Firefox for Android is a full-featured browser with one key differentiator: it supports extensions. Here's how to get the most out of it.
Extensions on Firefox Android
Unlike Chrome/Chromium-based Android browsers, Firefox runs real desktop extensions on Android (as of Firefox 79+ with the rebuilt Fenix engine).
To install extensions: tap the three-dot menu → Add-ons → Browse all Firefox extensions.
Key extensions that work on Android:
- uBlock Origin — The full desktop version runs perfectly. Enable it to block ads and trackers on mobile.
- Dark Reader — Mobile web in dark mode.
- Privacy Badger — EFF's tracker blocker.
- Bitwarden — Password manager with autofill integration.
- Multi-Account Containers — Yes, containers work on Android too.
Firefox Android as of version 120+ supports all extensions from AMO directly, not just a curated list.
Sync: Desktop ↔ Android
Firefox Sync works between desktop and Android. Enable it: Settings → Sync → Sign In.
What syncs:
- Bookmarks
- History
- Passwords (via Firefox Password Manager)
- Open tabs (you can open a desktop tab from Android and vice versa)
- Extensions (installs extensions you have on desktop)
- Settings (some)
To open a specific desktop tab on Android: tap the three-dot menu → Desktop tabs.
Tab Groups and Collections
Firefox Android has "Collections" — like tab groups but simpler. Long-press a tab → Add to Collection. Name the collection.
Collections survive browser restarts and let you organize tabs by topic. Good for: researching multiple things in parallel without mixing tabs.
Gestures
Firefox Android supports swipe gestures:
- Swipe right on toolbar — Go back
- Swipe left on toolbar — Go forward
- Swipe down on toolbar — Dismiss keyboard / scroll to top
- Long-press back button — Open history stack for this tab
Privacy Extras on Android
Enhanced Tracking Protection — Same three modes as desktop: Standard, Strict, Custom. Strict blocks more trackers but may break some sites.
HTTPS-Only mode — Available under Settings → HTTPS-Only Mode.
DNS over HTTPS — Settings → Advanced → DNS over HTTPS. Use Cloudflare, NextDNS, or a custom resolver.
Total Cookie Protection — Available in Strict ETP mode. Isolates cookies per site, preventing cross-site tracking even from sites in different tabs.
Private Browsing Mode
Firefox's private mode on Android goes further than most browsers — it deletes:
- Cookies and site data
- Browser history
- Form data and search history
There's also an option to automatically delete browsing data when Firefox closes (Settings → Delete browsing data on quit).
Custom Search Engines
Firefox Android lets you add custom search engines. Long-press on any search bar on a website that uses OpenSearch (most do), and Firefox offers to add it as a search engine.
Or go to Settings → Search → Add search engine → Custom.
Useful Settings Worth Tweaking
Settings → General → Homepage — Set your start page (Firefox Home, blank, custom URL, or saved websites list).
Settings → General → Open links in apps — When disabled, links always open in Firefox instead of jumping to apps. Useful if you prefer the browser context for link previews.
Settings → Accessibility → Font Size — Independent of OS font size setting.
Settings → Notifications — Firefox can send notifications if sites request it. Disable globally here if you don't want any site notifications.
Comparing to Chrome on Android
What Firefox does better on Android:
- Extension support (Chrome Android has no extension support as of 2024)
- ETP Strict blocks more trackers by default
- Open source (Gecko engine) rather than Blink/Chromium
What Chrome does better:
- PWA support (add to home screen, standalone app experience)
- Integration with Google accounts
- Some sites are Chrome-tested first and may have minor rendering differences
For privacy-focused users: Firefox with uBlock Origin on Android is significantly more private than any Chromium-based browser on Android.
Firefox for Android has grown into a serious daily driver. The extensions support alone — particularly uBlock Origin — makes it meaningfully more private than Chrome on mobile.
