diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index c87201931..ec477ce8f 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ from qutebrowser.completion.models import miscmodels
 from qutebrowser.commands import cmdutils, runners, cmdexc
 from qutebrowser.config import config, websettings, configfiles, configinit
 from qutebrowser.browser import (urlmarks, adblock, history, browsertab,
-                                 downloads, greasemonkey)
+                                 qtnetworkdownloads, downloads, greasemonkey)
 from qutebrowser.browser.network import proxy
 from qutebrowser.browser.webkit import cookies, cache
 from qutebrowser.browser.webkit.network import networkmanager
@@ -491,6 +491,10 @@ def _init_modules(args, crash_handler):
     diskcache = cache.DiskCache(standarddir.cache(), parent=qApp)
     objreg.register('cache', diskcache)
 
+    log.init.debug("Initializing downloads...")
+    download_manager = qtnetworkdownloads.DownloadManager(parent=qApp)
+    objreg.register('qtnetwork-download-manager', download_manager)
+
     log.init.debug("Initializing Greasemonkey...")
     greasemonkey.init()
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/adblock.py b/qutebrowser/browser/adblock.py
index fa35684b9..f0462a778 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/adblock.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/adblock.py
@@ -176,8 +176,7 @@ class HostBlocker:
                               self._config_blocked_hosts)
         self._blocked_hosts = set()
         self._done_count = 0
-        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager',
-                                      scope='window', window='last-focused')
+        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager')
         for url in config.val.content.host_blocking.lists:
             if url.scheme() == 'file':
                 filename = url.toLocalFile()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index 85f59bb00..b56c3d6ae 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -1466,8 +1466,7 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
             mhtml_: Download the current page and all assets as mhtml file.
         """
         # FIXME:qtwebengine do this with the QtWebEngine download manager?
-        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager',
-                                      scope='window', window=self._win_id)
+        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager')
         target = None
         if dest is not None:
             dest = downloads.transform_path(dest)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
index 3e0eddbeb..0390d5d1f 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
@@ -291,8 +291,7 @@ class HintActions:
         user_agent = context.tab.user_agent()
 
         # FIXME:qtwebengine do this with QtWebEngine downloads?
-        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager',
-                                      scope='window', window=self._win_id)
+        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager')
         download_manager.get(url, qnam=qnam, user_agent=user_agent,
                              prompt_download_directory=prompt)
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/qtnetworkdownloads.py b/qutebrowser/browser/qtnetworkdownloads.py
index 746fd8522..82996a803 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/qtnetworkdownloads.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/qtnetworkdownloads.py
@@ -381,10 +381,10 @@ class DownloadManager(downloads.AbstractDownloadManager):
         _networkmanager: A NetworkManager for generic downloads.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, win_id, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent)
         self._networkmanager = networkmanager.NetworkManager(
-            win_id=win_id, tab_id=None,
+            win_id=None, tab_id=None,
             private=config.val.content.private_browsing, parent=self)
 
     @pyqtSlot('QUrl')
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/mhtml.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/mhtml.py
index ca807f705..5f495274a 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/mhtml.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/mhtml.py
@@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ class _Downloader:
         _finished_file: A flag indicating if the file has already been
                         written.
         _used: A flag indicating if the downloader has already been used.
-        _win_id: The window this downloader belongs to.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, tab, target):
@@ -265,7 +264,6 @@ class _Downloader:
         self.pending_downloads = set()
         self._finished_file = False
         self._used = False
-        self._win_id = tab.win_id
 
     def run(self):
         """Download and save the page.
@@ -365,8 +363,7 @@ class _Downloader:
             self.writer.add_file(urlutils.encoded_url(url), b'')
             return
 
-        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager',
-                                      scope='window', window=self._win_id)
+        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager')
         target = downloads.FileObjDownloadTarget(_NoCloseBytesIO())
         item = download_manager.get(url, target=target,
                                     auto_remove=True)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/network/networkmanager.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/network/networkmanager.py
index 8ad486d29..49bf6ebab 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/network/networkmanager.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/network/networkmanager.py
@@ -125,7 +125,9 @@ class NetworkManager(QNetworkAccessManager):
         _scheme_handlers: A dictionary (scheme -> handler) of supported custom
                           schemes.
         _win_id: The window ID this NetworkManager is associated with.
+                 (or None for generic network managers)
         _tab_id: The tab ID this NetworkManager is associated with.
+                 (or None for generic network managers)
         _rejected_ssl_errors: A {QUrl: [SslError]} dict of rejected errors.
         _accepted_ssl_errors: A {QUrl: [SslError]} dict of accepted errors.
         _private: Whether we're in private browsing mode.
@@ -149,8 +151,8 @@ class NetworkManager(QNetworkAccessManager):
         self._tab_id = tab_id
         self._private = private
         self._scheme_handlers = {
-            'qute': webkitqutescheme.QuteSchemeHandler(win_id),
-            'file': filescheme.FileSchemeHandler(win_id),
+            'qute': webkitqutescheme.QuteSchemeHandler(),
+            'file': filescheme.FileSchemeHandler(),
         }
         self._set_cookiejar()
         self._set_cache()
@@ -194,6 +196,7 @@ class NetworkManager(QNetworkAccessManager):
         # This might be a generic network manager, e.g. one belonging to a
         # DownloadManager. In this case, just skip the webview thing.
         if self._tab_id is not None:
+            assert self._win_id is not None
             tab = objreg.get('tab', scope='tab', window=self._win_id,
                              tab=self._tab_id)
             abort_on.append(tab.load_started)
@@ -392,6 +395,7 @@ class NetworkManager(QNetworkAccessManager):
         current_url = QUrl()
 
         if self._tab_id is not None:
+            assert self._win_id is not None
             try:
                 tab = objreg.get('tab', scope='tab', window=self._win_id,
                                  tab=self._tab_id)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/network/schemehandler.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/network/schemehandler.py
index c50194172..278d7e3a3 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/network/schemehandler.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/network/schemehandler.py
@@ -27,15 +27,7 @@ from PyQt5.QtCore import QObject
 
 class SchemeHandler(QObject):
 
-    """Abstract base class for custom scheme handlers.
-
-    Attributes:
-        _win_id: The window ID this scheme handler is associated with.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, win_id, parent=None):
-        super().__init__(parent)
-        self._win_id = win_id
+    """Abstract base class for custom scheme handlers."""
 
     def createRequest(self, op, request, outgoing_data):
         """Create a new request.
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webpage.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webpage.py
index 52107a17b..679ec2d88 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webpage.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webpage.py
@@ -220,8 +220,7 @@ class BrowserPage(QWebPage):
         """Prepare the web page for being deleted."""
         self._is_shutting_down = True
         self.shutting_down.emit()
-        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager',
-                                      scope='window', window=self._win_id)
+        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager')
         nam = self.networkAccessManager()
         if download_manager.has_downloads_with_nam(nam):
             nam.setParent(download_manager)
@@ -249,8 +248,7 @@ class BrowserPage(QWebPage):
         after this slot returns.
         """
         req = QNetworkRequest(request)
-        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager',
-                                      scope='window', window=self._win_id)
+        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager')
         download_manager.get_request(req, qnam=self.networkAccessManager())
 
     @pyqtSlot('QNetworkReply*')
@@ -264,8 +262,7 @@ class BrowserPage(QWebPage):
         here: http://mimesniff.spec.whatwg.org/
         """
         inline, suggested_filename = http.parse_content_disposition(reply)
-        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager',
-                                      scope='window', window=self._win_id)
+        download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager')
         if not inline:
             # Content-Disposition: attachment -> force download
             download_manager.fetch(reply,
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
index 235c15295..05482a1d5 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ from qutebrowser.utils import (message, log, usertypes, qtutils, objreg, utils,
 from qutebrowser.mainwindow import messageview, prompt
 from qutebrowser.completion import completionwidget, completer
 from qutebrowser.keyinput import modeman
-from qutebrowser.browser import (commands, downloadview, hints,
-                                 qtnetworkdownloads, downloads)
+from qutebrowser.browser import commands, downloadview, hints, downloads
 from qutebrowser.misc import crashsignal, keyhintwidget
 
 
@@ -299,11 +298,7 @@ class MainWindow(QWidget):
 
     def _init_downloadmanager(self):
         log.init.debug("Initializing downloads...")
-        qtnetwork_download_manager = qtnetworkdownloads.DownloadManager(
-            self.win_id, self)
-        objreg.register('qtnetwork-download-manager',
-                        qtnetwork_download_manager,
-                        scope='window', window=self.win_id)
+        qtnetwork_download_manager = objreg.get('qtnetwork-download-manager')
 
         try:
             webengine_download_manager = objreg.get(
diff --git a/tests/unit/browser/test_adblock.py b/tests/unit/browser/test_adblock.py
index cbb2a2a6d..09161e806 100644
--- a/tests/unit/browser/test_adblock.py
+++ b/tests/unit/browser/test_adblock.py
@@ -104,11 +104,9 @@ class FakeDownloadManager:
 def download_stub(win_registry, tmpdir):
     """Register a FakeDownloadManager."""
     stub = FakeDownloadManager(tmpdir)
-    objreg.register('qtnetwork-download-manager', stub,
-                    scope='window', window='last-focused')
+    objreg.register('qtnetwork-download-manager', stub)
     yield
-    objreg.delete('qtnetwork-download-manager', scope='window',
-                  window='last-focused')
+    objreg.delete('qtnetwork-download-manager')
 
 
 def create_zipfile(directory, files, zipname='test'):
diff --git a/tests/unit/browser/webkit/network/test_filescheme.py b/tests/unit/browser/webkit/network/test_filescheme.py
index 8b3287830..50b908dc0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/browser/webkit/network/test_filescheme.py
+++ b/tests/unit/browser/webkit/network/test_filescheme.py
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ class TestFileSchemeHandler:
     def test_dir(self, tmpdir):
         url = QUrl.fromLocalFile(str(tmpdir))
         req = QNetworkRequest(url)
-        handler = filescheme.FileSchemeHandler(win_id=0)
+        handler = filescheme.FileSchemeHandler()
         reply = handler.createRequest(None, req, None)
         # The URL will always use /, even on Windows - so we force this here
         # too.
@@ -260,14 +260,14 @@ class TestFileSchemeHandler:
         filename.ensure()
         url = QUrl.fromLocalFile(str(filename))
         req = QNetworkRequest(url)
-        handler = filescheme.FileSchemeHandler(win_id=0)
+        handler = filescheme.FileSchemeHandler()
         reply = handler.createRequest(None, req, None)
         assert reply is None
 
     def test_unicode_encode_error(self, mocker):
         url = QUrl('file:///tmp/foo')
         req = QNetworkRequest(url)
-        handler = filescheme.FileSchemeHandler(win_id=0)
+        handler = filescheme.FileSchemeHandler()
 
         err = UnicodeEncodeError('ascii', '', 0, 2, 'foo')
         mocker.patch('os.path.isdir', side_effect=err)
diff --git a/tests/unit/browser/webkit/network/test_schemehandler.py b/tests/unit/browser/webkit/network/test_schemehandler.py
index 24e54e0d9..cb1ac3dec 100644
--- a/tests/unit/browser/webkit/network/test_schemehandler.py
+++ b/tests/unit/browser/webkit/network/test_schemehandler.py
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@ import pytest
 from qutebrowser.browser.webkit.network import schemehandler
 
 
-def test_init():
-    handler = schemehandler.SchemeHandler(0)
-    assert handler._win_id == 0
-
-
 def test_create_request():
     handler = schemehandler.SchemeHandler(0)
     with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
diff --git a/tests/unit/browser/webkit/test_downloads.py b/tests/unit/browser/webkit/test_downloads.py
index da1fcb424..87fff7244 100644
--- a/tests/unit/browser/webkit/test_downloads.py
+++ b/tests/unit/browser/webkit/test_downloads.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from qutebrowser.browser import downloads, qtnetworkdownloads
 
 def test_download_model(qapp, qtmodeltester, config_stub, cookiejar_and_cache):
     """Simple check for download model internals."""
-    manager = qtnetworkdownloads.DownloadManager(win_id=0)
+    manager = qtnetworkdownloads.DownloadManager()
     model = downloads.DownloadModel(manager)
     qtmodeltester.check(model)