How to Use Download Them All to Download Multiple Files More Efficiently

Downloading dozens of PDFs, images, documents or other files one by one wastes time and can lead to missed links. DownThemAll!—often searched as “Download Them All”—is a free browser extension that scans a webpage, lets you filter the files you want and downloads them in a queue. This guide explains how to use Download Them All on a computer, including batch downloads, naming options and troubleshooting.

Key Takeaways

Install DownThemAll! only from the official Firefox, Chrome or Edge add-on store.
Use Save all tabs, Save links with DownThemAll! or the extension button to collect files.
Filter by extension, filename or URL before starting the download.
Choose a dedicated folder and use Queue! when you want to review or reorder files first.
Batch descriptors can download numbered URL ranges such as file[1:50].pdf.
The extension cannot bypass logins, paywalls, copyright restrictions or server download limits.

What Is DownThemAll!?

DownThemAll! is an open-source download manager that runs as a browser extension. The official Firefox listing describes features for selecting, queuing, sorting and renaming downloads, including reusable filters and subfolder naming masks. It is free and does not require a separate desktop installer. Mozilla Add-ons lists the current extension and permissions.

The extension is useful when a webpage contains many direct file links, such as:

A course page with PDF lessons
A public image gallery
Open datasets and research files
Software documentation archives
Several files supplied by your own organisation

DownThemAll! downloads files that your browser can access. It does not legally or technically unlock protected streaming media, private content or files hidden behind an account.

Compatibility and Safe Installation

DownThemAll! is distributed through official browser stores. The extension is available for current desktop versions of Firefox and Chromium-based browsers, including Chrome and Edge. Store listings can change, so use the official pages rather than third-party “APK” or installer websites.

Browser	Installation source	Important note
Firefox	Mozilla Add-ons	Fullest documented DownThemAll! workflow
Google Chrome	Chrome Web Store	Chrome’s “Ask where to save each file” setting can create repeated prompts
Microsoft Edge	Microsoft Edge Add-ons	Availability depends on the installed Edge version
Android or iPhone/iPad	No equivalent desktop workflow confirmed here	Use a computer for large multi-file jobs

Install the extension

Open your browser’s official add-on store.
Search for DownThemAll! and check that the developer is Nils Maier.
Select Add to Firefox, Add to Chrome or the equivalent Edge button.
Approve the requested permissions after reviewing them.
Pin the extension icon to your toolbar if your browser supports pinned extensions.
Restart the browser only if it asks you to do so.

Avoid downloading an .xpi, .crx, modified browser package or “premium” version from an unknown website. A third-party copy may contain unwanted changes and will not receive store updates.

How to Use Download Them All on a Webpage

The quickest method is to open the page containing the links and let DownThemAll! build a selectable list.

Open the webpage in Firefox, Chrome or Edge.
Right-click an empty area of the page or a file link.
Choose DownThemAll! and select the option that opens the link-selection window. The wording can vary slightly by browser and extension version.
In the selection window, review the detected links or embedded objects.
Tick only the files you are allowed to download.
Set Save files in to a folder, such as Documents\Course PDFs or Downloads\Project Images.
Choose Start! to begin immediately, or Queue! to add the files to the manager for later.
Open the DownThemAll! manager to monitor progress, pause tasks or change their order.

The official help page explains that the selection window can display links, pictures and embedded objects; it also supports selecting rows, applying filters, choosing a destination and starting or queuing downloads. See the documented selection controls.

Select links from several open tabs

If the files are spread across multiple tabs, use the extension’s toolbar button or manager command for selecting downloads from open tabs, where available. Check the resulting list carefully: links from advertisements, navigation pages and tracking URLs may also be detected.

Filter Files Before Downloading

Filtering is the main reason to use DownThemAll! instead of clicking every link manually. In the selection window, you can filter by filename, URL or extension.

Examples:

*.pdf — select PDF files
*.jpg,*.png — select common image formats
lecture-* — select files whose names begin with “lecture-”
*2026* — select URLs or names containing “2026”

You can also use ? as a single-character wildcard. Advanced users may enable the regular-expression option, but ordinary wildcard filters are safer for most users. The official documentation notes that filters can be entered as comma-separated patterns and reused later.

Before clicking Start!, check the selected-file count in the status area. This prevents accidentally downloading hundreds of thumbnails when you intended to save only ten full-size images.

Queue Downloads to Control Bandwidth

Starting a large batch immediately can slow other internet activity, which matters on mobile hotspots or shared connections commonly used in India. Choose Queue! when you want to:

Review filenames before downloading
Move important files to the front
Pause a batch until off-peak hours
Limit the number of simultaneous downloads
Add files from another webpage to the same job

The manager provides a central view of queued, active, completed and failed tasks. If a website becomes overloaded or starts returning errors, pause the queue and resume later instead of repeatedly refreshing the page.

Download speed still depends on your broadband or mobile network, the server’s capacity and any per-site limits. Multiple connections do not guarantee faster results and may cause a website to throttle or reject requests.

Download Numbered Files with Batch Descriptors

DownThemAll! supports batch descriptors for predictable URL ranges. This is useful when a site uses sequential names such as:

https://example.org/reports/report-01.pdf

https://example.org/reports/report-02.pdf

From the manager, select Add URL(s), enter the URL pattern, choose a folder and apply a descriptor such as:

[1:10] — numbers 1 through 10
[01:50] — zero-padded numbers 01 through 50
[1:20:2] — every second number: 1, 3, 5 and so on

For example:

https://example.org/reports/report-[01:10].pdf

creates requests for report-01.pdf through report-10.pdf. The official batch-download documentation states that the end value is inclusive and that the start and end must use the same type, such as numbers or letters. Review the batch syntax and examples.

Use this feature only when you know the URL pattern is valid and you have permission to retrieve the files. A large or incorrect range can generate many failed requests and reduce browser performance.

Organise Files with Naming Masks and Folders

A download manager is most useful when the resulting files are easy to find. Set a meaningful destination folder before starting. You can also use DownThemAll!’s renaming masks to include information from the link and create subfolders.

Practical organisation examples:

Documents\UPSC\Polity
Projects\Website Assets\2026
Research\Data\CSV
College\Semester 4\Notes

Do not overwrite existing files unless you have checked the names. If two downloads have identical filenames, add a descriptive prefix or separate them into different folders. After a batch finishes, sort the folder by file type and open a few files to confirm they are complete.

Common Problems and Fixes

The extension finds no files

The page may load links dynamically with JavaScript, require you to sign in, or use buttons that do not expose a direct file URL. Try opening the actual download page, scrolling until the links load and running DownThemAll! again. If the file opens in an online viewer, look for the site’s legitimate Download control instead of guessing a hidden URL.

Chrome or Edge asks where to save every file

Browser download settings can override the extension. In Chrome or Edge, open Settings → Downloads and review Ask where to save each file before downloading. Turning it off lets batches use the chosen folder; leaving it on may produce one prompt per file.

Downloads fail with 403, 404 or “server error”

404 usually means the URL no longer exists.
403 can indicate that the server requires a login, referrer or permission.
A server error may be temporary or caused by too many simultaneous requests.

Confirm that you are signed in, reduce concurrent downloads and try again later. DownThemAll! cannot bypass access controls.

Files have the wrong extension or are very small

Some websites return an HTML error page even though the link ends in .pdf or .zip. Open the file cautiously in a text editor or check its size and type before sharing it. Delete failed downloads and obtain the file through the site’s official method.

The queue is slow or the browser becomes unresponsive

Reduce the batch size, remove duplicate URLs and lower simultaneous downloads. The official documentation warns that very large batches can slow DownThemAll! and overall performance.

Security, Privacy and Copyright

Download only material you are authorised to copy. Respect copyright licences, website terms and institutional rules, especially for textbooks, paid courses, films, music and software.

Treat downloaded files as untrusted until checked:

Keep Windows, macOS or Linux and your browser updated.
Scan executables and archives with your security software.
Do not open files that unexpectedly ask for passwords or payment.
Verify checksums when the publisher provides them.
Be cautious of “cracked,” “modded” or re-packed downloads.

The official Firefox listing says the extension is open-source and that its developer declares no data collection, but browser permissions still include downloading files, accessing tabs and interacting with download history. Install it from a verified store and review permissions after major updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Download Them All free?

Yes. DownThemAll! is distributed as a free, open-source browser extension. The developer accepts donations, but ordinary downloading does not require a subscription.

Can I use DownThemAll! on Android?

The workflow documented here is for desktop Firefox, Chrome and Edge. Mobile browser support and extension behaviour vary, so a computer is the dependable option for large batches.

Can it download videos from YouTube or streaming services?

It is designed to collect downloadable links and embedded objects. It does not provide permission to copy protected streams, bypass DRM or violate a platform’s terms. Use the service’s official offline or download feature.

Does it make downloads faster?

It can make downloading more efficient by selecting many files, queuing tasks and managing several downloads. Actual speed depends on your network, the host server and its connection limits.

How do I download only PDFs from a page?

Open the DownThemAll! selection window, enter *.pdf in the additional filter field, verify the selected count and click Start! or Queue!.

Why are duplicate files being created?

The page may contain the same URL more than once, or the browser may be configured to rename duplicates automatically. Remove repeated entries in the selection window and review the destination folder before starting.

Can DownThemAll! download files behind a login?

It may work when the browser session has legitimate access and the site exposes a normal download link. It cannot bypass authentication, paywalls or permissions.

What is the safest place to download the extension?

Use the official Mozilla Add-ons, Chrome Web Store or Microsoft Edge Add-ons listing, and avoid unofficial installers or modified copies.

How to Use Download Them All to Download Multiple Files More Efficiently