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Guide

How to Switch from Chrome to Firefox

⏱ Reading time: 15 min  ·  ⚙ Setup time: ~30 min

Google Chrome is the most widely used browser in the world — and that's precisely the problem. Chrome is built by a company whose primary business is advertising. Every page you visit, every search you make, every tab you open feeds into a profile that helps Google sell ads more effectively.

Firefox is built by Mozilla, a non-profit organisation. It's the only major browser that doesn't run on Google's Chromium engine, which matters because it means Google doesn't control how Firefox evolves. In 2025 and 2026, Firefox has blocked over one trillion tracking attempts for its users — with no impact on browsing. This guide gets you switched over in about 30 minutes.

What to expect

  • Firefox is free and available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS
  • Your bookmarks, passwords, and history transfer automatically from Chrome
  • Most Chrome extensions have a Firefox equivalent — or are already available
  • You can keep Chrome installed and switch gradually if you prefer
  • Setup takes around 30 minutes

1. Download and Install Firefox

1

Get the official installer

⏱ 5 min

Go to mozilla.org/firefox. The site will detect your operating system automatically.

  • Windows: Download and run the installer. Accept the defaults — no unwanted extras are bundled.
  • macOS: Download the .dmg, open it, and drag Firefox to your Applications folder.
  • Linux: Firefox is available through most package managers, or as a Flatpak from Flathub.

Open Firefox. On first launch, it will ask if you want to import data from Chrome — say yes and skip to the next step, or do it manually as described below.

2. Import Your Chrome Data

2

Bookmarks, history, and passwords in one step

⏱ 5 min
  1. In Firefox, open the menu (three horizontal lines, top right) → Bookmarks → Manage Bookmarks.
  2. In the toolbar that appears, click Import and Backup → Import Data from Another Browser.
  3. Select Google Chrome and click Next.
  4. Choose what to import: Bookmarks, History, Passwords, and Cookies. Click Next.

Firefox imports directly from Chrome's local data — Chrome doesn't need to be open. Your bookmarks will appear in a new "From Google Chrome" folder in the Firefox bookmarks sidebar. You can reorganise them at any time.

Passwords: If you stored passwords in Chrome, they'll transfer to Firefox's built-in password manager. If you're using KeePassXC (see our KeePassXC guide), you can skip this — just connect the browser extension instead.

3. Privacy Settings — Getting the Most Out of Firefox

Firefox's default settings are already significantly more private than Chrome's. But a few adjustments make a meaningful difference.

1

Enable Strict tracking protection

  1. Open Settings (menu → Settings, or type about:preferences in the address bar).
  2. Go to Privacy & Security.
  3. Under Enhanced Tracking Protection, switch from Standard to Strict.

Strict mode blocks trackers, cross-site cookies, cryptominers, and fingerprinting scripts. In rare cases it can break a website — if that happens, you can add a one-click exception for that site without disabling protection everywhere else.

2

Enable HTTPS-Only Mode

Since Firefox 136, the browser upgrades all connections to HTTPS automatically and falls back to HTTP only if no secure version exists. Verify this is active:

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security.
  2. Scroll down to HTTPS-Only Mode and select "Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows."
3

Disable telemetry and data collection

  1. In Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to Firefox Data Collection and Use.
  2. Uncheck all boxes:
    • Allow Firefox to send technical and interaction data to Mozilla
    • Allow Firefox to install and run studies
    • Allow Firefox to send backlogged crash reports
What this does: Firefox collects anonymous usage statistics by default to help improve the browser. Disabling it doesn't affect functionality — it just stops your browser from sending any data to Mozilla.
4

Change your default search engine

Firefox uses Google as the default search engine. You can change this to a privacy-respecting alternative:

  1. Go to Settings → Search.
  2. Under Default Search Engine, choose from the dropdown.

Good alternatives: DuckDuckGo (easy to use, no tracking), Startpage (Google results without Google tracking), or Brave Search (independent index).

5

Enable DNS over HTTPS

By default, every website you visit involves a DNS lookup — a request that goes out in plain text and can be seen by your internet provider. DNS over HTTPS encrypts these requests.

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → scroll to DNS over HTTPS.
  2. Select Max Protection (recommended) or Increased Protection.
  3. Choose a provider: Cloudflare or NextDNS are both listed. NextDNS offers additional filtering options.

4. Essential Extensions

Firefox has its own extension library at addons.mozilla.org. Most major Chrome extensions are available for Firefox, and some privacy tools are Firefox-exclusive.

Essential
uBlock Origin
The gold standard of ad and tracker blocking. Lightweight, open-source, and highly effective. Install this first.
Recommended
Multi-Account Containers
Firefox-exclusive. Opens websites in isolated "containers" — so Facebook can't track what you do on your bank's website.
Recommended
Facebook Container
Automatically isolates Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger in their own container, blocking cross-site tracking.
Optional
KeePassXC-Browser
Connects to your local KeePassXC database for auto-fill. Essential if you use KeePassXC as your password manager.
Optional
Bitwarden
The official Bitwarden extension works on Firefox. If you use Bitwarden as your password manager, install this.
Optional
Privacy Badger
Developed by the EFF. Learns and blocks invisible trackers automatically based on their behaviour.

Keep extensions minimal. Every extension you install has access to your browsing data. Stick to well-known, open-source extensions with a strong reputation. More is not better.

5. Firefox Sync — Your Data Across All Devices

5

Set up sync with end-to-end encryption

⏱ 5 min

Firefox Sync keeps your bookmarks, history, passwords, and open tabs in sync across all your devices. Unlike Chrome Sync, Firefox Sync uses end-to-end encryption — Mozilla cannot read your synced data.

  1. Go to Settings → Sync (or click the profile icon in the toolbar).
  2. Click Sign in to Sync and create a free Mozilla account.
  3. Choose what to sync: bookmarks, history, passwords, open tabs, add-ons, and settings.
  4. Sign in on your other devices using the same account to sync everything automatically.
Mozilla account vs. Google account: Creating a Mozilla account to use Sync is optional. If you prefer not to, you can use Firefox on each device independently — just without the automatic sync.

6. Set Firefox as Your Default Browser

6

Make Firefox the default on your system

  • Windows: Open Firefox → Settings → General → scroll to the top and click "Make Default". Windows may open the system Default Apps settings — select Firefox for "Web browser."
  • macOS: Open System Settings → Desktop & Dock (or General on older macOS) → Default web browser → select Firefox.
  • Linux: The method varies by distribution. On most systems: Settings → Default Applications → Web Browser → Firefox.

7. Firefox on Mobile

7

Android and iPhone

⏱ 5 min
  • Android: Download Firefox from the Play Store. Firefox on Android supports extensions — including uBlock Origin, which no other major mobile browser supports.
  • iPhone/iPad: Download Firefox from the App Store. Due to Apple's restrictions, all iOS browsers use Apple's WebKit engine under the hood, but Firefox still adds its own privacy features on top.

Log into your Mozilla account in the mobile app to sync bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs from your desktop automatically.

Android tip: Firefox for Android is the only major mobile browser that allows extensions. Install uBlock Origin from the extensions menu inside Firefox (Settings → Extensions) to block ads and trackers on your phone too.

A Note on Mozilla's 2026 Terms of Service Update

In early 2026, Mozilla updated their Terms of Service, which caused some alarm in privacy communities. The concern was over language suggesting Mozilla could access user data. After clarification from Mozilla, the situation turned out to be less alarming than initial reports suggested — the language referred to the technical necessity of processing data for sync and other services, not broad data collection.

The key facts remain: Firefox's tracking protection is genuinely effective, Firefox Sync uses end-to-end encryption, and Mozilla's business model does not depend on selling user data. The ToS update did not change how Firefox processes browsing data locally.

That said, if you want to minimise your relationship with Mozilla's servers entirely, you can use Firefox without a sync account — all privacy features work fully without one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my Chrome bookmarks and passwords?

No — Firefox imports them directly during setup. Your Chrome data stays in Chrome untouched; Firefox simply copies it.

Are my Chrome extensions available in Firefox?

Most popular extensions are available for Firefox, often by the same developer. Some Chrome-exclusive extensions don't have a Firefox version, but the most widely used ones — ad blockers, password managers, VPNs — all support Firefox.

Is Firefox slower than Chrome?

In raw benchmarks, Chrome and Edge have a slight edge in graphics performance. In everyday browsing, Firefox with uBlock Origin often feels faster than Chrome without one, because it loads fewer resources per page. Memory usage is comparable for typical use.

Can I keep Chrome installed?

Yes. You can run both browsers side by side and switch gradually. Some people keep Chrome for specific sites that don't work well in Firefox, while using Firefox as their main browser everywhere else.

Does Firefox track me like Chrome does?

Firefox collects anonymous telemetry by default (which you can disable — see Step 3). It does not build an advertising profile of you, does not link your browsing history to an account for ad targeting, and does not share data with advertisers. Mozilla's business model is primarily funded by search engine partnerships, not advertising.

Final Checklist

  • ✓  Firefox installed on your computer
  • ✓  Bookmarks, passwords, and history imported from Chrome
  • ✓  Tracking protection set to Strict
  • ✓  HTTPS-Only Mode enabled
  • ✓  Telemetry and data collection disabled
  • ✓  Default search engine changed to a privacy-respecting alternative
  • ✓  DNS over HTTPS enabled
  • ✓  uBlock Origin installed
  • ✓  Firefox set as default browser
  • ✓  Firefox installed on your phone
  • ✓  Firefox Sync set up (optional)

Want to go further?

The Complete Privacy Kit includes guides and tools for VPN, encrypted messaging, 2FA, email migration, and more — the logical next steps after switching your browser.

See the Complete Privacy Kit
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