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Microsoft Edge downloads are disappearing

Anonymous
2024-04-25T19:53:36+00:00

Since build version 124.0.2478.51 we have a couple of users complaining about files disappearing. The user goes to print/save a PDF to file and successfully save the file to their desktop (one or many files). Then they'll close the Edge session and almost immediately the files saved to the local PC will disappear.

After additional testing, there are two specific outcomes and scenarios:

Scenario 1

  1. User opens Edge and navigates to website.
  2. User goes to export PDF from website and a pop-up window with the PDF in preview appears (Edge window | The URL field shows about:blank).
  3. User selects Print option and selects Save as PDF (The Save button is non responsive.).
  4. User opens the Downloads folder and see's the file, can open the file, and can copy the file to another location.
  5. User closes Edge and the file disappears from the Downloads folder.

Highlights in Scenario 1

  • The URL field shows about:blank
  • There's no prompt in the upper right-hand corner of the browser asking about saving the file.
  • When you open the 'Downloads' option in Edge, there's no visible history or progress from the file being downloaded.
  • The disappearing files can be found in the Edge cached data directory (%appdata%\local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Cache\Cache_Data). The just need to be renamed with the appropriate file extension (in this case .pdf).
  • If the file is copied to another location before the Edge session is closed the file stays in its copied location and is a working file.

Scenario 2

  1. User opens Edge and navigates to website.
  2. User goes to export PDF from website and a pop-up window with the PDF in preview appears (Edge window | The URL field shows https://domain.com).
  3. User selects Print option and selects Save as PDF.
  4. User opens the Downloads folder and see's the file, can open the file, and can copy the file to another location.
  5. User closes Edge and the file remains in the Downloads folder.

Highlights in Scenario 1

  • The URL field shows https://domain.com
  • There's a prompt in the upper right-hand corner of the browser and history of the files downloaded are present.
  • If you close Edge, the file remains in the originally saved location.

This looks like a problem with downloading files from insecure location but don't believe we want to exempt about:blank. Which then begs the question of whether or not this is a bug in the Edge platform or if this is something programmatically we need to have the cloud provider fix (or a problem on both ends)..

We've reproduced the problem on several machines under several accounts and they all behave the same. The insecure downloads option has been around for several years and has never contained a list of exclusions in our environment so I'm hoping this is a bug in the latest Edge build. If anyone has any insight into what we may be able to do to resolve this ,we're all ears.

Microsoft Edge | Favorites, history, and downloads | Windows 10

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-04-29T04:45:02+00:00

    Thank you for the reply.

    If the Edge download prompts a security warning and you are sure the file is safe, please click "Keep".

    According to your description, some of the downloads do not have a security warning, which may be due to a security issue with a particular web server.

    If your particular web page is open outside of your domain, please try opening the download on a computer that is not part of your domain.

    If you have the same problem when downloading from Edge outside of your domain, it may be due to a security issue with the web server or the security settings.

    If Edge downloads normally outside your domain, you can refer to the following website to change the policy settings of edge in your domain. Try to see if this solves your problem.

    Identify and interrupt downloads of potentially dangerous files | Microsoft Learn

    Best Wish

    Zora.Z

    Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-04-26T15:37:38+00:00

    All tests were conducted within the organizations domain.

    Test-1

    When testing Save to PDF from google.com we successfully downloaded the file and it stayed in the downloads folder after closing Edge.

    Test-2

    When testing Save to PDF from httpforever.com we received the warning message in the upper right-hand corner with the option to Keep the file. If we choose to keep the file and close the Edge browser the file will remain in the downloads folder.

    Test-3

    Using the same Save to PDF from httpforever.com and don't acknowledge the warning message to Keep the file. The file is seemingly available in the downloads folder until we close the Edge browser. Immediately upon close the browser the file disappears.

    The issue is really more geared towards a particular cloud service who's site is generating a pop-out window with the URL field of about:blank. When the URL field reads about:blank the option to Keep the file is not present. Nothing shows in the recent downloads for this file. The file is saved seemingly normally, it shows in the downloads folder, but immediately upon closing that session the file will disappear.

    I don't think the answer is exempt about:blank and this problem goes away. Asking the service provider to change how they're handling URLs in their pop-out windows of PDFs is one angle to tackle this but the question I have is why does Edge not present us with the same option to Keep the file from about:blank that it does from an insecure http site? Seems like a bug

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-04-26T08:17:23+00:00

    Dear netw0rkn1nja0

    Thanks for using Microsoft products and posting in the community.

    Allow me to ask:

    Do you have a problem with all pages Save as PDF? Or only for some pages?

    For example, if you open www.bing.com or www.google.com , does Save as PDF stored properly?

    Disclaimer:  Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and  is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party  linked sites or any support related to technology.  

    You mentioned that the problem occurs on several machines under several accounts, is your environment within the organizational domain?

    I hope you can provide answers to our questions on your next response so we can narrow down the issue.

    Best Wish

    Zora.Z

    Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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