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Note that phantom scrolling is cured by switching to the Firefox Wayland build.
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[https://www.mozilla.org/firefox Firefox] is a graphical web browser developed by Mozilla.
<languages/>
{{infobox application
  |name=Mozilla Firefox
  |image=Firefox logo, 2019.svg
  |type=Web Browser
  |developer=Mozilla Foundation & Community
  |firstRelease=November 9, 2004
  |latestRelease=Firefox 140.0 (June 24, 2025)
  |status=Active
  |license=[https://www.mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/ Mozilla Public License 2.0]
  |os=Cross-platform (Linux, macOS, Windows, *BSD)
  |website=[https://www.mozilla.org/firefox mozilla.org/firefox]
  |github=mozilla/firefox
  |bugTracker=[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/ Bugzilla]
  |documentation=[https://support.mozilla.org/ Official Support]
}}
<translate>
<!--T:1-->
<strong>Firefox</strong><ref>Mozilla Foundation, "Firefox", Official Website, Accessed June 2025. https://www.mozilla.org/firefox</ref> is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation. It is known for its focus on privacy, security, and user freedom, offering a customizable experience through a rich ecosystem of add-ons and themes.


== Installation ==
== Installation == <!--T:2-->


=== NixOS ===
==== Shell ==== <!--T:56-->
</translate>


<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
{{code|lang=bash|line=no|1=$ nix-shell -p firefox}}
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [ firefox ];
</syntaxhighlight>


It's also possible to install Firefox via [[Home Manager]]:
<translate>
<!--T:57-->
The command above makes <code>firefox</code> available in your current shell without modifying any configuration files.


<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
==== System setup ==== <!--T:58-->
# If you want to configure Firefox (consult Home Manager's docs for options):
</translate>
programs.firefox.enable = true;


# If you don't want to configure Firefox:
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=# Example for /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
home.packages = with pkgs; [ firefox ];
environment.systemPackages = [
</syntaxhighlight>
  pkgs.firefox
];


See: [https://rycee.gitlab.io/home-manager/options.html#opt-programs.firefox.enable Home Manager's manual].
# User-specific installation (in ~/.config/nixpkgs/home.nix)
home.packages = [
  pkgs.firefox
];}}
<translate>
<!--T:59-->
After rebuilding with <code>nixos-rebuild switch</code>, Firefox will be installed system-wide.


=== Non-NixOS ===
== Configuration == <!--T:60-->


<syntaxHighlight lang="console">
==== Basic ==== <!--T:61-->
$ nix-env -iA nixos.firefox
</translate>
</syntaxHighlight>


== Tips ==
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=
programs.firefox = {
  enable = true;
 
  languagePacks = [ "en-US" "de" "fr" ];
 
  preferences = {
    "browser.startup.homepage"      = "https://example.com";
    "privacy.resistFingerprinting"  = true;
  };
 
  policies = {
    DisableTelemetry = true;
  };
};
}}
 
<translate>
<!--T:3-->
The snippet above enables Firefox for all users (or the current Home Manager profile, if placed in <code>home.nix</code>).


== Other Firefox Editions ==
==== Advanced ==== <!--T:23-->


Nixpkgs also offers other variants of Firefox aside from the ones stated above - these may suit your needs more comfortably than vanilla Firefox.  
<!--T:24-->
Home Manager allows for deep customization of Firefox, including extensions, search engines, bookmarks, and themes. The example below shows a configuration for adding custom search engines with aliases.
</translate>


'''Note:''' The packages for the variants listed below are installed ''instead'' of the normal <code>firefox</code> package and each other, which means that you'll have to choose one among these options.
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=
programs.firefox = {
  enable = true;


=== Wayland ===
  languagePacks = [ "en-US" ];


Users running a Wayland compositor (such as [[Sway]]) may want to use a Wayland-compatible build of Firefox. This can be achieved by replacing the <code>firefox</code> package with <code>firefox-wayland</code> instead.  This can help with a number of issues such as phantom scrolling.
  policies = {
    # Updates & Background Services
    AppAutoUpdate                = false;
    BackgroundAppUpdate          = false;


==== Screen Sharing ====
    # Feature Disabling
    DisableBuiltinPDFViewer      = true;
    DisableFirefoxStudies        = true;
    DisableFirefoxAccounts        = true;
    DisableFirefoxScreenshots    = true;
    DisableForgetButton          = true;
    DisableMasterPasswordCreation = true;
    DisableProfileImport          = true;
    DisableProfileRefresh        = true;
    DisableSetDesktopBackground  = true;
    DisablePocket                = true;
    DisableTelemetry              = true;
    DisableFormHistory            = true;
    DisablePasswordReveal        = true;


When using Firefox with Wayland, screen sharing options might be limited and require additional configuration (exact capabilities vary with different compositors).
    # Access Restrictions
    BlockAboutConfig              = false;
    BlockAboutProfiles            = true;
    BlockAboutSupport            = true;


* Use <code>firefox-wayland</code>, e.g.:<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
    # UI and Behavior
# NixOS system wide Firefox install
    DisplayMenuBar                = "never";
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [ firefox-wayland ]
    DontCheckDefaultBrowser      = true;
    HardwareAcceleration          = false;
    OfferToSaveLogins            = false;
    DefaultDownloadDirectory      = "${home}/Downloads";


# Home Manager when not using any additional Firefox options
    # Extensions
home.packages = with pkgs; [ firefox-wayland ]
    ExtensionSettings = let
      moz = short: "https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/downloads/latest/${short}/latest.xpi";
    in {
      "*".installation_mode = "blocked";


# Home Manager programs.firefox style
      "uBlock0@raymondhill.net" = {
programs.firefox = {
        install_url      = moz "ublock-origin";
  enable = true;
        installation_mode = "force_installed";
  package = pkgs.wrapFirefox pkgs.firefox-unwrapped {
        updates_disabled  = true;
    forceWayland = true;
      };
     extraPolicies = {
 
       ExtensionSettings = {};
      "{f3b4b962-34b4-4935-9eee-45b0bce58279}" = {
        install_url      = moz "animated-purple-moon-lake";
        installation_mode = "force_installed";
        updates_disabled  = true;
      };
 
      "{73a6fe31-595d-460b-a920-fcc0f8843232}" = {
        install_url      = moz "noscript";
        installation_mode = "force_installed";
        updates_disabled  = true;
      };
    };
 
     # Extension configuration
    "3rdparty".Extensions = {
       "uBlock0@raymondhill.net".adminSettings = {
        userSettings = rec {
          uiTheme            = "dark";
          uiAccentCustom    = true;
          uiAccentCustom0    = "#8300ff";
          cloudStorageEnabled = mkForce false;
 
          importedLists = [
            "https:#filters.adtidy.org/extension/ublock/filters/3.txt"
            "https:#github.com/DandelionSprout/adfilt/raw/master/LegitimateURLShortener.txt"
          ];
 
          externalLists = lib.concatStringsSep "\n" importedLists;
        };
 
        selectedFilterLists = [
          "CZE-0"
          "adguard-generic"
          "adguard-annoyance"
          "adguard-social"
          "adguard-spyware-url"
          "easylist"
          "easyprivacy"
          "https:#github.com/DandelionSprout/adfilt/raw/master/LegitimateURLShortener.txt"
          "plowe-0"
          "ublock-abuse"
          "ublock-badware"
          "ublock-filters"
          "ublock-privacy"
          "ublock-quick-fixes"
          "ublock-unbreak"
          "urlhaus-1"
        ];
      };
     };
     };
   };
   };
};
 
</syntaxhighlight>
  profiles.default.search = {
* Enable [https://pipewire.org/ PipeWire]:<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
    force          = true;
services.pipewire.enable = true;
    default        = "DuckDuckGo";
</syntaxhighlight>
    privateDefault  = "DuckDuckGo";
* Enable [https://github.com/flatpak/xdg-desktop-portal/blob/master/README.md xdg desktop integration]:<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
 
xdg = {
    engines = {
  portal = {
      "Nix Packages" = {
    enable = true;
        urls = [
    extraPortals = with pkgs; [
          {
      xdg-desktop-portal-wlr
            template = "https://search.nixos.org/packages";
      xdg-desktop-portal-gtk
            params = [
    ];
              { name = "channel"; value = "unstable"; }
     gtkUsePortal = true;
              { name = "query";  value = "{searchTerms}"; }
            ];
          }
        ];
        icon          = "${pkgs.nixos-icons}/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/nix-snowflake.svg";
        definedAliases = [ "@np" ];
      };
 
      "Nix Options" = {
        urls = [
          {
            template = "https://search.nixos.org/options";
            params = [
              { name = "channel"; value = "unstable"; }
              { name = "query";  value = "{searchTerms}"; }
            ];
          }
        ];
        icon          = "${pkgs.nixos-icons}/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/nix-snowflake.svg";
        definedAliases = [ "@no" ];
      };
 
      "NixOS Wiki" = {
        urls = [
          {
            template = "https://wiki.nixos.org/w/index.php";
            params = [
              { name = "search"; value = "{searchTerms}"; }
            ];
          }
        ];
        icon          = "${pkgs.nixos-icons}/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/nix-snowflake.svg";
        definedAliases = [ "@nw" ];
      };
     };
   };
   };
};
};
</syntaxhighlight>
}}
* Set environment variables to hint Firefox to use Wayland features. E.g.:<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
 
# Classical NixOS setup
<translate>
environment.sessionVariables = {
<!--T:25-->
  MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND = "1";
[https://nix-community.github.io/home-manager/options.xhtml#opt-programs.firefox.enable More options are available on Home Manager's site.]
  XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP = "sway";
 
};
== Firefox Variants == <!--T:4-->
 
<!--T:5-->
There are several Firefox variants available. To choose one, set the <code>programs.firefox.package</code> option accordingly.
</translate>
 
{{Note|<translate><!--T:6--> The packages for the variants listed below are installed ''instead'' of the normal <code>firefox</code> package.</translate>}}
 
<translate>
=== Variant: Official Binaries === <!--T:7-->
 
<!--T:8-->
Mozilla provides official pre-built Firefox binaries via the <code>firefox-bin</code> package, which are downloaded directly from Mozilla's servers.
 
=== Variant: Extended Support Release (ESR) === <!--T:9-->
 
<!--T:10-->
<code>firefox-esr</code> is a variant that receives security updates for a longer period with a slower feature implementation cadence. It also allows for more extensive policy-based configuration.


# Home Manager setup
=== Variant: Nightly === <!--T:11-->
home.sessionVariables = {
  MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND = 1;
  XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP = "sway";
};
</syntaxhighlight>
* If you are not using Sway you can remove the 'XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP = "sway";' line
* Ensure that the environment variables are correctly set for the user systemd units. E.g.:<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
# Sway users might achieve this by adding the following to their Sway config file
# This ensures all user units started after the command (not those already running) set the variables
exec systemctl --user import-environment
</syntaxhighlight>


<!--T:12-->
Nightly builds are daily builds from the central Mozilla repository.


===Firefox ESR===
==== Method 1: Using nix-community/flake-firefox-nightly ==== <!--T:13-->
This is the '''E'''xtended '''S'''upport '''R'''elease of Firefox provided by Mozilla, this release receives only security updates and possesses a more relaxed cadence of feature implementation. You can install it by using the <code>firefox-esr</code> package.


===Mozilla Distributed Binaries===
<!--T:14-->
Mozilla themselves provide official pre-built Firefox binaries. It is possible to install these packages through Nix by using the <code>-bin</code> suffix with the package. So you'd use <code>firefox-bin</code> instead of the normal package. This will download the binary from Mozilla's servers and install it on your system.
This method is reproducible but may lag behind the upstream version. First, add the input to your flake:
</translate>


===Firefox nightly===
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=
Nightly builds are daily builds of Firefox from the Mozilla-central repository
inputs = {
  firefox.url = "github:nix-community/flake-firefox-nightly";
  firefox.inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
};
}}


To use them
<translate>
<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
<!--T:16-->
nixpkgs.overlays =
Then, add the package to your system:
  let
</translate>
    # Change this to a rev sha to pin
    moz-rev = "master";
    moz-url = builtins.fetchTarball { url = "https://github.com/mozilla/nixpkgs-mozilla/archive/${moz-rev}.tar.gz";};
    nightlyOverlay = (import "${moz-url}/firefox-overlay.nix");
  in [
    nightlyOverlay
  ];
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [ latest.firefox-nightly-bin ];
</syntaxhighlight>


== FAQ ==
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=
# In configuration.nix, assuming use of specialArgs
environment.systemPackages = [
  inputs.firefox.packages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.firefox-nightly-bin
];
}}


=== How to run Firefox without pulseaudio and still get audio output? ===
<translate>
==== Method 2: Using mozilla/nixpkgs-mozilla ==== <!--T:18-->


Replace libpulseaudio by libpressureaudio, which uses apulse to emulate PulseAudio but uses ALSA directly. So, you don't need to install/enable pulse audio.
<!--T:19-->
This method is not necessarily reproducible without a flake-like system but will always be the latest version.
</translate>


<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=
{ pkgs ? import <nixpkgs> {} }:
nixpkgs.overlays = [
(pkgs.wrapFirefox.override {libpulseaudio = pkgs.libpressureaudio;}) pkgs.firefox-unwrapped {}
  (import (builtins.fetchTarball "https://github.com/mozilla/nixpkgs-mozilla/archive/master.tar.gz"))
</syntaxhighlight>
];
programs.firefox.package = pkgs.latest.firefox-nightly-bin;
}}


and installing it with <code>nix-env -f firefox.nix -i</code>.
<translate>
<!--T:22-->
Using this method requires the <code>--impure</code> flag for Nix commands, for example:
</translate>


When using [[Home Manager]], add the following to your configuration:
{{code|lang=bash|line=no|1=$ nixos-rebuild switch --impure}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
programs.firefox.package = (pkgs.wrapFirefox.override { libpulseaudio = pkgs.libpressureaudio; }) pkgs.firefox-unwrapped { };
</syntaxhighlight>


=== I want Firefox, what is Nightly? ===
<translate>
== Tips and Tricks == <!--T:28-->


[https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/foundation/trademarks/faq/ Mozilla's trademarks] on Firefox disallows distributing unofficial builds using the Firefox trademark. This is why the Nix-built Firefox is named Nightly.
==== Force XWayland (X11) instead of Wayland ==== <!--T:62-->


The official builds are available by [[FAQ#How_can_I_install_a_proprietary_or_unfree_package.3F|enabling unfree]] and installing <code>firefox-bin</code>.
<!--T:63-->
Firefox defaults to native Wayland when running under a Wayland compositor. To force it to use XWayland (X11) instead:
</translate>


=== Firefox ESR and Oracle JDK ===
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=environment.sessionVariables.MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND = "0";}}


Note: It is not clear whether this section is out of date, and whether any Firefox release in Nixpkgs allows to use Java. See https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/84909.
<translate>
<!--T:30a-->
This is useful when troubleshooting Wayland-specific issues or when certain features work better under X11.


Firefox stops support of Java plugin. To use Java plugin you have to use special Firefox ESR, Extended Support Release.
==== Touchpad Gestures and Smooth Scrolling ==== <!--T:34-->


Also, Oracle doesn't provide a nice way to automate Oracle JDK installation without accepting the license. See https://gist.github.com/danbst/30165b59996fb403068c74a95b108d6f for possible way to combine automated JDK and Firefox ESR download.
<!--T:35-->
Enable <code>xinput2</code> to improve touchscreen support and enable additional touchpad gestures and smooth scrolling.
</translate>


== Tips ==
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=
environment.sessionVariables.MOZ_USE_XINPUT2 = "1";
}}


=== Enabling [https://community.kde.org/Plasma/Browser_Integration#How_to_install Plasma Browser Integration]  ===
<translate>
1. Add the following line to your configuration.nix (note that [[KDE#Installation|enabling Plasma]] automatically does this):
==== KDE Plasma Integration ==== <!--T:29-->


<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
<!--T:30-->
nixpkgs.config.firefox.enablePlasmaBrowserIntegration = true;
1. Add the native messaging host package to your configuration:
</syntaxhighlight>
</translate>


If you're wondering where this part is coming from see [https://nixos.org/nixos/manual/#sec-customising-packages NixOS Manual:Customising Packages]
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=programs.firefox.nativeMessagingHosts.packages = [ pkgs.kdePackages.plasma-browser-integration ];}}


2. Install [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/plasma-integration/ KDE's Firefox extension].
<translate>
<!--T:31-->
2. Install the corresponding [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/plasma-integration/ browser add-on].


=== Use xinput2 ===
==== Use KDE file picker ==== <!--T:32-->


You can make Firefox use xinput2 by setting the <code>MOZ_USE_XINPUT2</code> environment variable. This improves touchscreen support and enables additional touchpad gestures. It also enables smooth scrolling as opposed to the stepped scrolling that Firefox has by default. To do this, put the following in your config:  
<!--T:33-->
To use the KDE file picker instead of the GTK one, set the following preference:
</translate>


<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=
environment.sessionVariables = {
programs.firefox.preferences = {
   MOZ_USE_XINPUT2 = "1";
   "widget.use-xdg-desktop-portal.file-picker" = 1;
};
};
</syntaxhighlight>
}}


== Troubleshooting==
<translate>
== Troubleshooting == <!--T:36-->


=== If you can't start the browser because of a configuration error ===  
==== Native Messaging Hosts Fail to Load ==== <!--T:40-->


For example:  
<!--T:42-->
Native messaging hosts (used for extensions like Plasma Integration) do not work with the <code>-bin</code> variants of Firefox or with Firefox installed imperatively via <code>nix-env</code>. You must use a variant built from source via your NixOS or Home Manager configuration.


<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
==== ALSA audio instead of PulseAudio ==== <!--T:27-->
firefox
1554035168269 Marionette FATAL Error de análisis XML: entidad indefinida
Ubicación: chrome://browser/content/browser.xul
Línea 2526, columna 13:            <toolbarbutton id="tracking-protection-preferences-button"
JavaScript error: resource:///modules/aboutpages/AboutPrivateBrowsingHandler.jsm, line 28: TypeError: this.pageListener is undefined
</syntaxhighlight>


An easy way to get away from this is to start firefox with the <code>firefox -safe-mode</code> command. Then you can troubleshoot your actual problem or you can call your luck by calling the refresh option (a special button will appear when firefox starts in this mode). This will reset your configuration to a sane state and you will be usually able to start the browser again, but you will lose most of your customization.
<!--T:64-->
To force Firefox to use ALSA, you can override it with a wrapper:
</translate>


=== <code>nativeMessagingHosts</code> don't work ===
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=programs.firefox.package = pkgs.wrapFirefox pkgs.firefox-unwrapped { libpulseaudio = pkgs.libalsa; };}}
 
<translate>
==== Screen Sharing under Wayland ==== <!--T:43-->
 
<!--T:44-->
Screen sharing on Wayland requires enabling PipeWire and the appropriate XDG Desktop Portals.
</translate>
 
{{code|lang=nix|line=no|1=
services.pipewire.enable = true;
xdg.portal = {
  enable = true;
  # Add the portal for your compositor, e.g.:
  extraPortals = with pkgs; [
    xdg-desktop-portal-wlr # For Sway/wlroots
    # xdg-desktop-portal-gtk # For GNOME
    # xdg-desktop-portal-kde # For KDE
  ];
};
}}


such as <code>enablePlasmaBrowserIntegration</code>, <code>enableGnomeExtensions</code>, and <code>enableBrowserpass</code>.
<translate>
== See also == <!--T:65-->


They do not work with the <code>firefox-bin</code> derivation<ref>https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/47340#issuecomment-476368401</ref> or with <code>firefox</code> installed via <code>nix-env</code>
<!--T:66-->
* [[Home Manager]] – Declarative per-user configuration
* [https://search.nixos.org/options?channel=unstable&query=programs.firefox NixOS options for Firefox]
* [https://discourse.nixos.org/tag/firefox Firefox topics on NixOS Discourse]


<hr />
== References == <!--T:67-->
<references />
</translate>


[[Category:Configuration]]
[[Category:Applications]]
[[Category:Applications]]
[[Category:Web Browser]]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.nixos.org/wiki/Firefox"