Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox

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  • Comment: created What are Add-ons section, used Open Add-ons template, replaced fx4 by not fx35, rewrote installing section, added new troubleshooting articles, fx4 screenshots, reference to Add-on bar, article description, changed summary, keywords
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Through add-ons, you can customize Firefox to meet your needs and tastes. This article explains what add-ons are and how to get and install them.

What are add-ons?

Add-ons are small pieces of software created by people all over the world, that add new features or functionality to your installation of Firefox. Add-ons can augment Firefox with new search engines, foreign-language dictionaries, or change the visual appearance of Firefox. Through add-ons, you can customize Firefox to meet your needs and tastes.

There are three kinds of add-ons depending on their purpose:

  • Extensions
    Extensions add new features to Firefox, or modify existing ones. There are extensions that allow you to block advertisements, download videos from websites, integrate more closely with websites like Facebook or Twitter, and add features you see in other browsers.
  • Personas
    Personas are background images that you can use to decorate the menu and tab bars of Firefox. You can also use themes which are more involved and can change the appearance of buttons and menus.
  • Plugins
    A plugin is a piece of software that manage internet content that Firefox is not designed to process. These usually include patented formats for video, audio, online games, presentations, and more. Plugins are created and distributed by other companies.

To view which add-ons you have installed:

  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Add-ons and themes and select Extensions.
  2. Select the Appearance panel.
  3. Select the Plugins panel.


How do I get and install add-ons?

Here is an overview to get you started:

  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Add-ons and themes and select Get Add-ons.
  2. To see more information on the Featured Add-ons or Personas, just click on one of them. You can then click the green Add to Firefox button to install it.To install a recommended add-on, just click the Add to Firefox... button.Add-ons - Win1
    • You can also search for specific add-ons by using the search box at the top. You can then install any add-ons you find with the InstallAdd to Firefox... button.Add-ons - Win2
  3. Firefox will then download the requested add-on and may ask you to confirm that you want to install it.
  4. Click the Restart Now button that may pop up. Your tabs will be saved and restored after the restart.

After having installed some extensions, you can get an icon of the extension in the Add-on bar depending on how the developer made it available. For more information, see The Add-on Bar gives you quick access to add-on features.

If you want to uninstall an add-on, see Disable or remove Add-ons.


Troubleshooting add-ons

For information on troubleshooting problems with extensions, plugins, or themes, see the articles below.

Problems with installing or uninstalling add-ons

Disabled or blocklisted add-ons

Problems caused by add-ons