downloads.open()

The open() function of the downloads API opens the downloaded file with its associated application. A downloads.onChanged event will fire when the item is opened for the first time.

To use this function in your extension you must ask for the "downloads.open" manifest permission, as well as the "downloads" permission. Also, you can only call this function from inside the handler for a user action.

This is an asynchronous function that returns a Promise.

Syntax

let opening = browser.downloads.open(
  downloadId      // integer
)

Parameters

downloadId

An integer representing the id of the downloads.DownloadItem you want to open.

Return value

A Promise. If the request was successful, the promise will be fulfilled with no arguments. If the request failed, the promise will be rejected with an error message.

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
open Yes 79 48 ? Yes No ? ? 48–79 ? No ?

Examples

This example opens the most recently downloaded item:

function onOpened() {
  console.log(`Opened download item`);
}

function onError(error) {
  console.log(`Error opening item: ${error}`);
}

function openDownload(downloadItems) {
    if (downloadItems.length > 0) {
      let opening = browser.downloads.open(downloadItems[0].id);
      opening.then(onOpened, onError);
    }
  }

let searching = browser.downloads.search({
  limit: 1,
  orderBy: ["-startTime"]
});

searching.then(openDownload, onError);

Example extensions

Note: This API is based on Chromium's chrome.downloads API.

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Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/downloads/open