How to add file types to Safari's safe file list in Catalina?

Question

How to add file types to Safari's safe file list in Catalina?

Hey everybody,

up until macOS Mojave, one could edit the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.DownloadAssessment.plist and add new safe file entries in order to auto-start new file types that were downloaded by Safari, but that plist file doesn't seem to have any effect anymore. After updating to Catalina, it still exists on my iMac and carries the respective entry, but that file type (in my case NZB) is no longer auto-starting with the associated application after downloading. Every time I have downloaded such a file, I have to double-click it in order for the associated application to start which is a bit annoying.

Does anybody know how I can add new safe file types for auto-starting in Catalina?

Thank you all in advance!

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Oct 24, 2019 10:19 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 24, 2019 11:21 AM in response to gerofromronnenberg

Verify—

Safari>Preferences>General>Open Safe files after downloading

or

Check your system preferences,

>System Preferences>Security & Privacy>Privacy

it could be the case you have to give system permission in Files&Folders or full Disk Access

Catalina can be tightening up security around these issues—if holding the option key does not satisfy you—

you can references from 2018:

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/332907/fine-tuning-open-safe-files-after-downloading

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Answer 2

Oct 24, 2019 10:51 AM in response to gerofromronnenberg

gerofromronnenberg wrote:

Every time I have downloaded such a file, I have to double-click it in

order for the associated application to start which is a bit annoying.

What file types are we talking about.... you give no examples?

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Answer 3

Oct 24, 2019 11:02 AM in response to leroydouglas

...hmmm, I'm wondering if you have read my opening post carefully enough.... ;-)

Because that's not the case. If that WERE the case, the application wouldn't launch either when double-clicking the downloaded file. But it does - the application itself works perfectly in Catalina. It's just that it's not auto-starting right after an NZB file has been downloaded.

Best

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