How to Install and Use Firefox on iPhone

Firefox for iPhone brings private browsing, tracker blocking, and sync with your desktop bookmarks and passwords to your iOS device. This guide walks you through downloading the app, setting it up, and using its key features, including making it your default browser.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 15.0 or later (check in Settings > General > About).
An Apple ID to download from the App Store.
Optional: a Firefox account if you want to sync bookmarks, history, and open tabs with Firefox on your computer.

Step-by-Step

Download Firefox from the App Store. Open the App Store on your iPhone, tap the search tab at the bottom, type “Firefox” and look for the app by Mozilla. Tap “Get” and then install it with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.
Launch Firefox and set it up. Tap the Firefox icon on your home screen. On first launch, you’ll see a welcome screen. Swipe through the intro pages and tap “Start Browsing” or “Skip” to go straight to the main browser.
Make Firefox your default browser (recommended). Go to the Settings app on your iPhone (not inside Firefox). Scroll down and tap “Firefox,” then tap “Default Browser App” and choose “Firefox.” Now links from emails, messages, and other apps will open in Firefox.
Sign in to sync (optional but useful). Tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then tap the gear icon (Settings). Tap “Sign in to Sync” and enter your Firefox account credentials. If you don’t have an account, tap “Create account” and follow the instructions. Once signed in, your bookmarks, history, and passwords will appear on your iPhone.
Browse the web. The address bar is at the top. Tap it, type a URL or search term, and press “Go” on the keyboard. Use the plus (+) button next to the address bar to open a new tab. Tap the tabs icon (two overlapping squares) to view and switch between open tabs.
Use private browsing. Tap the tabs icon, then tap the mask icon (or “Private” at the top) to enter private mode. In private mode, Firefox won’t save your history or cookies. To exit, tap the mask icon again and choose “Normal.”
Use the menu for more features. The menu button (three lines) gives you access to bookmarks, history, downloads, settings, and add-ons. Tap “Bookmarks” to see your saved sites, “History” to revisit pages, and “Downloads” to see files you’ve saved.
Customize your experience. In Settings (gear icon), you can change the search engine, enable or disable tracking protection, adjust text size, and manage notifications. Explore these options to tailor Firefox to your needs.

Common Mistakes

Not setting Firefox as default. If you skip step 3, links from other apps will still open in Safari, which can be confusing. Make sure to change the default browser in iOS Settings.
Expecting desktop extensions. Firefox for iPhone supports a limited set of add-ons (like uBlock Origin and Dark Reader) but not all desktop extensions. Check the Add-ons section in the menu to see what’s available.
Confusing private browsing with sync. Private browsing does not sync your activity to your Firefox account. If you want to see your browsing history on another device, you need to be in normal mode and signed in.
Forgetting to update. Firefox updates regularly with security fixes and new features. Keep it updated by enabling automatic updates in the App Store or checking for updates manually.

Tips

Use the search bar efficiently. You can set your default search engine (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc.) in Settings > Search. This makes searches faster and more private if you choose a privacy-focused engine.
Take advantage of tracking protection. Firefox includes Enhanced Tracking Protection by default. You can adjust the level (Standard, Strict, or Custom) in Settings > Tracking Protection. Strict may break some sites, so start with Standard.
Use the reader mode. When reading an article, tap the reader mode icon (a small book or lines) in the address bar to remove clutter and adjust text size for comfortable reading.
Send tabs between devices. If you’re signed in to Firefox on your computer, you can send a tab from your iPhone to your computer (and vice versa) via the menu > “Send to Device.” This is handy for continuing research later.
Use the QR code scanner. The address bar has a QR code icon (small square with a dot). Tap it to scan QR codes instead of using the camera app.

Troubleshooting

Firefox won’t open or crashes. Force-close the app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and pausing, then swipe the Firefox card away. Reopen it. If it still crashes, restart your iPhone. If the problem persists, delete and reinstall the app (your bookmarks and passwords are safe if you’re signed in to sync).
Sync isn’t working. Make sure you’re signed in on both devices and that both have internet access. Go to Firefox Settings on your iPhone and tap your email address, then tap “Sync Now.” If that doesn’t help, sign out and sign back in.
Websites look broken or won’t load. Try disabling tracking protection for that site: tap the shield icon in the address bar and toggle off “Enhanced Tracking Protection.” Also check your internet connection and try a different site to rule out a network issue.
Videos won’t play. Some videos require Adobe Flash or other plugins that aren’t supported on iPhone. Try updating the website’s app, or use a different browser. Also check that you have enough storage space on your device.
Firefox is slow. Clear your cache and cookies: go to Settings > Data Management > Clear Private Data. This can speed things up. Also close unused tabs and restart the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Firefox really private on iPhone? Firefox includes Enhanced Tracking Protection, which blocks trackers and cookies. However, your internet service provider and websites can still see your IP address. For full anonymity, use a VPN (not built-in) or the Tor browser (not available on iOS).

Can I use Firefox extensions on iPhone? Yes, but only a limited set. Go to the menu > Add-ons to browse available extensions like uBlock Origin, Dark Reader, and NoScript. Desktop extensions like LastPass or Grammarly may have their own iOS apps instead.

How do I change the search engine? In Firefox, go to Settings (gear icon) > Search > Default Search Engine. Choose from Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or Ecosia. This only affects the address bar search, not the homepage.

Will Firefox sync my passwords? Yes, if you’re signed in to a Firefox account. Your passwords are encrypted and stored in your Firefox account, and you can access them in Settings > Logins and Passwords. You can also use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock them.

How do I clear my browsing history? Tap the menu (three lines) > History > the trash icon at the top right. You can clear all history or just the last hour, today, or today and yesterday. This does not affect private browsing data, which is deleted when you close private tabs.

Can I make Firefox my default browser for all links? Yes, if you set it in iOS Settings > Firefox > Default Browser App. After that, links from Mail, Messages, and other apps will open in Firefox. Some apps may have their own in-app browser, but most respect the system default.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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