For the past few weeks, Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 has occasionally opened downloaded image and video files as soon as the download finishes. It does not happen consistently with the same file type. I avoid downloading executable files from untrusted sources, but I still consider automatic opening a security risk. Where can I disable this behavior?
2 Answers
Check Edge’s download settings and the download history menu. When a file type has been marked to open automatically, use the file’s three-dot menu and clear the option that says “Always open files of this type.” You can also review edge://settings/downloads for related download behavior.
If there’s no obvious global setting, it may be specific to individual download entries rather than the extension itself. Watch the download notification when it happens, open its menu, and remove any automatic-open preference. Also make sure Edge is fully updated, since inconsistent behavior can be caused by a browser bug or a site opening the file separately after the download completes.
I checked the visible download settings but couldn’t find a general option, and the behavior doesn’t happen consistently with one particular file type.