One of the benefits of using web browsers on your desktop is the range of extensions you can add to them. They add extra functionality to your browsing. Think of them as the equivalent of downloading apps onto your phone. Firefox has tested browser extensions for its mobile app, and now they’re available to the public.
So if you want to add and use these add-ons to improve your browsing experience, you can do that. But how do you install them? How do you access and use them after getting the add-ons? Here’s a handy guide to show you how.
In case you don’t know what browser extensions are
So, web browsers come with a set of features that define the overall browsing experience. However, there could always be more it can do. It is possible to add additional functionality to your browser that the developer did not originally build in. It is possible to add additional functions to the browser through so-called browser extensions.
Browser extensions can be thought of as small programs that you can install on your browser that perform specific tasks. These extensions are usually developed by third party developers. A developer can create an extension to do almost anything.
There are all kinds of extensions you can add to desktop browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. These include voice-to-text dictation extensions, spell checker extensions, picture-in-picture extensions, and thousands more. For Firefox Mobile, however, there are far fewer.
How to install browser extensions on Firefox Mobile
The first thing you should do is download the Firefox app or make sure you’re using the latest version of it. Open the app and access the three-dot menu at the top or bottom of the screen. There you will see the Add-ons menu item in the upper area. Tapping it will open the browser extension submenu.
The extension menu
You will see the list of all available add-ons that you can install. While there are thousands of add-ons for desktop browsers, there are only 22 at the time of writing. The company is currently working to provide more extensions, so you’ll see the list grow longer over time.
Each item shows you the add-on’s title, a brief description of it, and its rating, ranging from one to five stars. Tap the item to see more information about it. You’ll see information like a longer description, the author, the version number, when it was last updated, and a link to the home page.
Adding the extensions
If you want to add the browser extension, tap the “+” button on the right side of the item. When you do this, a small popup will appear showing you the permissions the extension needs to work. Review these permissions carefully and decide whether to grant these permissions.
If you feel comfortable, tap the Add button at the bottom right. After that, the browser will download and install the add-on. When it is installed, another pop-up window will appear that will give you the option to allow the extension in private mode. After that you can get started.
Manage add-ons
If you access the three-dot menu again, you’ll see a small arrowhead on the Add-ons button. Tapping it will bring up a list of some of your installed extensions at the bottom of the screen. If you want to add more extensions, tap the Add-ons Manager button at the bottom.
As before, when you do that, you will see the list of all available extensions. Only the extensions you have installed will be pinned to the top.
If you tap an extension that you already have installed, a different page will appear. You will see the enable/disable toggle along with the allow/disallow run in private mode toggle. Below that you will see the Settings, Details and Permissions buttons.
Finally, among all these options, you will see the Remove button. If you tap on it, the browser will remove it immediately. There’s no confirmation screen, so be careful not to accidentally press it.
Some recommended addons
Read Aloud: A text-to-speech voice reader is a handy plug-in that you can install if you want your text read aloud. This is also an extension that you can install on the desktop version of Chrome. It is a useful tool that reads out any selected text.
You can dive into the settings for the extension and tweak it to work the way you want. You can change language, speed, pitch and volume of the voice.
BitWarden is a useful and free password manager to use if you want to keep all your passwords under one roof. It is able to generate strong passwords for various services. The passwords always correspond to the security requirements of the respective site.
You know your information is safe because BitWarden uses top-notch end-to-end encryption. This protects it from people trying to hack into your account and steal your passwords.
Search By Image is a powerful and reliable reverse image search tool. It works with more than 30 different search engines. With this tool you can upload an image and search for the possible source for it. It is useful when trying to verify the authenticity of an image.
These are just some of the add-ons you can use. Over time you will see more useful browser extensions. You never know if your next favorite add-on is just around the corner.
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March 15, 2023
