How to Force a file to download using PHP on mobile Browsers?

Question

I want to write a php script to download some files(extensions - .apk, .dcm, .pdf, .zip etc...) on mobile browsers. I have written a php code to download those files and it is working fine on all the browsers(not mobile browsers). But I tried it using a HTC mobile and it is trying to open the file instead of downloading(like opening a web page).

How can I enable the download on mobile browsers?

Thank You

PS: This is how I do it. I use a jquery code to send some parameters to a php file and it will return the appropriate download file path.

jQuery code snippets is:

$.post('saveData.php',{ name: name.val(), email: email.val(), phone:phone.val(), address:address.val(), version:vers, swVersion:swvers, type:type }, 
function(data) 
{                       
    var links = data;
    document.body.innerHTML += "<iframe src='" + links + "' style='display:hide;' ></iframe>";
});

"links" variable contains the download path return from the php file. Iframe allow the download window to popup. But it does not work on the mobile browsers.

Layamon

are you sending the correct mime type headers ?? – Hindquarter

This is way too little information. Please show some code – Wavellite

This is how I do it. I use a jquery code to send some parameters to a php file and it will return the appropriate download file path. jQuery code snippets is: $.post('saveData.php',{ name: name.val(), email: email.val(), phone:phone.val(), address:address.val(), version:vers, swVersion:swvers, type:type }, function(data) { var links = data; document.body.innerHTML += "<iframe src='" + links + "' style='display:hide;' ></iframe>"; }); "links" variable contains the download path return from the php file. Iframe allow the download window to popup. – Layamon

Answer 1

Try with the following headers:

header('Content-Type: application/force-download');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="filename"');

The idea is to set the content type to something that the browser doesn't know how to open - that way it will show the save dialogue. You can try it with the actual MIME type, it should work, but I can't test it right now.

Denticulate

upvoted but would suggest you make it a suggestion rather than a question – Reniti

This still plays MP3s in the browser on an iPhone. I wish there were a way to allow downloads but prevent streaming. – Resume