Firefox for Android: Extensions, Sync, and Privacy Settings

Firefox for Android is a full-featured browser that supports extensions, making it unique among Android browsers. To install extensions, users can tap the three-dot menu, select Add-ons, and then browse through all available Firefox extensions. Some popular and functional extensions for Android include uBlock Origin for blocking ads and trackers, Dark Reader for enabling dark mode on mobile sites, Privacy Badger from the Electronic Frontier Foundation for tracking protection, Bitwarden as a password manager with autofill integration, and Multi-Account Containers for organizing tabs by account.

Firefox Android version 120 or later supports all extensions directly from the Mozilla Add-ons (AMO) store, not just a limited selection.

Firefox Android also offers Sync functionality, allowing users to seamlessly sync their data across desktop and Android devices. When enabling Sync, users can sign in with their Firefox account and choose what data to sync, including bookmarks, history, passwords, open tabs, extensions, and some settings. To access desktop tabs on Android, users can tap the three-dot menu and select Desktop tabs.

Collections, similar to tab groups, allow users to group related tabs by topic; these collections persist across browser restarts.

Privacy is a key focus in Firefox Android, with options like Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) in Standard, Strict, or Custom modes, HTTPS-Only mode, DNS over HTTPS with options for Cloudflare, NextDNS, or custom resolvers, and Total Cookie Protection in Strict ETP mode, which isolates cookies per site to prevent cross-site tracking.

In addition, private browsing mode on Android goes beyond standard private modes by deleting cookies, browser history, form data, and search history upon closing Firefox. Users can also customize their search engines within the browser, long-pressing the search bar on a supported website to add a custom search engine or manage them through Settings → Search → Add search engine → Custom.

Compared to Chrome on Android, Firefox Android offers superior extension support, a more privacy-focused Enhanced Tracking Protection, and open-source Gecko engine. However, Chrome excels in Progressive Web App (PWA) support and integration with Google accounts. Privacy-conscious users may find Firefox with uBlock Origin to be significantly more private than any Chromium-based browser on Android.

Overall, Firefox for Android has evolved into a viable daily driver for many users, leveraging its extensive extension support and privacy-focused features.