How to Install and Use Firefox on a Chromebook

[Sneakyone]

How to Install and Use Firefox on a Chromebook

Although Chromebooks are designed to work with Google Chrome as the default web browser, you can install and use Mozilla Firefox if you prefer it. Firefox is available through the Google Play Store and can also be installed using Linux on Chromebook. This guide will walk you through both methods to install and use Firefox on your Chromebook.

Method 1: Install Firefox from Google Play Store

Step 1: Enable Google Play Store on Your Chromebook

1. Click the clock in the bottom-right corner of your screen to open the system menu.
2. Select the Settings gear icon.
3. In the Settings menu, scroll down and find Google Play Store, then click Turn on.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to agree to the terms of service and set up Google Play Store.

Step 2: Install Firefox from the Google Play Store

1. Once Google Play Store is enabled, open the Play Store from your app launcher.
2. In the Play Store search bar, type Firefox and press Enter.
3. Find the official Firefox app by Mozilla and click Install.
4. After installation, click Open to launch Firefox.

Step 3: Use Firefox on Your Chromebook

1. After opening Firefox, sign in with your Firefox account if you have one, or set it up as a new browser.
2. You can now browse the web using Firefox as your default browser or use it alongside Chrome.

Method 2: Install Firefox via Linux (Advanced Users)

If you want to install the full desktop version of Firefox, you can do so by enabling Linux on your Chromebook and installing Firefox through Linux.

Step 1: Enable Linux (Beta) on Your Chromebook

1. Click the clock in the bottom-right corner of your screen to open the system menu.
2. Select the Settings gear icon.
3. Scroll down to the Linux (Beta) section and click Turn on.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up Linux, and choose the amount of storage you want to allocate for Linux (you can adjust this later if needed).

Step 2: Install Firefox Using Linux Terminal

1. After enabling Linux, open the Linux Terminal from your app launcher.
2. In the Terminal window, type the following command to update your Linux environment:

 

Code:

sudo apt update

3. Once the update is complete, type the following command to install Firefox:

 

Code:

sudo apt install firefox-esr

4. Press Y to confirm the installation, and Firefox will be installed on your Chromebook.

Step 3: Use Firefox via Linux

1. Once installation is complete, you can find Firefox in your app launcher under the Linux apps folder.
2. Open Firefox and start browsing, or log in with your Firefox account to sync bookmarks, passwords, and more.

Step 4: Set Firefox as the Default Browser (Optional)

If you want to make Firefox your default browser on a Chromebook, you can use the following steps (though some ChromeOS versions may require you to set this manually each time):

1. Open Firefox.
2. In the Firefox menu (three horizontal lines in the top-right corner), select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the General section and click Make Default under Default Browser.

Note: ChromeOS is optimized to use Google Chrome as the default browser, so Firefox may not fully replace Chrome in every system function.

Conclusion

Installing and using Firefox on a Chromebook can be easily done through the Google Play Store or by using Linux. By following this guide, you can enjoy Firefox’s features on your Chromebook for a more personalized browsing experience.