You are here: Surferz World // Tools // Installing Firefox and Thunderbird in Ubuntu

Installing Firefox and Thunderbird in Ubuntu


If you are an Ubuntian (Ubuntu user), you’ve probably known Ubuntu updates its software versions every six months with a new release. Mostly, Mozilla, upgrades Firefox / Thunderbird often with security patches or new features-based releases. Ubuntu often includes security patches with its own versions in a day or a week after Mozilla releases their patches, but many Ubuntians are impatient and would prefer to install the latest version of Firefox from Mozilla and use that instead of the Ubuntu build of Firefox.

Unfortunately, you cannot find .deb package on Mozilla’s website, there are some other methods to install released & upcoming versions of Firefox. For that you have to add third-party repositories on your sourcelist.

For more details, click below to have a look at popular installation methods via Repository,

ubuntu-mozilla-daily PPA
Mozilla Beta PPA
Ubuntuzilla

Discussing about above mentioned methods are totally out of topic. Whatever method you use, some Ubuntians like me, will be never satisfied until they installed it from Mozilla’s official website. Unfortunately there is no .deb package available to install the latest Firefox. Follow my tutorial to install original Firefox and Thunderbird from official Mozilla’s website.

Tutorial: How to install the latest Firefox and Thunderbird in Ubuntu?

  • Download Firefox/Thunderbird file (.tar.bz2) from Mozilla website.Save that file straight in your personal folder;do not keep it on your desktop or in the downloads. This will simplify the terminal commands that you are going to execute soon.
    For example, user charles should not leave the file in /home/charles/Desktop or in /home/charles/Downloads, but should save it in /home/charles
  • Right click & Extract the firefox tar.bz2 file.
  • Goto the terminal (Applications>Accessories>Terminal) and enter the following command for Firefox,
  • sudo mv ~/firefox /opt && sudo ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox /usr/bin/firefox

    command for Thunderbird,

    sudo mv ~/thunderbird /opt && sudo ln -s /opt/thunderbird/thunderbird /usr/bin/thunderbird

  • Enter your root password to execute this command.
  • Purpose of the executed command:
    By using this command, we have moved that particular folder(firefox/thunderbird) to the /opt directory, and also we have created a link to shell script,i.e. Location: /usr/bin, Link target /opt/firefox/firefox or /opt/thunderbird/thunderbird.

    Bonus Tutorial: How to create a launcher for our Firefox and Thunderbird?

    Now, we need to create a launcher for our Firefox and Thunderbird. Creating a launcher in Ubuntu is very easy.

  • Go to System > Preferences > Main Menu
  • In the main menu(Left Hand side)under Applications,Select Internet
  • (Ref:Screenshot:MainMenu)

  • Click New Item button(Right Hand side),to get the create launcher window,
  • Enter the following details on the launcher,
  • For Firefox,

    1. In the Name field, enter Mozilla Firefox web browser
    2. In the Command field, enter firefox
    3. In the Comment field, enter Mozilla Firefox web browser.(This Comment field is for information purposes only and can be left blank)

    For thunderbird,

    1. In the Name field, enter Mozilla Thunderbird Mail/News
    2. In the Command field, enter thunderbird
    3. In the Comment field, enter Mozilla Thunderbird Mail/News.(This Comment field is for information purposes only and can be left blank)
  • Click the icon button on the left side of the launcher window and go to the directory by entering the following location
    /opt/firefox/chrome/icons/default
    or
    /opt/thunderbird/chrome/icons/default
    to select an appropriate icon.FYI, I prefer 32px image,
    and select OK.
  • (Ref:Screenshot:firefox launcher)

    (Ref:Screenshot:thunderbird launcher)

    That’s it. Now, you can find Mozilla’s products under the Application > Internet sub-menu.I highly recommend this method to install Mozilla products until they release .deb package. Enjoy :)

    Notes:You can uninstall all your previous Firefox and Thunderbird through synaptic package manager and lock that package to avoid duplication. (System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager, In Synaptic Package Manager Goto Package > Lock version)
    KB: Check this thread to optimize and troubleshoot Firefox.

    Share

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    8 Responses to " Installing Firefox and Thunderbird in Ubuntu "

    1. craig ballantyne says:

      The well written article encouraged me a lot! Saved the site, extremely interesting categories everywhere that I see here! I really appreciate the info about Firefox and Thunderbird, thank you.

    2. jeff cavaliere says:

      Informative write up, saved the blog for interest to read more information!

    3. curious says:

      Using this method, do we get the updates directly from Mozilla website afterwards? Or do we have to reapply all these steps each time a new version is published?

    4. Bonefield says:

      Usually I do not article on blogs, but I wish to say that this post extremely forced me to accomplish so! Thanks, very nice article.

    5. Serramo says:

      Excellent write-up, I am a big believer in placing comments on websites to help the blog writers know that they have added something of great benefit to the Internet!

    Trackbacks/Pingbacks

    1. [...] versions of Opera to surf & report bugs. Hope you know, I have already posted a tutorial about Installing Firefox and Thunderbird in Ubuntu. Let’s see how to install Opera beta / snapshot versions without conflict your installed [...]

    Leave a Reply

    CommentLuv badge
    Copyright © 2013 Surferz World. All rights reserved.
    Powered by WordPress