Installing Firefox Extensions

Using My Extension

Installing extensions or themes in Firefox that you have downloaded or even from some web sites can be problematic. Particularly in the case of themes. The problem is in Firefox unlike Thunderbird there is no Install button in the Add-ons window, and hence no obvious way of getting the extension to be installed. I had lots of problems with this way back when I was a new Firefox user. Since there is a lot of buttons in my extension Toolbar Buttons many don't realize there is a a button there to help install extensions.

Just for convenience here is the button on its own so you can download it. Because I have configured my site correctly the extension will prompt you to install it when you click the link.

Once installed you can find the button in the customize toolbar window from whence it can be draged to the toolbar. The customize toolbar window can be opened from View menu, then the Toolbars submenu then Customize

The Normal Way

For installing extensions in Firefox if you have not got the above extension installed is faily simple. Click on the link to install the extension and a yellow bar will come up, click on "Edit Options".

Select Allow, and then Close

Once completed click the download link again and the add-on's installation window will open. Follow the prompts to install the extension then restart Firefox.

Cache 22

Some sites however don't ask you if you want to install the extension, it makes you download it. If this happens accept the download prompt and save the file to some place that you will be able to easily find it. You can then in Firefox go to the File menu then Open File.... Then it will install the extension for you. This does not work for themes, so you have to use the extension of mine (see above).

For Thunderbird and Sunbird

You can't open the page in Thunderbird and Sunbird to click the download link. The file needs to be saved to your hard drive first. On my site for most of my extensions I have a link that will cause the file to download not install (code at bottom of page). Most sites do not. You need to use the right button on the mouse to click the link then press the Save File As... menu item.

In either Thunderbird and Sunbird click on the Tools menu then on Add-ons. In the add-ons window click the Install button. Find the file and follow the prompts.

The Code for Web Masters

The below code can be place in a file called the .htaccess and uploaded to your site if you use Apache as your web server (most sites do).


 # Force Extensions to Open the Install Window

 AddType application/x-xpinstall .xpi



 # Force Links to Extensions that end in ?download=true to open the download window.

 RewriteEngine on

 RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} download=true$

 RewriteRule \.xpi - [T=application/octet-stream,L]