UserLAnd
Linux apps on Android

How to run desktop Firefox on Android

Install FoxBox from Google Play. It runs a Linux desktop build of Firefox on Android, so you get desktop extensions, developer tools and real desktop websites, not the mobile versions.

Get it on Google PlayFoxBox

Step by step

  1. Install the app from Google Play

    Search Google Play for FoxBox by UserLAnd Technologies, or use the button on this page. It is a one-time purchase.

  2. Open it and let it set up

    The first launch downloads and sets up the Linux files the app needs. Stay on Wi-Fi; this only happens once.

  3. Browse like on a PC

    Firefox opens as a desktop window. Websites see a desktop browser, so you get full desktop layouts and features.

  4. Use touch as a mouse

    Tap with one finger to click, two-finger tap to right-click, pinch to zoom, slide two fingers to scroll, and hold and slide to pan. Tap the screen and choose the keyboard icon to type.

What you get

  • Desktop page rendering, so sites behave as they do on a PC
  • Standard desktop Firefox extensions
  • Developer tools
  • A built-in file manager for files on your device, once you grant permission
  • Sound support

What you need

  • An Android phone or tablet with Google Play
  • Free storage for the Linux files (a tablet or a phone with a large screen is most comfortable)
  • Internet for the first-time setup
  • Optional: a Bluetooth or USB keyboard and mouse

Working with your files

Your Linux home folder (/home/userland) links to Android’s Documents, Pictures and other folders, so you open and save files there directly.

Prefer free? Run it inside UserLAnd

UserLAnd is free, and you can install desktop Firefox in it yourself: in UserLAnd, set up Debian, choose Graphical, open a terminal and run sudo apt install firefox-esr. FoxBox does all of that for you in one tap, and buying it supports UserLAnd development.

How UserLAnd works →

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from Firefox for Android?

Desktop Firefox has different features from the Android app, and websites act differently in a real desktop browser, even when you request the desktop site.

Is FoxBox made by Mozilla?

No. FoxBox is not Firefox itself and is not a Mozilla project. It is a compatibility layer that runs a Linux desktop build of Firefox.

Can I run desktop Firefox on Android for free?

Yes. Install Debian in the free UserLAnd app and run sudo apt install firefox-esr in its terminal. FoxBox saves you those setup steps.

About this app

FoxBox is not Firefox itself and is not a Mozilla project. It is a compatibility layer that runs a Linux desktop build of Firefox.

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