Mozilla Firefox is the only browser that supports extensions on Android. But until recently, the app was restricted to a handful of add-ons that have been approved by the organization. We show you how to install any extension in Firefox for Android.
There is something you should know before we begin. The ability to install more extensions is currently being tested in the beta channel of the browser, so you will need to install Firefox Beta for Android. You can download it from the Google Play Store.
How to install any extension in Firefox for Android
1. Download Firefox Beta for Android.
2. Open the app, and tap on the menu button.
3. Tap on Add-ons.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and tap on “Find More Add-ons”.
5. The page that loads will display Mozilla’s Recommended Extensions. This is a limited collection of about 17 add-ons. Ignore it and scroll down the page.
6. Tap on “See More Recommended Extensions”.
7. Once the page loads, tap on filter results.
8. Select the Badging menu, and change it from “Recommended” to “Any”.
That’s it. Now you know how to install any extension in Firefox for Android. Browse the catalog to choose add-ons that you may be interested in.
Here are some popular examples: SponsorBlock – Skip Sponsorships on YouTube, Simple Translate, OneTab, etc.
To install one of the add-ons, tap on their name to open the extension’s page. Tap on the “Add to Firefox” button. Firefox will prompt you whether you would like to install the add-on, and also displays the permissions that are required by the extension. It will also offer an option to allow the add-on in private browsing mode, buy you may choose to decline this. The add-ons that you choose to install can be accessed from the menu > add-ons page.
Firefox mobile’s extensions collection has over 300 add-ons. That is much better than the default collection of 17 add-ons. Still, the desktop version has nearly 100x more, but that is because not all extensions are optimized to work on mobile phones with small screens. Even if you manage to install those desktop plugins, they may not work well on smartphones. It may be better to stick with Mozilla’s expanded collection, as the extensions have been designed to be compatible with mobile devices.
Mozilla is expected to add support for all extensions in the stable version of Firefox for Android later this year. We will update you when the browser adds support for the feature in the stable channel.
