Firefox can now be installed on Chromebooks and other devices running ChromeOS. This article will explain the system requirements needed in order to run Firefox on ChromeOS and how to set this up. __TOC__ =System Requirements= *'''x86 based Chromebook running ChromeOS 80 or later''' You can check this by going to <code>chrome://version</code> in the Chrome browser address bar. [https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/177889 Follow these instructions from Google] if you need to upgrade your OS. *'''Enable Linux support for ChromeOS''' [https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439 Click here] to learn more about how to set up Linux on your Chromebook. Once you've enabled Linux, check the Terminal to see if you have the correct version: <code>cat /etc/os-release</code> If the version is not 10 (buster) or above, you'll need to run the update script: <code>sudo bash /opt/google/cros-containers/bin/upgrade_container</code> This script will take some time depending on how fast your Chromebook and internet speeds are. Once it's done, you'll need to restart your Linux container. You can either right click on the Terminal Icon and select "Shut down Linux" or just restart your Chromebook. =Install Firefox= There are two ways to install Firefox on Chrome OS: *Install Firefox ESR using apt (easier) *Install Firefox (regular version) using flatpak If you are not sure which version you want to install, the page [[Choosing a Firefox update channel]] might help you. ==Install Firefox ESR using apt== You can install Firefox from a Terminal: <code>sudo apt install firefox-esr</code> Follow the instructions to install Firefox ESR. Firefox will be available from in the Chrome Application menu. Please note that apt does not automatically update installed packages, so once a week or so, you may wish to run <code>sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade</code> to install any security updates and new features. ===Downloads=== To find your Downloads in the Chrome OS file manager, click on {menu Linux files} (on the left, under {menu My files}). Then open the folder {menu Downloads}. There your Downloads are saved. ==Install Firefox (regular version) using flatpak== Flatpak is a new packaging format for Linux, [https://flatpak.org/setup/Chrome%20OS/ click here] to learn how to add Flatpak support. Once the setup is complete, you can install Firefox from a Terminal: <code>flatpak install firefox</code> Follow the instructions to install the <code>org.mozilla.firefox</code> package. Firefox will be available from in the Chrome Application menu. Please note that flatpak does not automatically update installed packages, so once a week or so, you may wish to run <code>flatpak update</code> to install any security updates and new features. ===Downloads=== By default, the Firefox package does not access the "user files". This means that any files downloaded are stored in the temporary package filesystem and are not easily accessible. You can change this by using the Flatseal application (<code>com.github.tchx84.Flatseal</code>), which lets you change package permissions. Select the Firefox (<code>org.mozilla.firefox</code>) application in the left hand applications list. In the '''Filesystem''' section, enable the "All user files / ''filesystem=home''" option. Settings are automatically applied, so there is no need to save. Be aware that Firefox will have access and store settings and configuration in your Linux home directory and some settings may be lost or changed back to their default.

Firefox can now be installed on Chromebooks and other devices running ChromeOS. This article will explain the system requirements needed in order to run Firefox on ChromeOS and how to set this up.

System Requirements

• x86 based Chromebook running ChromeOS 80 or later

You can check this by going to chrome://version in the Chrome browser address bar. Follow these instructions from Google if you need to upgrade your OS.

• Enable Linux support for ChromeOS

Click here to learn more about how to set up Linux on your Chromebook.

Once you've enabled Linux, check the Terminal to see if you have the correct version:

cat /etc/os-release

If the version is not 10 (buster) or above, you'll need to run the update script:

sudo bash /opt/google/cros-containers/bin/upgrade_container

This script will take some time depending on how fast your Chromebook and internet speeds are. Once it's done, you'll need to restart your Linux container. You can either right click on the Terminal Icon and select "Shut down Linux" or just restart your Chromebook.

Install Firefox

There are two ways to install Firefox on Chrome OS:

• Install Firefox ESR using apt (easier)

• Install Firefox (regular version) using flatpak

If you are not sure which version you want to install, the page Choose a Firefox update channel might help you.

Install Firefox ESR using apt

You can install Firefox from a Terminal:

sudo apt install firefox-esr

Follow the instructions to install Firefox ESR. Firefox will be available from in the Chrome Application menu. Please note that apt does not automatically update installed packages, so once a week or so, you may wish to run

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

to install any security updates and new features.

Downloads

To find your Downloads in the Chrome OS file manager, click on Linux files (on the left, under My files). Then open the folder Downloads. There your Downloads are saved.

Install Firefox (regular version) using flatpak

Flatpak is a new packaging format for Linux, click here to learn how to add Flatpak support.

Once the setup is complete, you can install Firefox from a Terminal:

flatpak install firefox

Follow the instructions to install the org.mozilla.firefox package. Firefox will be available from in the Chrome Application menu. Please note that flatpak does not automatically update installed packages, so once a week or so, you may wish to run

flatpak update

to install any security updates and new features.

Downloads

By default, the Firefox package does not access the "user files". This means that any files downloaded are stored in the temporary package filesystem and are not easily accessible. You can change this by using the Flatseal application (com.github.tchx84.Flatseal), which lets you change package permissions. Select the Firefox (org.mozilla.firefox) application in the left hand applications list. In the Filesystem section, enable the "All user files / filesystem=home" option. Settings are automatically applied, so there is no need to save. Be aware that Firefox will have access and store settings and configuration in your Linux home directory and some settings may be lost or changed back to their default.