How to fix Safari downloaded dialog is hiding behind Safari window?

This is a new behaviour that appears to have coincided with some Sequoia updates.

• Whenever I have to download anything, typically the download button will trigger a new safari window to open, and then the dialogue box asking me to allow downloads will get buried beneath windows, often multiple windows deep. The dialogue box isn't an entity that shows up in the "Window" menu so this "freeze" in workflow has been pretty confusing for a while now.

• Is there an xml parameter I can bump in a config file somewhere? I have absolutely no desire to completely reset safari right now.

• My current plugin suite is:


wipr

control panel for twitter

sessionrestore



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: safari "allow downloads from..." dialogue box constantly hiding behind other safari windows

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jun 11, 2025 12:33 PM

Reply
5 replies

Jun 11, 2025 04:54 PM in response to kallisti

kallisti wrote:

This is a new behaviour that appears to have coincided with some Sequoia updates.
• Whenever I have to download anything, typically the download button will trigger a new safari window to open, and then the dialogue box asking me to allow downloads will get buried beneath windows, often multiple windows deep. The dialogue box isn't an entity that shows up in the "Window" menu so this "freeze" in workflow has been pretty confusing for a while now.
• Is there an xml parameter I can bump in a config file somewhere? I have absolutely no desire to completely reset safari right now.
• My current plugin suite is:

wipr
control panel for twitter
sessionrestore



if Safari is set as your default browser— change the location and compare your results.


compare Safari in Full Screen mode, verse a a small window open on your Desktop— I always have Safari as default, in Full Screen a swipe away. My main working browser is Firefox windowed on the Desktop


I would not select auto-open "Safe files"





you can test your situation: https://testfile.org/all-pdf-sample-test-file-download-direct/





Jun 11, 2025 05:20 PM in response to kallisti

kallisti wrote:

typically the download button will trigger a new safari window to open


I will say I see this periodically , not limited to Sequoia...typically associated with a mail link to open in Safari— I quit both the Mail.app and the Safari.app and relaunch both seems to sort the glitch.


I will say however I only have one Safari window open


Quit the Safari.app and relaunch it and compare your results.

Jun 11, 2025 07:38 PM in response to leroydouglas

if Safari is set as your default browser— change the location and compare your results.

compare Safari in Full Screen mode, verse a a small window open on your Desktop— I always have Safari as default, in Full Screen a swipe away. My main working browser is Firefox windowed on the Desktop

I would not select auto-open "Safe files"



not useful, I've got safari spread across 5 displays with 430-460 tabs open at any given time. And before you're like "Well there's yer problem!" understand that I've been running safari like this since ~2018. Also I've been on a mac since 1984. Really hoping for someone to just say "set this xml value to zero" or something.

Jun 11, 2025 07:39 PM in response to leroydouglas

leroydouglas wrote:


kallisti wrote:

typically the download button will trigger a new safari window to open

I will say I see this periodically , not limited to Sequoia...typically associated with a mail link to open in Safari— I quit both the Mail.app and the Safari.app and relaunch both seems to sort the glitch.

I will say however I only have one Safari window open

Quit the Safari.app and relaunch it and compare your results.



I reboot this mac multiple times/day because Logic doesn't play well with certain peripherals. see previous reply

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How to fix Safari downloaded dialog is hiding behind Safari window?

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