How To Set Helper Applications In Firefox

Firefox can be configured to open or download files of different types while browsing. So you can associate specific file types to directly open with their applications rather than trying to view them in Firefox. These are called Helper Applications.

Here is how to configure them:

Open Firefox and in the address bar, type in:

about:preferences

accessing Firefox preferences

This will open the General settings page. Scroll down to the Applications section.

accessing application settings in Firefox

A list of different file types and the associated actions for them will be listed here. To change action for a file type, click on the Action drop-down menu.

choosing actions for opening different file types in Firefox

So, there will be different actions available when Firefox encounters different types of files. It can prompt you to save or open them, directly save them or use Helper Applications to open them.

For example: To always open an image file in an image viewer instead of the Firefox tab, click on the Action drop-down menu and choose Use other.

choosing a helper application in Firefox

Then from a list of installed programs that can open those files, choose the specific image viewer as it’s Helper Application.

associating a helper application with a file type in Firefox

Similarly, you can associate actions for other different file types like PDF, DOCX, zipped folders, and more by saving them or directly opening them in different Helper Applications.

different actions can be set for different file types in Firefox

                                                  Different actions for different file types

 

choosing a helper application for opening a SVG file

                                    Helper application for opening SVG files

 

choosing a helper application in Firefox for opening PDF files

                                         Helper application in Firefox for opening PDF files

All done.

  1. glenn ongayo says:

    How to add “text/csv” as content type and “notepad(default)” as action? I am using Lenovo Ideapad3 and Windows 10. Thanks.

    • admin says:

      Not directly through helper application but you can do that through Windows context menu. Right click on the text/csv file and select Open with > Notepad. Then Firefox will look for the default application which is notepad and open it.

  2. glenn ongayo says:

    How to add “text/csv” as content type and “notepad(default)” as action?