diff --git a/web/i18n/en/dialog.json b/web/i18n/en/dialog.json
index 12b3652d..a2688f6d 100644
--- a/web/i18n/en/dialog.json
+++ b/web/i18n/en/dialog.json
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
     "saving.title": "choose how to save",
     "saving.blocked": "cobalt tried opening the file in a new tab, but your browser blocked it. you can allow pop-ups for cobalt to prevent this from happening next time.",
+    "saving.timeout": "cobalt tried saving the file automatically, but your browser stopped it. you have to select a preferred method manually.",
 
     "safety.title": "important safety notice",
 
diff --git a/web/src/lib/download.ts b/web/src/lib/download.ts
index 9ed1042e..785d520d 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/download.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/download.ts
@@ -65,18 +65,25 @@ export const downloadFile = ({ url, file }: { url?: string, file?: File }) => {
 
     const pref = get(settings).save.savingMethod;
 
+    if (pref === "ask") {
+        return openSavingDialog({ url, file });
+    }
+
     /*
         user actions (such as invoke share, open new tab) have expiration.
         in webkit, for example, that timeout is 5 seconds.
-        https://github.com/WebKit/WebKit/blob/b838f8bb3573bd5906bc5f02fcc8cb274b3c9b8a/Source/WebCore/page/LocalDOMWindow.cpp#L167
+        https://github.com/WebKit/WebKit/blob/b838f8bb/Source/WebCore/page/LocalDOMWindow.cpp#L167
 
         navigator.userActivation.isActive makes sure that we're still able to
         invoke an action without the user agent interrupting it.
         if not, we show a saving dialog for user to re-invoke that action.
     */
-
-    if (pref === "ask" || !navigator.userActivation.isActive) {
-        return openSavingDialog({ url, file });
+    if (!navigator.userActivation.isActive) {
+        return openSavingDialog({
+            url,
+            file,
+            body: get(t)("dialog.saving.timeout"),
+        });
     }
 
     try {