How to use Firefox addons
Posted on August 18, 2009 at 5:13 am
It goes without saying that the primary use of a web browser it to view the Internet. Two of the most prominent web browsers, Internet Explorer and Firefox, have been in a heated contest in recent years to one-up each other with web browsing speed and other features. Though Internet Explorer held its own as a standard tool for Internet use, Firefox has made significant strides in improvement.
Trying to keep a competitive edge, Firefox included some attractive core features. One of the default features with Firefox is the built-in ability to changes themes, add additional functionality, and easily manage plugins. These actions can be done through the use of the Add-ons menu item, located under Tools within the Firefox browser.
When you enter into this submenu set, you are presented with several options. Each option has an icon tab, which you can click on to jump between the choices. Starting with the icon furthest left, we find the Get Add-ons selection.
Towards the top of this screen, you will notice a search box on the left side and a hyperlink on the right. The search box, upon entering what you are looking for, will sift through Firefox’s online database of Add-ons. The search results are displayed in the lower portion of this window.
Clicking on one of the entries will expand it, and typically give a brief description of what functionality the Add-on will build into Firefox. At this point, if you want to get the selected Add-on, just click on the convenient “Add to Firefox” button.
The “Browse All Add-ons” hyperlink will take you out to a website with pages containing the available Add-ons for Firefox. Here you can look over what is available for Firefox to use (there are MANY, so you may want to set aside a couple of hours the first time around).
You may want to take note, before perusing the website, the exact version of Firefox you have (click on Help, then About Mozilla Firefox; see screen shot below). There are some Add-ons that do not work with every version.
Moving on to the right of the Get Add-ons icon, we have the Extension tab. In this section we have items that extend some of Firefox’s features, or create additional functionality altogether. Clicking one each of the Extensions in this screen gives you the choice to Disable or Uninstall the extension.
If applicable, you may also find an Options button. Within the Options button, you can manage the settings for an individual extension’s properties. These choices are left to how that particular extension was designed to be used.
You may also want to make note of the yellow arrow next to an extension. This indicates that an update is available for that extension, and this will be covered more in a little bit.
Next in the rundown is the Themes area. Here we can alter the look of Firefox with packs that alter the look of buttons, browser coloring, and menus at times. Themes can be found through the use of the “Browse Add-ons” link mentioned earlier.
When you click on one of the listed themes, there are a few item to note. You will notice the yellow arrows again, if there in an update ready for that theme. If the theme is currently not compatible with your version of Firefox, it will let you know.
There will be two buttons for each entry, though Use Theme may not be available if you are currently using that particular theme or it is incompatible. The Use Theme button will activate that theme for Firefox to use. Upon restarting Firefox, you are presented with the applied theme. The Uninstall button will remove that theme from Firefox.
The next section of the icon tab menu is the Plugins list. While this portion is far less exciting than the others, its does hold its own importance. Should you be having a problem with the functionality of a Firefox plugin (errors specifically mentioning a plugin), this is a good place to start troubleshooting. Here you can Disable and Enable plugins as needed.
The last stop on the tour is the Updates icon tab. If you previously noted yellow arrows next to any of your Add-ons, they will be listed in this section. Within the Updates area, you have the option to run all the updates, of just a few, at once.
Should you wish to know the exact nature of what the updates change, clicking on the Show Information button will split this window. On the right-hand side, when you click on an update, the release notes will be displayed.
Hopefully, this will give you an idea of what can be accomplished using Firefox’s Add-on menu. The additional tools and themes available for Firefox are far too numerous to mention, but can be very useful depending on what you are searching for. Have fun and play around! If one item does not suit your tastes, there are plenty more to choose from. Enjoy!
» Filed Under Computer Tips
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great tips about firefox which i prefer mostly and recommend as well.
I have downloaded several add-ons. But how do I USE them? I see them but how to access and use is a mystery to me.
It depends on what the add-ons were designed to do after being installed. For instance, one called Download Them All (a mass downloading tool) adds an entry to the Tools menu, which is easy to spot. Other add performance functionality, without menus or viewable items. The add-ons I have used typically have a description of what they are on the Firefox Add On site: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox
Thanks for the great tutorial on Firefox add-ons! I’ve recently decided to switch because many friends have told me that Firefox is highly customizable! Now I see why! There are TONS of add-ons!
Also, Skip S, once you install an add-on, it will either show up as a menu option under Tools or you have to add the button to your toolbar by going to View, then Toolbars, and then Customize. Drag the icon to the main toolbar.
I don’t know why but I have been having problems with the add ons I use, FireFTP for example. It is not listed under tools. Occasionally I see it, and I do not know it is related to automatic updates, then it disappears for a long time. I cannot add it manually either. As soon as I hit customize under view/tools the whole menu bar turns gray and becomes inactive and the only way to get it back active is by restarting the application. There are a few things I like about Firefox, FireFTP among them, but this has been an issue for a long time. I had hoped it would be resolved in newer versions but it is still there. I use Windows XP sp3.
Great tutorial on working with add-ons for Firefox newbies! I personally think the extensions in Chrome are easier since they automatically show up, but Firefox has a wider selection.
I continually have trouble trying to install ‘Video Download Helper’.
Any help?