Inside Mozilla Firefox
1 / 3Firefox browser with Developer Tools open — official documentation screenshot
Firefox for Windows: which download, and what to set first
Firefox is the main browser that is not built on Google's Chromium engine. It is made by Mozilla, which is owned by a non-profit foundation, and it is open source. You get tabs, bookmarks, a password manager, Sync between your devices and a large extension library, with protection against trackers switched on from the start.
Getting the right Firefox download
The big Download Now button on the Windows download page gives you the standard installer in your language, and that is what most people need.
For anything else, open the full download list. It lets you pick:
- The edition. Firefox itself is the recommended one. Beta and Nightly preview upcoming features, Developer Edition is aimed at web developers, and ESR (Extended Support Release) is built for organisations that want fewer changes.
- The platform. Windows 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit, MSI packages for administrators, and the Microsoft Store.
- The language. Firefox is available in more than 90.
If your PC still runs Windows 8.1 or older, the regular Firefox no longer supports it. Mozilla points those users to Firefox ESR instead.
The first things to set up
Bring your stuff over. On first launch Firefox offers to import bookmarks, history and saved passwords from your current browser. If you skip it, the Library window (Bookmarks, Manage Bookmarks) has an Import and Backup menu.
Turn on Sync if you use several devices. Sign in with a Mozilla account and your bookmarks, passwords, history and open tabs follow you to Firefox on your phone and other computers.
Make it the default browser. Firefox asks. If you want to change it later, use Default apps in Windows Settings.
Privacy controls that matter
Enhanced Tracking Protection is on by default in its Standard mode. The shield icon in the address bar shows what was blocked on the current site and lets you switch protection off for that site alone if something breaks. Strict mode blocks more but breaks more pages.
A private window (Ctrl+Shift+P) keeps no history, cookies or form data after you close it. It does not hide you from your internet provider or from the websites you visit.
To keep work and personal accounts separate in one browser, Mozilla's Multi-Account Containers extension gives each one its own tabs and cookies.
Where Firefox can fall short
A few websites are tested mainly in Chrome and occasionally misbehave in Firefox. It is less common than it used to be, but if a site acts oddly, try it in a private window or with tracking protection off for that site before blaming the browser.
FAQ
Is Firefox free, and who makes it?
Yes. Firefox is free and open source. It is developed by Mozilla, which belongs to the non-profit Mozilla Foundation.
Should I install Firefox or Firefox ESR?
Regular Firefox for a personal computer. ESR suits organisations that roll changes out slowly, and older Windows versions that the regular release no longer supports.
64-bit or 32-bit?
64-bit, unless your Windows is 32-bit. On Arm-based laptops, pick ARM64.
Can I move my passwords from Chrome?
Yes. Use the import option on first launch, or the Import and Backup menu in the Library window later.
- Best for
- Everyday browsing with strong privacy defaults and full support for content-blocking extensions.
- Good to know
- Current Firefox no longer supports Windows 8.1 and older; those PCs need the ESR edition.
Other browsers
LibreWolf is built on Firefox with stricter privacy settings out of the box. For more browsers, email and chat apps, see our browsers and internet category.