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Install Firefox on Linux
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This article will show you how to install Firefox on Linux.
This article describes how to download and install Firefox on Linux.
Content:
Getting Firefox installed on your computer is your first step to using it. This article will show you how to install Firefox on Linux.
For other operating systems see:
*[[Installing Firefox on Windows]]
*[[Installing Firefox on Mac]]
*[[Run Firefox on ChromeOS]]
Many Linux distributions include Firefox by default while most have a package management system - a preferred way to install Firefox. Package management system will:
* Ensure that you have all the required libraries
* Install Firefox optimally for your distribution
* Create shortcuts to launch Firefox
* Make Firefox available to all users of your computer
* Make removing Firefox work the same as removing any other application
Package management system has downsides:
* It may not give you the latest Firefox version
* It may give you a version without Firefox branding
You can also install Firefox through the Flatpak option.
=Install from Flatpak=
Flatpak is a new packaging format for Linux. To setup Flatpak, [https://flatpak.org/setup/ visit FlatPak's setup guide] and select your OS and follow the installation steps.
Once you have Flatpak installed, [https://flathub.org/apps/details/org.mozilla.firefox go to the Firefox Flathub page] and click the {button Install} button. Once downloaded, follow the command line instructions at the bottom of the page.
Once Firefox is installed from Flatpak, updates are automatic so no need to reinstall.
==Download a specific locale version==
When installing Flatpak (via the command line or via the Flathub url link), the OS locale is being checked (OS locale and not the browser accept language header) and Flathub only sends the locales that share the same prefix. So for example if <code>LANG=en_US.UTF-8</code> Flatpak will send locales that have the common prefix <code>en</code> which are <code>en-CA, en-GB</code> etc.
To download a specific locale it can be done manually. For example, specific installation of French (fr) locale:<br>
<code>flatpak update --subpath=/fr org.mozilla.firefox.Locale</code>
= Install from a package manager =
To install Firefox using the package manager, please refer to your Linux distribution's documentation.
= Install outside of a package manager =
The support sites for some Linux distributions have complete instructions on how to install Firefox without using a package manager, although a few information may be out of date<!--(L10n must translate and uncomment these extra words)--><!--, on the original page or in the translated version-->. For example:
* [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FirefoxNewVersion Installing Firefox on Ubuntu]
* [http://en.opensuse.org/Firefox Installing Firefox on OpenSuse]
You can also follow the instructions below to manually install on each user's account.
{note}
* '''Before you install Firefox''', make sure that your computer has the ''' [http://www.mozilla.org/firefox/system-requirements.html required libraries]''' installed. Missing libraries will cause Firefox to be inoperable.
* The installation file provided by Mozilla in '''.tar.bz2''' format has pre-compiled binary files as opposed to sources. There is no need to compile the program from the source: simply unpack and run the binaries.
* The following instructions will install Firefox into your home directory. '''Only the current user''' will be able to '''run it'''.{/note}
# Download Firefox from the [https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/linux/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=support.mozilla.org Firefox download page] to your home directory.
# Open a '''Terminal''' and go to your home directory:
#;<code>cd ~</code>
# Extract the contents of the downloaded file:
#;<code>tar xjf firefox-*.tar.bz2</code>
# Close Firefox if it's open.
# To start Firefox, run the {filepath firefox} script in the {filepath firefox} folder:
#;<code>~/firefox/firefox</code>
#;Firefox should now start. You can then create an icon on your desktop to run this command.
# There's no need to keep the installation file:
#;<code>rm firefox-*.tar.bz2</code>
== libstdc++5 error ==
As noted above, you need to install the [http://www.mozilla.org/firefox/system-requirements.html required libraries] for Firefox to work. Many distributions don't include libstdc++5 by default.
== "firefox not installed" message or wrong version of Firefox starts ==
If Firefox is installed following the instructions given above, it must be started (in a '''Terminal''' or in a launcher on the Desktop, for example) using the command: <code>~/firefox/firefox</code>
If you try to start Firefox in a '''Terminal''' with the command: <code>firefox</code>, it will either start the package-manager-installed version of Firefox or will tell you the program is not installed.
__TOC__
This article explains how to download and install Firefox on a Linux.
{for mac,win}{note}'''This article only applies to Linux.''' {for mac}For instructions to install Firefox on Mac, see [[How to download and install Firefox on Mac]].{/for}{for win}For instructions to install Firefox on Windows, see [[Installing Firefox on Windows]].{/for}{/note}{/for}
= Install from your distribution package manager (Recommended) =
To install Firefox using your distribution package manager, please refer to your Linux distribution's documentation.
This method is the recommended way because it ensures Firefox and all the required libraries are installed and configured optimally for your distribution. However, there may be a small delay between the official release of a new version of Firefox and the moment when your distribution updates the version it distributes. Your distribution may also distribute it without the Firefox branding.
= Install from Flatpak =
To install Firefox from Flatpak, [https://flatpak.org/setup/ install and configure Flatpak] on your computer. Once Flatpak is installed, go to the [https://flathub.org/apps/details/org.mozilla.firefox Firefox Flathub's page] and click the {button Install} button. Alternatively, you can type the following command in a terminal:
<code>
flatpak install flathub org.mozilla.firefox
</code>
By default, Flatpak installs Firefox in the same locale as your operating system. To use a different language, please follow the instructions on [[Use Firefox in another language|how to use Firefox in another language]].
= Install from Snap =
To install Firefox from Snap, [https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snapd install Snap] on your computer. Once Snap is installed, go to the [https://snapcraft.io/firefox Firefox Snapcraft's Store page] and click the {button Install} button.
= Install Firefox from Mozilla builds (For advanced users) =
{note}
* '''Before you install Firefox''', make sure that your computer has the ''' [http://www.mozilla.org/firefox/system-requirements.html required libraries]''' installed. Missing libraries will cause Firefox to be inoperable.
* To install Firefox with this method, you '''must be''' able to login as root or execute <code>sudo</code> commands.
{/note}
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1. Go to the [https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/linux/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=support.mozilla.org Firefox download page] and click on the {button Download Now} button.
2. Open a terminal and go to the folder where your download has been saved. For example:
<code>
cd ~/Downloads
</code>
3. Extract the contents of the downloaded file by typing:
<code>
tar xjf firefox-*.tar.bz2
</code>
4. Move the uncompressed Firefox folder to {filepath /opt}:
<code>
mv firefox /opt
</code>
5. Create a symlink to the Firefox executable:
<code>
ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox /usr/local/bin/firefox
</code>
6. Download a copy of our desktop file:
<code>
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mozilla-sumo/kb/main/install-firefox-linux/firefox.desktop -P /usr/local/share/applications
</code>
Alternatively, if <code>wget</code> is not installed on your computer, go to the URL mentioned above, right-click on the page to open the contextual menu and select {menu Save Page As}. After you downloaded the file, move it to {filepath /usr/local/share/applications}.