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How to switch from 32-bit to 64-bit Firefox
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Revision 144697 by AliceWyman on
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Want to switch to the 64-bit version of Firefox? Here's how...
Want to switch to the 64-bit version of Firefox? Here's how...
Content:
[[Template:WindowsOnly]]
{note}'''Note:''' Mozilla plans to automatically switch users from 32-bit Firefox to 64-bit Firefox, on Windows 64-bit systems with at least 2 GB RAM. For more information, see [https://blog.mozilla.org/firefox/firefox-64-default-64-bit-windows/ this Mozilla blog post] and the [https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Win64 Firefox Win64 Mozilla Wiki].{/note}
The 64-bit version of Firefox can provide better performance than the 32-bit version. Want to switch to the 64-bit version of Firefox? Just install the 64-bit version and uninstall the 32-bit version. Your [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data|Firefox user data]] (passwords, bookmarks, settings, [[Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox| extensions and themes]], etc.) will not be removed.
{warning}
* 64-bit Firefox requires a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or higher. To find out if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, visit [https://support.microsoft.com/help/13443/windows-which-operating-system this Microsoft help page].
{for not fx52}
* 64-bit Firefox only supports the [[Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems|Adobe Flash]] and [[Use the Silverlight plugin to play audio and video|Microsoft Silverlight]] NPAPI plugins. See [[Why do Java, Silverlight, Adobe Acrobat and other plugins no longer work?|this article]] about changes in Firefox plugin support.
{/for}
*'''Users of Microsoft Office Outlook:''' Before switching to 64-bit Firefox, it is recommended to temporarily change your default browser to Internet Explorer{for win10} or Microsoft Edge{/for} (details below).{/warning}
<!--Localizers: replace English%20(US) with your language-->
'''Follow these steps to switch to 64-bit Firefox:'''
# Go to [https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/?q=English%20(US) this Mozilla Firefox download page] and click on the '''Windows 64-bit''' download link.
#;[[Image:DownloadWin64-bit]]
# Run the setup file you've just downloaded and follow the prompts to install the 64-bit version of Firefox.
# Close Firefox.
# Now it's time to remove the 32-bit version. Open the Windows {menu Start} menu and click on {for not win7}{menu Settings}{/for}{for win7}{menu Control Panel}{/for}. Open the {for not win7}{menu System}{/for}{for win7}{menu Programs}{/for} panel, then select the {for not win7}{menu Apps & features} tab{/for}{for win7}{menu Programs and Features} panel{/for}.
# Scroll down the list of {for not win7}apps{/for}{for win7}programs{/for} until you find the '''Mozilla Firefox''' item that contains '''x86''' in the name. Select it, and click {button Uninstall}.
# Follow the prompts in the Uninstall Wizard to complete the removal of the 32-bit version.
{warning}
'''Users of Microsoft Office Outlook:'''
Before switching from 32-bit Firefox to 64-bit Firefox, it is recommended that you first change your default browser to Internet Explorer{for win10} or Microsoft Edge{/for}. This is important to avoid problems opening links from messages in Outlook. Afterwards, you can change your default browser back to Firefox. For more help, see:
{for win7,win8}
* [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17435/windows-internet-explorer-make-default-browser Make Internet Explorer your default browser]
{/for}
* [[Make Firefox your default browser]] {for win10}under the section, "Use the Settings app in Windows 10 to change your default browser".{/for}
If you skipped this step and encounter errors along the lines of ''"This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."'', see Microsoft's article [https://support.microsoft.com/help/310049/ Hyperlinks are not working in Outlook] or the following page for help: [https://www.slipstick.com/problems/this-operation-has-been-cancelled-due-to-restrictions/ This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions].
{/warning}
[[Template:WindowsOnly]]
{note}'''Note:''' Mozilla plans to automatically switch users from 32-bit Firefox to 64-bit Firefox, on Windows 64-bit systems with at least 2 GB RAM. For more information, see [https://blog.mozilla.org/firefox/firefox-64-default-64-bit-windows/ this Mozilla blog post] and the [https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Win64 Firefox Win64 Mozilla Wiki].{/note}
The 64-bit version of Firefox can provide better performance than the 32-bit version. Want to switch to the 64-bit version of Firefox? Just install the 64-bit version and uninstall the 32-bit version. Your [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data|Firefox user data]] (passwords, bookmarks, settings, [[Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox| extensions and themes]], etc.) will not be removed.
{warning}
* 64-bit Firefox requires a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or higher. To find out if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, visit [https://support.microsoft.com/help/13443/windows-which-operating-system this Microsoft help page].
{for not fx52}
* 64-bit Firefox only supports the [[Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems|Adobe Flash]] and [[Use the Silverlight plugin to play audio and video|Microsoft Silverlight]] NPAPI plugins. See [[Why do Java, Silverlight, Adobe Acrobat and other plugins no longer work?|this article]] about changes in Firefox plugin support.
{/for}{/warning}
<!--Localizers: replace English%20(US) with your language-->
'''Follow these steps to switch to 64-bit Firefox:'''
# Go to [https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/?q=English%20(US) this Mozilla Firefox download page] and click on the '''Windows 64-bit''' download link.
#;[[Image:DownloadWin64-bit]]
# Run the setup file you've just downloaded and follow the prompts to install the 64-bit version of Firefox.
# Close Firefox.
# Now it's time to remove the 32-bit version. Open the Windows {menu Start} menu and click on {for not win7}{menu Settings}{/for}{for win7}{menu Control Panel}{/for}. Open the {for not win7}{menu System}{/for}{for win7}{menu Programs}{/for} panel, then select the {for not win7}{menu Apps & features} tab{/for}{for win7}{menu Programs and Features} panel{/for}.
# Scroll down the list of {for not win7}apps{/for}{for win7}programs{/for} until you find the '''Mozilla Firefox''' item that contains '''x86''' in the name. Select it, and click {button Uninstall}.
# Follow the prompts in the Uninstall Wizard to complete the removal of the 32-bit version.