How do I stop a browser from opening every downloaded file automatically?

Start with the browser you used to download it, and identify the file type that opens automatically. Look for a preference tied to that type; it may have been set to open files automatically. Avoid changing unrelated settings first. In particular, a setting for where downloads are saved—or whether the browser asks where to save them—does not necessarily control whether a downloaded file opens. The steps differ between browsers, so check which one you are using before changing anything.

In desktop Chrome, open the recent download history. Find a recently downloaded file of the type that opens by itself, right-click it, and untick “Always open files of this type” if that option is checked. This changes Chrome’s remembered behavior for that file type. [S1]

Keep that separate from Chrome’s Settings > Downloads options: those control the save location and whether Chrome asks where each file should be saved, not the automatic-opening preference described above. [S1]

For example, if a downloaded document opens automatically, use a recent download of that same type to inspect the option. Changing the save folder would not be the targeted step. These instructions are for Chrome on a computer; they do not establish steps for mobile Chrome.

In Firefox, open Settings and go to Downloads. Under Files and applications, find the relevant file type and change its action. You can choose “Save file” to save it rather than have Firefox open it, or “Always ask” if you want to choose an action when handling that type. Firefox also describes an “Always Open Similar Files” action in the download menu, so check that if the behavior appears tied to similar downloads. [S2]

For example, if a file type is set to open with the system’s default application, changing its Firefox action to “Save file” is the browser-level option to try. The Firefox guidance covers Firefox’s file-type actions; it does not describe a system-wide setting for automatically opening downloaded files. [S2]

First, confirm that you changed the action for the same file type that is opening—not simply the download location or save prompt. Then download a file of that type again and observe what happens. This is a practical check, not a guarantee that every file or application will behave the same way.

If it still opens, note the browser, the file type, and the setting you changed. The browser guidance here does not establish which operating-system or application setting might also affect what happens, or how to change one. Avoid guessing at system-wide settings; consult the relevant operating-system or application help if you need to investigate beyond the browser. You can use this short record:

“Browser: [name and version, if known]. File type: [type]. Browser action checked: [setting]. Result after another download: [what happened].”