I’ve noticed over the last week or so that when using certain web browsers (Chrome, Brave), that I am unable to download files (e.g., PDF). I can see the file and the intended location fine in the file picker, but the intended file does not download.
I cannot replicate the problem with Firefox, Vivaldi or with Librewolf.
Unfortunately, net searches have not been much help:
I have turned off extensions and turned them back on again - no effect.
I have disabled the ‘ask where to download’ option
Not sure what else to do, so any help would be great - thanks!
Hi keescase
Thanks for your suggestions.
Yep, I’ve tried switching just to default settings, emptying cache, cookies, etc. still nada.
Not sure what settings would be too strict to download files, so if you have any ideas about that?
As I noted, this only showed up about a week or so ago and, AFAIK, only appears to affect chrome-like browsers.
It’s frustrating because I have to use Chrome for work (for webmail and accessing my institution’s sharepoint, etc.), so it’d be nice to be able to sort this out if possible.
Cheers
Sorry I don’t use Chrome or Brave so I can not tell you anything about them.
Well isn’t it possible to use Vivaldi for all you do in Chrome ?
Because you said Vivaldi seems to have no problems, and you can set it to be recognized as chrome in the network settings.
Hi keescase
Thanks again.
Yep, I could transfer everything over to Vivaldi. To be honest, I haven’t looked, but there’s probably an ‘import’ option to get book marks and so on from Chrome. I’ll keep this as a last resort though, because it would be good to get this fixed rather than come up with a workaround.
Cheers - good idea, so may well try this if I cannot get another option to work first.
Hi limotux
Thanks for your suggestion - in terms of sandboxing, I’m going to have to say ‘no’ - unless that was set up behind the scenes, that was nothing I set up, so it is improbable.
If there’s a browser security setting, I haven’t come across that yet, and it isn’t system wide because Firefox still works as expected.
Cheers
Hi again
Sorry to bump this - however, the issue appears to be getting worse.
I used to be able to download files using any browser. However, this is no longer the case. Chrome and now Brave do not download any files, even though the file/ destination selection window appears, nothing is transferred.
I have transferred work-related materials to Vivaldi for expediency, but this really isn’t okay because one of the fundamental functions of a web browser is to be able to download web-based materials. Hence, this feels like a broken functionality that I’d like to try to fix if possible.
I’d really appreciate any advice - I have reset all the browsers in question to their default settings, I’m not sandboxing anything, and since Firefox still works as expected, it isn’t my ISP/ Net connection either.
I’ve added the output from printenv if this means anything to someone with a better grasp of these things than me:
SHELL=/bin/bash
SESSION_MANAGER=local/valhalla:@/tmp/.ICE-unix/920,unix/valhalla:/tmp/.ICE-unix/920
WINDOWID=67110388
COLORTERM=truecolor
XDG_SESSION_PATH=/org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Session0
LC_ADDRESS=en_GB.UTF-8
LC_NAME=en_GB.UTF-8
DESKTOP_SESSION=mate
LC_MONETARY=en_GB.UTF-8
EDITOR=nano
GTK_MODULES=canberra-gtk-module
XDG_SEAT=seat0
MATE_DESKTOP_SESSION_ID=this-is-deprecated
PWD=/home/andy
LOGNAME=andy
XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=mate
XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11
XAUTHORITY=/home/andy/.Xauthority
XDG_GREETER_DATA_DIR=/var/lib/lightdm-data/andy
MOTD_SHOWN=pam
HOME=/home/andy
LC_PAPER=en_GB.UTF-8
LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=MATE
VTE_VERSION=8001
XDG_SEAT_PATH=/org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Seat0
XDG_SESSION_CLASS=user
LC_IDENTIFICATION=en_GB.UTF-8
TERM=xterm-256color
GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0
USER=andy
DISPLAY=:0.0
SHLVL=1
LC_TELEPHONE=en_GB.UTF-8
LC_MEASUREMENT=en_GB.UTF-8
XDG_VTNR=7
XDG_SESSION_ID=2
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/1000
DEBUGINFOD_URLS=https://debuginfod.archlinux.org
LC_TIME=en_GB.UTF-8
GTK3_MODULES=xapp-gtk3-module
XDG_DATA_DIRS=/home/andy/.local/share/flatpak/exports/share:/var/lib/flatpak/exports/share:/usr/local/share:/usr/share
BROWSER=firefox
PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/var/lib/flatpak/exports/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/usr/bin/site_perl:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl:/home/andy/COMPUTER-
GDMSESSION=mate
DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS=unix:path=/run/user/1000/bus
MAIL=/var/spool/mail/andy
QT_FONT_DPI=96
QT_SCALE_FACTOR=1
LC_NUMERIC=en_GB.UTF-8
_=/usr/bin/printenv```
<Edit: Thanks Cactux - I used the BlockQuote option but have now amended as per your suggestion>
I tried switching themes but that doesn't appear to have had any effect, and I have no idea if this is Mate-specific.
I have now added a new user with the KDE and everything works as expected in both Brave and Chrome.
This means that it is a DE issue, so I will now raise this in the Mate section of the Forum.
Cheers