How to download and install Firefox on Mac

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This article explains how to download and install Firefox on a Mac.

Note: This article only applies to Mac. For instructions to install Firefox on Windows, see How to install Firefox on Windows.For instructions to install Firefox on Linux, see Install Firefox on Linux.
Make sure your Mac meets the System Requirements for Firefox. If you use an old version of OS X, see this article for more information:

Installing Firefox on Mac

  1. Visit the Firefox download page in any browser (for example, Apple Safari). It will automatically detect the platform and language on your computer and recommend the best version of Firefox for you.
  2. Click the green download button to download Firefox.
    • Note: If you want to have a choice of the language for your Firefox installation, select the "Download in another language" link under the download button instead.
  3. Once the download has completed, the file (Firefox.dmg) should open by itself and pop open a Finder window containing the Firefox application. Drag the Firefox Icon on top of the Applications folder in order to copy it there.
    fxmacinstall
    Note: If you do not see this window, click the Firefox.dmg file that you downloaded to open it.
    Mac Install 2
  4. After dragging Firefox to the Applications folder, hold down the control key while clicking in the window and select Eject "Firefox" from the menu.
    Mac Install 4
  5. You can add Firefox to your dock for easy access. Just open your Applications folder and drag Firefox to the dock.
    Add to Dock
    Firefox is now ready for use. Just click on its icon in the dock to start it.

Starting Firefox for the first time

When you first start up Firefox, you will be warned that you downloaded Firefox from the Internet. Because you download Firefox from the official site, you can click Open.

Firefox Downloaded Security Check Mac

Also, Firefox will not be your default browser and you'll be told about that. That means that when you open a link in your mail application, an Internet shortcut, or HTML document, it will not open in Firefox. If you want Firefox to do those things, click Use Firefox as my default browser to set it as your default browser. If not or you are just trying out Firefox, click Not now.

Firefox as Default Browser Dialogue Mac