The Firefox desktop browser can now be installed on Chromebooks and other devices running Chrome OS. This article will explain the system requirements needed in order to run Firefox on ChromeOS and how to set this up. =How to run Firefox on Chrome OS= To run Firefox on Chrome OS, you first need to ensure that your system meets the following requirements: ==System Requirements== *'''Chrome OS version 80 or later''' You can check your Chrome OS version by going to <code>chrome://version</code> in the Chrome browser address bar. You can follow [https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/177889 these instructions from Google] if you need to upgrade your OS. We recommend being on the latest version of Chrome OS that your Chromebook supports. *'''Linux support''' Some Chromebooks don't support Linux. If your Chromebook does, you can search "Linux" in your OS settings. If you don't see it, [https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/chromium-os/chrome-os-systems-supporting-linux head here] and double-check that your device supports Linux. ==Setting up Linux== Search "Linux" in your OS settings, and turn on the Linux development environment. You'll need 10 GB of free disk space on your Chromebook for enabling Linux for the first time. Once Linux is enabled, go into the Linux settings. Look for a toggle that says "Allow Linux to access your microphone". Enabling this allows Firefox to pass your microphone through to websites you've granted permission to access it. If you do enable it, shut down Linux when it asks you to. Open the Terminal app if it's not already, and load "penguin". Now, enter <code>sudo bash /opt/google/cros-containers/bin/upgrade_container && cat /etc/os-release</code> into the terminal. If everything went smoothly, you should have a <code>VERSION_CODENAME</code> of either <code>buster</code> or <code>bullseye</code>. ==Installing snapd== Snaps are a packaging format for Linux, and are meant to be packages that can be used by any Linux distribution. We're going to be installing a snap so we can run Firefox. Enter <code>sudo apt install squashfuse snapd -y && sudo snap install core</code> into the terminal. You'll see a lot of "Failed to write change" errors - simply run <code>sudo snap install core</code> again and it will install properly. ==Installing Firefox== First, make an applications folder by running <code>mkdir ~/.local && mkdir ~/.local/share && mkdir ~/.local/share/applications</code>. This allows Chrome OS to recognize Firefox and add it to the app launcher (and let you pin Firefox to the shelf!) Then, type <code>sudo snap install firefox && curl -fsS https://pastebin.com/raw/wYMFRnmn > ~/.local/share/applications/firefox.desktop</code> into the terminal to install Firefox. Ta-da! To run Firefox from the terminal, run <code>xhost + && snap run firefox</code>. You can also now run Firefox from the shelf, although you may want to go into the app launcher and take "Firefox Web Browser" out of the new "Linux apps" folder if it's the only Linux app you have.

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

How to run Firefox on Chrome OS

To run Firefox on Chrome OS, you first need to ensure that your system meets the following requirements:

System Requirements

• Chrome OS version 80 or later

You can check your Chrome OS version by going to chrome://version in the Chrome browser address bar. You can follow these instructions from Google if you need to upgrade your OS. We recommend being on the latest version of Chrome OS that your Chromebook supports.

• Linux support

Some Chromebooks don't support Linux. If your Chromebook does, you can search "Linux" in your OS settings. If you don't see it, head here and double-check that your device supports Linux.

Setting up Linux

Search "Linux" in your OS settings, and turn on the Linux development environment. You'll need 10 GB of free disk space on your Chromebook for enabling Linux for the first time.

Once Linux is enabled, go into the Linux settings. Look for a toggle that says "Allow Linux to access your microphone". Enabling this allows Firefox to pass your microphone through to websites you've granted permission to access it. If you do enable it, shut down Linux when it asks you to.

Open the Terminal app if it's not already, and load "penguin".

Now, enter sudo bash /opt/google/cros-containers/bin/upgrade_container && cat /etc/os-release into the terminal.

If everything went smoothly, you should have a VERSION_CODENAME of either buster or bullseye.

Installing snapd

Snaps are a packaging format for Linux, and are meant to be packages that can be used by any Linux distribution. We're going to be installing a snap so we can run Firefox.

Enter sudo apt install squashfuse snapd -y && sudo snap install core into the terminal. You'll see a lot of "Failed to write change" errors - simply run sudo snap install core again and it will install properly.

Installing Firefox

First, make an applications folder by running mkdir ~/.local && mkdir ~/.local/share && mkdir ~/.local/share/applications. This allows Chrome OS to recognize Firefox and add it to the app launcher (and let you pin Firefox to the shelf!)

Then, type sudo snap install firefox && curl -fsS https://pastebin.com/raw/wYMFRnmn > ~/.local/share/applications/firefox.desktop into the terminal to install Firefox.

Ta-da! To run Firefox from the terminal, run xhost + && snap run firefox. You can also now run Firefox from the shelf, although you may want to go into the app launcher and take "Firefox Web Browser" out of the new "Linux apps" folder if it's the only Linux app you have.