• Why Can't I Download Anything On My Mac
• Why I Cannot Download Anything

Open the App Store and sign in

Ever since I downloaded the Seinfeld Episode The Contest, I can't seem to download anything at all. I tried powering down my computer, modem etc. But I still can't download anything. This is very frustrating. I use verizon DSL if it matters. If this doesn’t solve the problem and your Mac App Store won’t download anything, the next solution is re-indexing. Your Mac uses Spotlight to determine what apps you have installed. And perhaps, due to a bug or a corrupted file, your operating system thinks that the app you are trying to download is already in your system which is why it is not letting you download it again. Not all TV shows and movies are available for download, so you may see the Download icon for some titles but not others. If you don't see the Download icon for any TV shows or movies, there may be a problem with your device, or downloading may not be available on your device.

Fix: Download from Mac App Store. If you are on Catalina you might think you have to stick to downloading the new software via Software Update, but you can still grab the download via the Mac App. Try to download it from the Mac App Store if your first attempt was through Software Update. If your first attempt was in the App Store, try Software Update. If you see a message telling you that macOS cannot be installed or Big Sur is stuck on the progress bar, try the following.

If a blue account icon appears at the top of the App Store, you might not be signed in. Tap it and sign in with your Apple ID. Learn what to do if you've forgotten your password.

Learn what to do if you can't open the App Store.

Manually update the app

Check your payment method

You might need to have a payment method on file, even if the app that you want to download is free. See what payment method you have on file and make sure it hasn't expired, been declined or failed.

If you can't update apps and you see a message that says “your account is disabled in the App Store”, there might be a problem with your payment method. Contact Apple Support for assistance.

Pause the download, then restart it

When you touch and hold the app from the Home screen, you might see options to Resume Download, Pause Download or Cancel Download. If the app download is paused, tap Resume Download. If it's stuck, tap Pause Download, then touch and hold the app again and tap Resume Download.

Restart your device

Restart your iPhone or restart your iPad.

Then check to see if you can download or update apps.

Contact Apple

If you still can't download or update apps on your iPhone or iPad, contact Apple Support.

This article describes steps to take if you are unable to download or save files using Firefox.

Table of Contents

• 7Change file type settings
• 9Enable downloads blocked by Security Zone Policy

Firefox includes a download protection feature to protect you from malicious or potentially harmful file downloads. If Firefox has blocked an unsafe download, you will see a warning message about the file in the Downloads panel, along with options for handling the pending download. You can open the Downloads panel to view completed and pending downloads by clicking on the Downloads button (the down arrow on your toolbar). See the articles Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox and How does built-in Phishing and Malware Protection work? for more information.

Clearing the download history can fix some problems with downloading files:

1. Click the Downloads button , and then click Show all downloads. The Downloads window will open.
2. In the Downloads window, click .
3. Close the Downloads window.

Firefox may not be able to download files if there is a problem with the folder in which downloaded files are saved:

1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Preferences.Click the menu button and select OptionsPreferences.Click the menu button and select Settings.

2. Select the General panel.
3. Go to the Downloads sectionFind the Downloads section under Files and Applications.
4. Click the button next to the Save files to entry.
5. Choose a different download folder for saving files.
6. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

If you have tried the above suggestions, you can restore the default Firefox download folder settings:

1. Type about:config in the address bar and press EnterReturn.
   A warning page may appear. Click to go to the about:config page.
2. In the Search field, enter browser.download.
3. If any of the following settings have a status of modifiedare in bold text, reset their values. To reset a value, right-clickhold down the Ctrl key while you click the setting and select Reset from the context menuclick the Delete or Reset button, depending on the preference:
   • browser.download.dir
   • browser.download.downloadDir
   • browser.download.folderList
   • browser.download.lastDir
   • browser.download.useDownloadDir
4. If desired, you can revert back to your preferred download folder settings in your Firefox OptionsPreferencesSettingsGeneral panel, in the Downloads section under Files and Applications.

If you receive the error <filename> could not be saved, because an unknown error occurred. , your problem might be caused by an interaction with the Safari browser and your operating system.

To fix the problem, open Safari's Preferences and change the Save downloaded files to: setting to a valid folder (such as your Desktop). Then restart Firefox.

Why Can't I Download Anything On My Mac

If you receive the error <filename> could not be saved, because you cannot change the contents of that folder. Change the folder properties and try again, or try saving in a different location., your problem might be caused by corrupt plist files.

To fix this problem, go to your home directory and delete this preference file:

• ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.internetconfig.plist

If downloading certain file types does not work, check to make sure Firefox is not set to handle those file types differently from others. See Change what Firefox does when you click on or download a file for instructions on how to view and change how different file types are handled.

Reset download actions for all file types

To reset how all file types are handled by Firefox back to default:

1. Open your profile folder:

   • Click the menu button , click Help and select Troubleshooting InformationMore Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select Troubleshooting InformationMore Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
   • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
   Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.
2. Click the Firefox menu and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu and select Quit.
3. Delete or rename the mimeTypes.rdf file (for example, rename it mimeTypes.rdf.oldhandlers.json file (for example, rename it handlers.json.old ).
4. Restart Firefox.

Why I Cannot Download Anything

Internet security software, including firewalls, antivirus programs, anti-spyware programs, and others can block certain file downloads. Check the settings in your security software to see if there is an setting that may be blocking downloads.

To diagnose whether Internet security software is causing problems, you can try temporarily disabling it, seeing if downloads work, and then re-enabling the software.

Downloading an executable file (e.g., an .exe or .msi file) may fail, with the Downloads window showing Canceled under the file name.

This happens because Firefox honors your Windows security settings for downloading applications and other potentially unsafe files from the Internet. To resolve this problem, use the solution given below.

Reset system Internet Security settings

You can reset your system Internet security settings in Internet Explorer. See How to reset Internet Explorer settings at Microsoft Support for instructions.

You may be able to diagnose your download problem by following the steps given in the Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems article.

Based on information from Unable to save or download files (mozillaZine KB)