How to Install Firefox 93 in Linux Desktop

Firefox 93 officially released for all major OS e.g. Linux, Mac OSX, Windows, and Android. The binary package is now available for download for Linux (POSIX) systems, grab the desired one, and enjoy browsing with new features added to it.

What’s new in Firefox 93

This new release comes with the following features:

  • The new AVIF image support, which offers considerable bandwidth savings for sites compared to existing image formats.
  • Firefox now blocks downloads that depend on insecure connections, safeguard against malicious or unsafe downloads.
  • Superior web compatibility for privacy protections and new referrer tracking system.
  • Better privacy protection for your web voice and video calls.
  • Enhancements to core engine components, for greater browsing on more sites.
  • Enhanced performance and nicer user experience for extensions.
  • Other various security fixes.

New Firefox has also added lots of new interesting features to Android as well. So, don’t wait, just grab the latest Firefox for Android from Google Play Store and have fun.

Install Firefox 93 in Linux Systems

Ubuntu users will always get the latest version of Firefox via default Ubuntu’s update channel. But the upgrade isn’t yet available and if you are curious to try it, there is an official Mozilla PPA to test the new version of Firefox on Ubuntu and its derivatives.

Install Firefox on Ubuntu

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-next
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
$ sudo apt install firefox

On other Linux distributions, you can install Firefox 93 stable from tarball sources in Debian and Red Hat-based distributions such as CentOS, Fedora, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, etc.

The download link for Mozilla Firefox tarballs can be found by accessing the below link.

The process of installing the latest version of Firefox from archive sources is similar for Ubuntu and CentOS desktop versions. To begin with, log in to your desktop and open a terminal console.

Then, issue the below commands in your terminal in order to download and install Firefox from tarball sources. The installation files will be placed in your distribution /opt directory.

For 32-Bit OS
$ cd /opt
$ sudo wget https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/93.0/linux-i686/en-US/firefox-93.0.tar.bz2
$ sudo tar xfj firefox-93.0.tar.bz2
For 64-Bit OS
$ cd /opt
$ sudo wget https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/93.0/linux-x86_64/en-US/firefox-93.0.tar.bz2
$ sudo tar xfj firefox-93.0.tar.bz2

After Firefox application files had been decompressed and installed to /opt/firefox/ system path, execute the below command to first launch the browser. The latest version of Firefox should open in your system.

$ /opt/firefox/firefox

Now close the firefox, and remove the old version of firefox and create a symbolic link to the new Firefox version as default.

$ sudo mv /usr/bin/firefox /usr/bin/firefoxold
$ sudo ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

Launch Mozilla Firefox by navigating to Applications -> Internet menu where a new Firefox launcher should appear. In Ubuntu desktop just search for firefox in Activity dash.

After hitting on the shortcut icon, you should see the new Mozilla Quantum browser in action in your system.

Firefox Quantum
Firefox Quantum

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Firefox 93 browser from a tarball source file in Debian and RHEL/CentOS Linux distributions.

Note: You can also install Firefox with a package manager called ‘yum‘ or ‘dnf‘ for RHEL-based and ‘apt-get‘ or ‘apt‘ for Debian-based distributions, but the available version may be a little older.

$ sudo apt install firefox     [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint]
$ sudo yum install firefox     [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky Linux/AlmaLinux]
Ravi Saive
I am an experienced GNU/Linux expert and a full-stack software developer with over a decade in the field of Linux and Open Source technologies

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72 thoughts on “How to Install Firefox 93 in Linux Desktop”

  1. Mozilla 68.0 would not run on my Linux Mint 13 (yes, I know it is out of support but I run all apps in firejails and behind iptables). I believe it is from an older gtk release. Firefox goes into a constant loop of crash reporter, this even when disabling crash reporter by editing the application.ini file.

    How can I determine what libraries Firefox needs? Can I obtain the correct libraries, copy them to the same folder as Firefox, and still run it in a firejail?

    Reply
  2. XPCOMGlueLoad error for file /var/tmp/firefox/libxul.so:
    libXcomposite.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
    Couldn’t load XPCOM.

    testing machine in VirtualBox/Vagrant, CentOs, ssh/xwindows forwarding :((

    Reply
    • @Mirek,

      The latest Firefox 60 requires GTK 3.4 to run. The only way to install latest version of Firefox is to upgrade your Linux system.

      Reply
      • yum provides “*/libgtk-3.so.0” # -> gtk3
        yum install gtk3

        So I have installed gtk3, xorg-x11-xauth, dejavu-lgc-sans-fonts.
        vagrant ssh (Vagrantfile: forwardconfig.ssh.forward_agent = true ; config.ssh.forward_x11 = true)
        or: ssh [email protected] -X -p 2222
        ….works

        Reply
        • @Mirek,

          That’s really great and thanks for sharing, let me give a try on my CentOS 6 box, last day me too facing same problem, but I didn’t tried it installing from YUM package manager thought latest Firefox needs upgraded GTK…:)

          Reply
      • ssh -X # or:

        vagrant ssh
          where in Vagrantfile:
            config.ssh.forward_agent=true
            config.ssh.forward_x11=true;
        
        yum install gtk3
        yum install xorg-x11-xauth
        yum install dejavu-lgc-sans-fonts
        # log out/in (exit/ssh)
        echo $DISPLAY   # will print: localhost:10.0
        

        We need firefox v58+ (at this time v52 from repo is not enough)

        su
        cd /opt
        wget https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/60.0/linux-x86_64/en-US/firefox-60.0.tar.bz2
        tar xfj firefox-60.0.tar.bz2
        ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox
        exit  # -> normal user
        firefox
        
        Reply
  3. If coming from Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release) then I think you might want to adjust your edits suggested above as follows:

    1) Do a global search and replace:

    $ sudo vi /usr/share/applications/firefox-quantum.desktop  
    :%s/Firefox ESR/Firefox Quantum/g
    

    >> 46 substitutions

    2) Include just one Exec line edited as follows:

    -> Exec=/usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr %u  
    +> Exec=/opt/firefox/firefox %u  
    

    3) Leave Icon=firefox-esr (otherwise it disappears from my cinnamon menu.) Perhaps someone else can tell me how to do this better.

    4) Simplify StartupWMClass:

    -> StartupWMClass=Firefox-ESR
    +> StartupWMClass=Firefox
    

    So far this seems to work for me. (Debian Stretch 9.2 / Cinnamon 3.2.7)

    THANKS A BUNCH RAVI. YOUR PAGE REALLY HELPED ME!

    Reply
    • I just copied the icon from the quantum firefox directory to the “icon directory??”. (No idea if that’s what pixmaps actually is…)

      # cp /opt/firefox/browser/icons/mozicon.png /usr/share/pixmaps/
      
      -> Icon=firefox-esr
      +> Icon=mozicon128
      

      Thanks Howard for all the other info!

      Reply
  4. I’ve gotten Firefox working but when I went to create a quick launch icon in my desktop applications menu I ran into “No such file or directory.” I used the commands “cd /usr/share/applications/” and then “sudo cp firefox.desktop firefox-quantum.desktop” like it stated but no luck. Can anyone help me because I have to run it through the terminal?

    Reply
  5. I was happy to find an article like this judging only by the title, but I lost all faith in following the procedure described here when I read that you call Debian a “Ubuntu based Linux distribution”………

    Reply
  6. Hi everyone,
    And thanks dear Ravi for producing this valuable resource.

    I have some difficulty going through the process of upgrading my firefox to 49.
    I followed the procedure above for my Fedora 21 (32-bit) but mistakenly extracted that from the Dolphin windows into my Desktop under firefox. And that is why I ended up messing my files. Now I cannot open my firefox by clicking on its icon with the error message:
    “KDEInit could not launch ‘firefox’:
    Could not find ‘firefox’ executable.”
    The only way I can access it is through command line:
    /bin/firefox-old
    The only difference that I had compared to your case was that the old version was installed in /bin/firefox instead of /usr/bin/firefox.

    Now is there anyway to undo that or to correct the mess? Your help is greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    • @Benjamin,

      Just delete the extracted Firefox directory from the Desktop, and follow the same instructions again to install Firefox as stated in this article.

      Reply
  7. My current Firefox version is Mozilla Firefox 48.0. If i am watching some video stream then randomly Firefox crash. How can i fixed this issue? If I update to Firefox 49 then will this issue fixed or not?
    can i update without lost history, cookie and bookmark, etc..?

    Reply
  8. After completing these steps and typing /usr/bin/firefox as root, “no such file or directory is returned” I retyped

    ln -s /full-path/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

    and the terminal confirmed that it already exists. /usr/bin/firefox-old still works though. Any idea what I did wrong? Was I not supposed to use full-path? Sorry, newbie here.

    Reply
    • @Jess,

      You should be normal user to download and extract the latest version of Firefox and then become root to symlink it and then become normal user to start it..

      Reply
    • Jess, when you typed it did you type /full-path/firefox/firefox? Or did you replace /full-path with the REAL path information for the directory.

      The command ‘pwd‘ (prints out your present working directory) will tell you where ever you are in the file system directories. So it the path was /home/thor/packages/firefox/firefox.

      You would type ln -s /home/thor/packages/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

      I believe the author expects you to understand that /full-path isn’t what you would literally type in. It is a placeholder for wherever you had unpacked the package on your system. So to get that you would type ‘pwd‘ in the same folder where your new firefox binary is located.

      Reply
    • @Joe,

      Actually, the latest version of Firefox doesn’t provide any binary packages, they are available in source packages only..

      Reply
  9. I love Firefox and it’s the only browser I use (on all OS: Linux, Windows, Mac, and even Android). However, after updating to 46, it stops working on my Linux computer at work due to the libgtk-3.so.0 issue. My admin said he can’t install libgtk-3.so.0 because my Ubuntu is too old. I don’t want to re-install my Linux. Everything was perfect with Firefox (well, except for some crashes) before the update. Can anyone find some solution so I can continue to use Firefox?

    Reply
    • @Luke,

      Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to update the libgtk-3.so.0 on older Ubuntu version, if you really want to use most recent version of Firefox, you should consider upgrading your OS

      Reply
      • I have the same issue as OP. I just tried Firefox AppImage and it will throw an error:

        XPCOMGlueLoad error for file /tmp/.mount_FirefoThhphp/usr/bin/libmozgtk.so:
        libgtk-3.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
        Couldn’t load XPCOM.

        So no, it doesn’t work.

        Couldn’t found any way to get in touch with “probono” to ask about this either… So we’re stuck.

        Reply
        • @Blablabla,

          Try installing from Firefox PPA, if you are using Debian or Ubuntu, else download and extract Firefox tar file, and run it directly.

          Reply
          • You clearly didn’t read OP. I’m facing the same issue, can’t install GTK+3 nor Firefox Quantum, hence to use it we *need* a “portable” version. Obviously that won’t run because we can’t have GTK+.

            Plus, on an email exchange with “Probono” (AppImage master mind) he basically stated that “98% of Linux computers have GTK+installed, and since we support AppImage packagers but not end users, screw you because I won’t help”.

          • @Blablabla,

            I read it your comment, thats why I suggested you to install from PPA, as it install all required dependencies automatically. Yes, most of the todays Linux computers have GTK+ installed default.

  10. XPCOMGlueLoad error for file /home/kmvora/apps/firefox/libmozgtk.so:
    libgtk-3.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
    Couldn’t load XPCOM.

    Reply
  11. This description is very easy and runs well!

    Now I have a problem with pipelight and silverlight, I try to integrated in FireFox but it doesn’t works.

    I try the follow commands:

    # pipelight-plugin -y --enable silverlight
    Plugin silverlight5.1 is now enabled
    

    last but not least

    # pipelight-plugin --create-mozilla-plugins
    

    If I call /usr/bin/firefox-old, it works on FF 35
    Someone has an idea to solve the problems of
    Thanks for help

    Reply
  12. Hi, I’m getting below error while installing this 45.0.1 version.
    I’ve installed RHEL 7 on my machine and want to update firefox.
    [

    firefox/webapprt-stub
    [root@localhost Downloads]# cd firefox
    [root@localhost firefox]# firefox -V

    (process:3725): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_slice_set_config: assertion `sys_page_size == 0′ failed
    Mozilla Firefox 24.5.0
    [root@localhost firefox]# ^C

    ]

    Reply
    • @Shrinivas,

      Which version of glibc you have? if it’s 2.6, then it’s a bug that appears to have reemerged when Firefox runs under version glib 2.36. Try to update you Linux distributions and try installing again..

      Reply
  13. followed the steps, when I run /usr/bin/firefox, nothing happened. I want to install ff29 on centOS6.4. Could you have a look?
    Thx

    Reply
    • @Constance,
      Could please share any error if you see on the screen? this article is for FF 41, not FF 29, but the same instructions works for FF 29 too..

      Reply
  14. Hi,
    I have installed firefox 39.0 according to above mentioned steps but, it is still giving the following error.
    unable to obtain stable firefox connection in 60 seconds (127.0.0.1:7055)
    I have selenium-webdriver (2.46.2). I am trying this on centOS.

    Reply
  15. After these commands:
    # mv /usr/bin/firefox /usr/bin/firefox-old
    # ln -s /full-path/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

    When I type /usr/bin/firefox
    Its saying error:bash: /usr/bin/firefox: No such file or directory

    Reply
    • @Akshay,
      That means, you’ve not linked properly your firefox binary under /usr/bin/. Try to follow instructions carefully and give a try again..

      Reply
  16. Hi,

    I followed the steps as mentioned.

    Im getting following error

    [root@localhost firefox]# firefox -v
    XPCOMGlueLoad error for file /var/tmp/firefox/libxul.so:
    libXcomposite.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
    Couldn’t load XPCOM.

    Can you please help me with this..

    Thanks!!

    Reply
  17. Hi i need help please i’m trying to install firefox 39. Everything was good expect getting to this part right here.

    # mv /usr/bin/firefox /usr/bin/firefox-old
    # ln -s /full-path/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

    OR

    $ sudo mv /usr/bin/firefox /usr/bin/firefox-old
    $ sudo ln -s /full-path/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

    I did that but i don’t think firefox 39 installed. I download the firefox-39.0.tar.bz2 file extracted it like said. The folder is in Downloads called firefox with a bunch of files in it. What do i do Thank u

    Reply
  18. After installig FF 38 on my RHEL 7 x84 I got the following error:
    [root@me ~]# firefox -V

    (process:8974): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_slice_set_config: assertion ‘sys_page_size == 0’ failed
    Mozilla Firefox 38.0

    Reply
  19. i get this error when i try to run my python programe with firefox on linux:

    File “plugins/search_numbers.py”, line 232, in search_number
    driver = webdriver.Firefox()
    File “/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/selenium-2.45.0-py2.7.egg/selenium/webdriver/firefox/webdriver.py”, line 59, in __init__
    self.binary, timeout),
    File “/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/selenium-2.45.0-py2.7.egg/selenium/webdriver/firefox/extension_connection.py”, line 47, in __init__
    self.binary.launch_browser(self.profile)
    File “/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/selenium-2.45.0-py2.7.egg/selenium/webdriver/firefox/firefox_binary.py”, line 66, in launch_browser
    self._wait_until_connectable()
    File “/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/selenium-2.45.0-py2.7.egg/selenium/webdriver/firefox/firefox_binary.py”, line 100, in _wait_until_connectable
    raise WebDriverException(“The browser appears to have exited ”
    WebDriverException: Message: The browser appears to have exited before we could connect. If you specified a log_file in the FirefoxBinary constructor, check it for details.

    Reply
  20. Dear Ravi Saive,

    From 2 years i am watching your site

    You are making just a low value resource articles like VLC, Wine , Firefox , Chrome, Etc, must contain the installation of software installation part that is appreciated by normal Linux user..

    Your articles does not have any high resource like Mail Server, DDNS Server, ETC, make a focus on that articles that is appreciated by system admin not a regular Linux user.

    Keep Focus on High Value Resources articles.

    Reply
    • @Rahul,
      As you mentioned those tools are most famous and used by millions of people in day-to-day life, so they are crucial for us to cover…and apart complex articles, if you see our long listing articles you will know..we almost covered everything from basic to advance and we are more focusing on complex articles..like LFCS, LFCE, Raid, RHCE, RHCSA, etc…thanks for your suggestion we will note of it…

      Reply
    • @Jen,
      Can you please tell us where you facing problem…so that we can help you out..also if needed we will update the article as per your suggestions..

      Reply
  21. Hi….

    i am facing same issue ( Too many levels of symbolic links)

    Steps involved

    1. Downloaded by 32-Bit OS by using w get

    2. Extracted it to a desired directory ( /root/Desktop/Firefox/firefox)

    3. older version of firefox folder name has been changed by using
    mv /usr/bin/firefox /usr/bin/firefox-old

    4.ln -s .//root/Desktop/Firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox ( i dont know the path what i have mentioned in this command is correct or not, my intention is to link the new version files from where i have down loaded/extracted)

    Please suggest/correct me…..how to proceed in this case.

    Reply
    • Please make a symbolic link of your new firefox binary to existing firefox location.
      Like in your case, “/root/Desktop/Firefox/firefox” is your directory where you have extracted the package. Now, you will find the binary in same directory. Try launching this before creating soft link.

      If, binary is there, then your final command will be :

      ln -s /root/Desktop/Firefox/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

      Hope this will help you!!

      Thanks!!

      Reply

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