Unlock Hundreds of New Open Extensions with Mozilla Firefox for Android in December!
Mozilla plans to overhaul Firefox for Android by bringing back a feature that was eliminated in 2020 – an open ecosystem of extensions. This removal was done to enhance security and improve the interface, but it had a negative impact on extension compatibility. However, Mozilla is now making a comeback by introducing more than 400 new extensions, which will be officially accessible on December 14. Scott DeVaney from Mozilla had previously suggested that extensions would make a comeback and assured users that they would be available before the year’s end.
As announced, Mozilla has confirmed the release date in a blog post and has even published a separate plugin page to simplify finding and adding new content.
Check out the new Firefox extensions
Mozilla has already teased users with a preview of upcoming extensions and dropped a bunch of open extensions for Android. Highlights include Bitwarden’s password manager, Decentraleyes for privacy protection, text-to-speech plugin, AdGuard’s ad blocker, web archives, and more.
There are currently 16 open extensions on Mozilla’s add-ons page, but the excitement doesn’t stop there. In December, Mozilla plans to release more than 400 additional extensions, doubling its initial hint just a few weeks ago.
What sets Firefox apart, according to Mozilla, is that it is the only major Android browser that supports an open extension ecosystem. This change allows users to create a variety of extensions for Firefox, potentially giving it a competitive edge over competitors such as Google Chrome, which is known for its limited support for third-party add-ons. In contrast, Safari on iOS has recently embraced extension support.
Since Firefox for Android was revamped three years ago, it has been limited to less than two dozen extensions. Using the desktop Firefox extensions with the Android version required navigating the developer menus. Mozilla warns that the process can lead to problems.
As the release date approaches, Mozilla warns developers to prepare for increased demand for extensions. The organization has provided detailed instructions to help developers get started and emphasized the importance of thorough code testing.
While the extension’s revival is causing excitement in the Android world, it’s still uncertain whether Firefox extensions will ever be available for iOS. Apple’s separate extension system makes compatibility with Firefox difficult, which is a challenge for cross-platform integration.
