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Get started with Firefox - An overview of the main features
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Learn about the basic features of Firefox (bookmarks, tabs, search, add-ons, page actions and more) and find links to more articles to explore.
Learn about the basic features of Firefox (bookmarks, tabs, search, add-ons, page actions and more) and find links to more articles to explore.
Content:
Welcome to Firefox! We'll show you all the basics to get you up and running. When you're ready to go beyond the basics, check out the other links for features you can explore later.
__TOC__
=New Tab page: great content at your fingertips=
By default, Firefox gives you access to great content every time you open a new tab. Customize this page by hovering over the sections and thumbnails or click the {for not fx89}cogwheel [[Image:Fx88NewTabCogwheel]] icon{/for}{for =fx89}{button Personalize} button{/for}{for fx90}gear [[Image:Fx89Personalize-GearIcon]] icon{/for} at the top right corner of the New Tab page for more options.
{for not fx89}[[Image:new tab page 57]]{/for}{for =fx89}[[Image:New Tab Fx89]]{/for}{for fx90}[[Image:Fx90NewTab]]{/for}
{note}Want to learn more? See [[About the New Tab page]].{/note}
=Search everything with the unified search/address bar=
Whether you know the exact web address or you're just searching, Firefox's address bar handles it all. Firefox's unified search and address bar gives you suggestions based on your existing bookmarks and tags, history, open tabs, and popular searches. Just start typing in a search term or web address and watch the magic happen!
[[Image:awesome bar 57]]
{note}To learn more search tricks, see [[Address bar autocomplete in Firefox]].{/note}
{for not fx89}
=Page Actions menu: Bookmark, snap, save or share=
Found a great web page? Save it or share it! The Page Actions menu in the address bar lets you [[Bookmarks in Firefox|bookmark]] web pages, [[Pinned Tabs - keep favorite websites open and just a click away|pin tabs]], copy or email links, take [[Firefox Screenshots|screenshots]], and [[View synced tabs from other devices|send pages to your phone]] or to your [https://getpocket.com/ Pocket] list so you can read them whenever and wherever you want.
[[Image:Fx80PageActions]]
{/for}
=Private Browsing with Enhanced Tracking Protection: Browse fast and free=
Browse the Internet without saving any information on your computer about which sites and pages you’ve visited. Firefox will also block creepy trackers that follow your behavior across the Web.
*Click the menu button [[Image:Fx57Menu]] and then click {button New Private Window}. ('''Tip:''' You can also {for win}right-click{/for}{for mac,linux}control + click{/for} on a link on a web page, then click {menu Open Link in New Private Window}.)
;{for win}[[Image:private mask 57 win]]{/for}{for mac}[[Image:private mask 57]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:private mask 57 linux]]{/for}
{note}See [[Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history]], [[Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox for desktop]] and [[SmartBlock for Enhanced Tracking Protection]] to learn more.{/note}
=Keep your Firefox in sync=
Set up Firefox Accounts, so you can take your browsing information with you wherever you go. Click the menu button [[Image:Fx57Menu]], choose {menu Sign in to Firefox} and follow the instructions to create your account. Then sign in to the newly-created account on your other devices, and that's it!
{note}For detailed instructions, see [[How do I set up Firefox Sync?]]{/note}
=Home is just a click away=
''Choose the page that opens when you start Firefox or click the Home button.''
# Open a tab with the web page you want to use as your home page.
# Drag and drop that tab onto the Home button [[Image:Home Button 57]].
[[Image:set homepage 57]]
{note}More options can be found in the [[How to set the home page]] article.{/note}
=Customize the menu or the toolbar=
We've streamlined the toolbar with the most popular features, but Firefox has even more features tucked away. Take a peek!
#[[T:customizefx29]]
#Drag and drop the features you want onto your toolbar or the panel on the right.
#;[[Image:customize drag 57]]
#When you are done, click the {button Done} button.
{note}Learn more about [[Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars|customizing Firefox]].{/note}
=Add features to Firefox with add-ons=
''Add-ons are like apps that you can install to make Firefox work the way you want.''
#[[T:Open Add-ons|type=Recommendations]]
#To install a recommended add-on, click the blue {button + Install Theme} or {button + Add to Firefox} button, depending on the type of add-on.
At the bottom of the list of recommended add-ons, there's also a {button Find more add-ons} button you can click. It will take you to [https://addons.mozilla.org addons.mozilla.org] where you can search for specific add-ons.
To learn more about add-ons, see [[Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox]].
{note}'''Tip:''' Some add-ons place a button in the toolbar after installation. You can remove those or move them into the menu if you want – see [[Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars]].{/note}
=Get help=
''If you have more questions or ever need help with Firefox, you're on the right website.''
*This site has hundreds of [/products/firefox Firefox articles] that cover many of the questions you might have.
*You can also get help from the Mozilla community, by asking a question on the support forum. See [[Get community support]].
Welcome to Firefox! We'll show you all the basics to get you up and running. When you're ready to go beyond the basics, check out the other links for features you can explore later.
__TOC__
=New Tab page: great content at your fingertips=
By default, Firefox gives you access to great content every time you open a new tab. Customize this page by hovering over the sections and thumbnails or click the {for not fx89}cogwheel [[Image:Fx88NewTabCogwheel]] icon{/for}{for =fx89}{button Personalize} button{/for}{for fx90}gear [[Image:Fx89Personalize-GearIcon]] icon{/for} at the top right corner of the New Tab page for more options.
{for not fx89}[[Image:new tab page 57]]{/for}{for =fx89}[[Image:New Tab Fx89]]{/for}{for fx90}[[Image:Fx90NewTab]]{/for}
{note}Want to learn more? See [[About the New Tab page]].{/note}
=Search everything with the unified search/address bar=
Whether you know the exact web address or you're just searching, Firefox's address bar handles it all. Firefox's unified search and address bar gives you suggestions based on your existing bookmarks and tags, history, open tabs, and popular searches. Just start typing in a search term or web address and watch the magic happen!
[[Image:awesome bar 57]]
{note}To learn more search tricks, see [[Address bar autocomplete suggestions in Firefox]].{/note}
{for not fx89}
=Page Actions menu: Bookmark, snap, save or share=
Found a great web page? Save it or share it! The Page Actions menu in the address bar lets you [[Bookmarks in Firefox|bookmark]] web pages, [[Pinned Tabs - keep favorite websites open and just a click away|pin tabs]], copy or email links, [[Take screenshots on Firefox|take screenshots]], and [[View synced tabs from other devices|send pages to your phone]] or to your [https://getpocket.com/ Pocket] list so you can read them whenever and wherever you want.
[[Image:Fx80PageActions]]
{/for}
=Private Browsing with Enhanced Tracking Protection: Browse fast and free=
Browse the Internet without saving any information on your computer about which sites and pages you’ve visited. Firefox will also block creepy trackers that follow your behavior across the Web.
*Click the menu button [[Image:Fx57Menu]] and then click {button New Private Window}. ('''Tip:''' You can also {for win}right-click{/for}{for mac,linux}control + click{/for} on a link on a web page, then click {menu Open Link in New Private Window}.)
;{for win}[[Image:private mask 57 win]]{/for}{for mac}[[Image:private mask 57]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:private mask 57 linux]]{/for}
{note}See [[Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history]], [[Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox for desktop]] and [[SmartBlock for Enhanced Tracking Protection]] to learn more.{/note}
=Keep your Firefox in sync=
Set up Firefox Accounts, so you can take your browsing information with you wherever you go. Click the menu button [[Image:Fx57Menu]], choose {menu Sign in to Firefox} and follow the instructions to create your account. Then sign in to the newly-created account on your other devices, and that's it!
{note}For detailed instructions, see [[How do I set up Firefox Sync?]]{/note}
=Home is just a click away=
''Choose the page that opens when you start Firefox or click the Home button.''
# Open a tab with the web page you want to use as your home page.
# Drag and drop that tab onto the Home button [[Image:Home Button 57]].
[[Image:set homepage 57]]
{note}More options can be found in the [[How to set the home page]] article.{/note}
=Customize the menu or the toolbar=
We've streamlined the toolbar with the most popular features, but Firefox has even more features tucked away. Take a peek!
#[[T:customizefx29]]
#Drag and drop the features you want onto your toolbar or the panel on the right.
#;[[Image:customize drag 57]]
#When you are done, click the {button Done} button.
{note}Learn more about [[Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars|customizing Firefox]].{/note}
=Add features to Firefox with add-ons=
''Add-ons are like apps that you can install to make Firefox work the way you want.''
#[[T:Open Add-ons|type=Recommendations]]
#To install a recommended add-on, click the blue {button + Install Theme} or {button + Add to Firefox} button, depending on the type of add-on.
At the bottom of the list of recommended add-ons, there's also a {button Find more add-ons} button you can click. It will take you to [https://addons.mozilla.org addons.mozilla.org] where you can search for specific add-ons.
To learn more about add-ons, see [[Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox]].
{note}'''Tip:''' Some add-ons place a button in the toolbar after installation. You can remove those or move them into the menu if you want – see [[Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars]].{/note}
=Get help=
''If you have more questions or ever need help with Firefox, you're on the right website.''
*This site has hundreds of [/products/firefox Firefox articles] that cover many of the questions you might have.
*You can also get help from the Mozilla community, by asking a question on the support forum. See [[Get community support]].