How to install Firefox addons
Firefox has the ability to be extended to perform numerous kinds of functions. These functions range from enhancements to the actual browsing experience to additional tools you can use to perform tasks. Some of these tools include code debugging tools for web developers to SEO tools for internet marketers.
In this post, I will demonstrate how to add plugins, or more correctly, addons.
In your browser address bar, navigate to http://addons.mozilla.org
You will see a page that looks like this:
You will various options for learning about addons. You can search. You can see Mozilla’s recommendations. You can choose to browse a category from the menu:
For this demo, I have searched and found a plugin I am interested in checking out called FoxTab. I found it by browsing the “Tab” category from the menu displayed above. I clicked on the link and landed on that addon’s page. Each addon has its own distinct page that provides various kinds of information for that addon. There is typically a description of the addon functionality along with some screenshots.
In the center of the page is a large green button.
The button reads: Add to Firefox.
Click this button.
A warning will typically popup asking if you really want to install the addon.
If you want proceed with the install, find the Allow button to the far right of the popup message.
Click the Allow button to proceed with the addon install or click the “X” to the right of the Allow button to cancel the install.
The Software Installation message box will appear. You notice that the button on the bottom that shows “Install Now” in my screenshot, will actually say “Install (5)” after it. It counts down from 5, before displaying the “Install Now” button.
Click the Install Button to install. You will see a typical install progress bar within the Software Installation message box. Most installs proceed rather quickly as most addons are small in size.
Once complete you will see a message appear within the Software Installation message box.
After any addon installation, Firefox needs to be restarted. Click the Restart Firefox button.
You will now see the Firefox Restart Dialogue Box.
Click Restart.
Firefox will now shutdown and then restart. It will open back up with the addon installed and will reopen any tabs to the webpage they previously had open. Sometimes, an additional tab will open. Some addons have a “more information” page or a “thank you for downloading page”. Our addon has a thank you page, as seen below.
Depending on the plugin, it will add either a menu item to the Firefox Tools menu or install in the status bar at the bottom of the browser. In our case, this plugin installed on icon within the main toolbar next to the address bar.
After installation, the Firefox Addons Message Box appears.
This box shows all the addons you have installed. It will display a message that an addon has been added. Any new addon will be highlighted in yellow.
This message box can be used to change any options for the addon (if available). It is also used to uninstall the addon if it is no longer needed or wanted.
You are now ready to play with you addon to see if meets your needs!
One last note. If you are using a PC that is shared by multiple users and has multiple logins, an addon will ONLY BE INSTALLED FOR THE PROFILE UNDER WHICH IT IS INSTALLED. If everyone on that PC wants the same plugin, everyone will have to login and install it individually. Firefox stores addon information in an individuals profile and thus is not shared by all users. There are some tricky ways around this, but for the beginner, I would not recommend them.
Have fun with Firefox!
Visit our list of recommended addons or visit our Firefox collections page. See all of this in action with the How to Install Firefox Addons video:
Posted by Paul Flyer on Monday, April 5th, 2010 in Firefox
