How to Download Streaming Music MP3s With Firefox
When you visit a website containing an embedded MP3 or click a link directly to an MP3 file in Firefox, the browser streams the audio. This allows you to hear the song without waiting for the entire file to download, but it doesn't save the MP3 to your computer for later playback. You can manually download an individual MP3 while streaming it or disable Firefox's playback tool entirely to force a download prompt every time you click an MP3 link.
Download a Single MP3
Step 1
Visit a Web page containing an embedded MP3 file and locate the audio control bar on the website. When opening a direct MP3 link, the control bar appears in the center of an otherwise blank page.
Step 2
Right-click the control bar and pick "Save Audio As..."
Step 3
Enter a name for the MP3 file and choose a location on your computer. Press "Save" to download the song.
Always Prompt to Download MP3s
Step 1
Enter "about:config" (without quotes) in Firefox's address bar. If a warning page appears, click "I'll be careful, I promise!"
Step 2
Paste or type "media.directshow.enabled" (without quotes) into the search bar at the top of the page -- not the Firefox search bar used to search the Web.
Step 3
Double-click on the "media.directshow.enabled" preference in the search results to toggle it to "False."
Step 4
Search for the preference "media.windows-media-foundation.play-stand-alone" and toggle it to "False" as well.
Step 5
Open any MP3 link and you'll see a download prompt, just as when you open links to most other types of files. Select "Save File" and press "OK."
Tips & Warnings
- Changing the settings on the "about:config" page disables embedded MP3 playback on websites. You'll have to visit MP3 links directly and download files you want to hear.
- If you use a media plugin, such as QuickTime, these steps may not work. Each such plugin has its own methods of downloading media, so check your plugin's help files or disable it to revert to the default method in Firefox.
- Downloading commercial music may violate copyright, even if a website allows you to stream that music for free. Only download MP3s you have the right to save.
- Information in this article applies to Firefox versions 26 and above. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions.
