that isn't being handled correctly, then open the Log of recent requests to find Add and Edit buttons to add a custom Content-Type. The log is not saved to disk and is flushed when you snooze the extension.

Content-Disposition

The extension corrects errors with spaces that cause download file names to cut off. You can optionally force inline disposition, so Firefox follows the rules you've set on the Options/Preferences page without showing the download dialog each time. You also can force attachment disposition to bypass viewing in a tab. I suggest using that option sparingly, only as needed.

Exception Notes

Version 1.7.1+ ignores "Follow my settings (inline)" on Google Drive and for Gmail attachments due to cookie issues. Version 1.7.2+ extends the exception to Google Docs.

Permissions Note

While the extension is listening, it reads the Content-Type and Content-Disposition headers that servers send with files. It may modify the Content-Type and Content-Disposition headers. The extension does not read web pages.

Test Page

Without the extension running, you get bad results for the zip file links and embedded PDF on the following page, and the extension fixes it: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/badct/

Hat tip

The code draws from the Display inline extension from samlh: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/display-inline/.
Rated 4.7 by 44 reviewers
Sign in to rate this extension
There are no ratings yet

Star rating saved

5
38
4
3
3
1
2
0
1
2
Read all 44 reviews
Permissions and dataLearn more

Required permissions:

  • Access your data for all websites
More information
Add-on Links
  • Homepage
  • Support site
  • Support Email
Version
1.7.5
Size
54.78 KB
Last updated
4 months ago (Apr 22, 2025)
Related Categories
  • Download Management
License
Mozilla Public License 2.0
Version History
  • See all versions
Add to collection
Report this add-on
Release notes for 1.7.5
Added an emergency Content-Disposition fix for Outlook attachment downloads.
More extensions by jscher2000
  • There are no ratings yet

  • There are no ratings yet

  • There are no ratings yet

  • There are no ratings yet

  • There are no ratings yet

  • There are no ratings yet

Go to Mozilla’s homepage

Add-ons

  • About
  • Firefox Add-ons Blog
  • Extension Workshop
  • Developer Hub
  • Developer Policies
  • Community Blog
  • Forum
  • Report a bug
  • Review Guide

Browsers

  • Desktop
  • Mobile
  • Enterprise

Products

  • Browsers
  • VPN
  • Relay
  • Monitor
  • Pocket
  • Bluesky (@firefox.com)
  • Instagram (Firefox)
  • YouTube (firefoxchannel)
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Legal

Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike License v3.0 or any later version.