# Download Filename Encoding

> Set the character encoding of download filenames.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/download-filename-encoding](https://chrome-stats.com/d/download-filename-encoding)

## Overview

- **ID:** `download-filename-encoding`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** jingyu9575
- **Category:** other
- **Daily users:** 849
- **Weekly downloads:** 2
- **Rating:** 4.78 / 5 (65 ratings)
- **Version:** 2.1resigned1
- **Last updated:** 2024-04-25
- **First published:** 2017-09-06
- **Size:** 15 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-09
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/download-filename-encoding/)
- **Website:** [https://github.com/jingyu9575/download-filename-encoding/issues](https://github.com/jingyu9575/download-filename-encoding/issues)

## Description

The Download Filename Encoding Chrome extension allows users to set the character encoding of download filenames for accurate and readable file names. Legacy websites sometimes lack proper encoding information, causing browsers like Firefox to display garbled or unreadable filenames upon download. This extension addresses this by letting you specify a default encoding (such as GBK for Chinese) and features options to detect UTF-8 and percent encoding for better filename decoding.

Version 2.0 introduces a convenient icon for quick toggling of encoding settings. Configuration is straightforward through the Add-ons Manager, enabling users to customize how downloaded filenames are decoded. This tool requires permission to access all website data solely to modify the filenames at download time; no browsing data is stored or transmitted. Ideal for users facing issues with legacy download filename encodings, this extension improves clarity and organization of saved files.

## Rankings

- #3,602 — Overall
- #19 — coding
- #21 — loading
- #24 — name
- #88 — settings
- #133 — file

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `<all_urls>`
- `storage`
- `webRequest`
- `webRequestBlocking`
- `menus`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** Moderate risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Allows access to all websites, posing a significant security risk as it can monitor and modify data from any visited site.
- This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

### Pros

- Effectively resolves filename encoding issues, especially for Chinese characters
- User-friendly and highly recommended by several users
- Addresses problems with downloading files from services like Baidu Netdisk without encountering garbled filenames
- Phenomenal solution that has been long-awaited by users facing similar issues

### Cons

- Firefox's native handling of download file names is inadequate compared to competitors like Chrome
- There are persistent issues with encoding that may still require user intervention to resolve
- Some users experienced problems specifically with the mobile version of Firefox
- The add-on relies on certain settings to work effectively, which might be confusing for less technical users

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/download-filename-encoding)