Switch from Chrome to Firefox

Why switch

Chrome is built by the world’s largest advertising company. Its primary purpose is to help Google collect data about your browsing habits. Firefox is built by Mozilla, a non-profit whose entire mission is keeping the internet open and private. Firefox blocks third-party trackers by default and doesn’t feed your browsing history into an ad profile.

What you’ll need

• A computer, phone, or tablet
• About 10 minutes for the switch

What you’ll lose

• Some Chrome-only extensions – Most popular extensions exist for Firefox too, but a few (especially Google’s own) are Chrome-only.
• Tight Google integration – If you rely on Chrome’s built-in Google Translate, Google Password Manager, or seamless Google account switching, Firefox handles these differently (often better with add-ons, but differently).
• A tiny bit of compatibility – A very small number of websites are built only for Chrome. This is rare, but it happens.

Steps

1. Download Firefox from firefox.com. Install it on your computer, phone, or both.

2. Import your Chrome data. When you first open Firefox, it offers to import bookmarks, passwords, and history from Chrome. Click “Import” and select Chrome. This takes about a minute.

3. Set Firefox as your default browser.

   • macOS: System Settings > Default web browser > Firefox
   • Windows: Settings > Default apps > Web browser > Firefox
   • iOS: Settings > Firefox > Default Browser App > Firefox
   • Android: Settings > Apps > Default apps > Browser app > Firefox

4. Install uBlock Origin. Go to addons.mozilla.org and click “Add to Firefox.” This blocks ads and trackers, making the web faster and more private.

5. Create a Firefox account (optional). This syncs your bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs across devices. Go to Settings > Sync.

6. Browse normally. Everything works the same – just without the tracking.

Tips

• Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection is on by default. You can check what it’s blocking by clicking the shield icon in the address bar.
• If a specific website doesn’t work, try it in a Private Window first – it might be a cookie issue, not a Firefox issue.
• The “Containers” feature lets you isolate sites from each other. The Facebook Container extension, for example, stops Meta from tracking you across the web.
• Firefox uses significantly less memory than Chrome, especially with many tabs open.