I’ve wanted to install an extension from outside addons.mozilla.org, but Firefox didn’t let me do it
So I’ve did a small research and looks like there are 3 ways to sideload extensions, but all of them suck
- Using FF Developer Edition
In the Dev Edition you can set xpinstall.signatures.required
to false in about:config, but the problem is that the Dev Edition isn’t as stable as standard FF
- Temporarily load the extension
In about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox
you can temporarily sideload extensions, but they will be removed next time you open FF, which is annoying
- Modify FF code
Lastly, I found this script which modifies the FF code, but this can break things so I don’t want to use it
I’m really annoyed that Mozilla gets to decide which extensions I can install. So… what’s the best way to sideload extensions?
Edit: thanks everyone, I’m now using a FF fork (Librewolf) which lets me sideload extensions after disabling xpinstall.signatures.required
- d_k_bo ( @d_k_bo@feddit.de ) 7•10 months ago
I agree that this is annoying and feels somewhat similar to apple’s locked down ecosystem.
- redxef ( @redxef@feddit.de ) 7•10 months ago
You can place the
.xpi
file in a special folder. On my linux system that is in/usr/lib/firefox/browser/extensions/
. Which would be the system wide folder. There are others which only affect the current user thkugh.The user folder is
$profile_dir/extensions/
. To open the profile directory you can typeabout:profile
in you address bar and click onOpen Directory
besidesRoot Directory
in the default profile section. - gerbilOFdoom ( @gerbilOFdoom@beehaw.org ) 2•10 months ago
I’ve never had a problem side loading an entire folder into Firefox. Maybe it was an addon rather than extension though?
- Vincent ( @Vincent@feddit.nl ) English2•10 months ago
If you’re talking Android, I believe the F-Droid app store (which I’d recommend anyway) packages a version of Firefox (I think called “Fennec F-Droid”?) that allows the same thing as Nightly and Beta (which I assume you mean with option 1).
Also, Beta is very stable, just give it a shot. (Though your extensions might not be, especially on mobile.)
- Vincent ( @Vincent@feddit.nl ) English4•10 months ago
Oh and also, if you wait just a bit, every extension can be made compatible with Firefox for Android: https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2023/08/10/prepare-your-firefox-desktop-extension-for-the-upcoming-android-release/
Of course the developer will still need to make sure that it works on Android.
- Johanno ( @Johanno@feddit.de ) 2•10 months ago
Compile Firefox from scratch. Use a fork of Firefox like librewolf that allows side loading.
(idk if librewolf allows it)
- Corgana ( @Corgana@startrek.website ) 2•10 months ago
Am I missing something or is it possible you’re talking about FF mobile? On PC I just drag the XPI over a FF window and the extension gets added. I just did it today, actually. No modifying needed.
I was talking about FF on PC, but I’ll try this tomorrow