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How To Make Firefox The Most Useful Web Browser There Is

How To Make Firefox The Most Useful Web Browser There Is

If you are already not convinced that firefox is better than everything out there, here are a few tips and tweaks that will make you want to switch. If you are using firefox, maybe you still didn't know about these.

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Step 1Getting Firefox

Just download and install firefox... Works with just about every operating system there is... But don't get the beta, there aren't as many themes and plugins for those

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

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63 comments

1-40 of 63

May 17, 2011. 3:41 PMplznothanks says:

I found some other ways to speed up firefox http://howtohacklife101.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-make-firefox-faster.html

Feb 27, 2011. 6:04 PMWesfletch says:

To tell the truth, Firefox isn't necessarily the BEST. I find that Google Chrome is faster for everyday surfing, while Firefox has much faster flash capabilities. Firefox is also more customizable, but, the "best" really depends on your needs. I personally swap back and forth between the 2.

Mar 17, 2011. 6:18 AMjj.inc says:

Yes, I agree, but I also understand that chrome runs YouTube very well, it is created by the owners, and YouTube is the only flash I use.

Mar 19, 2011. 8:03 PMWesfletch says:

Ah well, I'm young and quite addicted to flash games. I find that chromes just a bit laggy with anything too graphic intensive.

Mar 19, 2011. 8:07 PMjj.inc says:

O, maybe I should try firefox with the powder game and falling sand, I do play those and they really lag.

Mar 19, 2011. 9:18 PMWesfletch says:

Yeah, a good game I use to test speed is Dust on NotDoppler. It requires very good flash, and lag is obvious.

Mar 19, 2011. 9:39 PMjj.inc says:

Thanks, I never realized that my browser could be the lager, now those games run much better, I guess I will have to keep Firefox even though I only use it for one thing.

Sep 28, 2010. 9:10 PMWoogaus says:

I'm running version 3.6.10 Firefox and when I clicked on the tab it automatically had Instructables listed, all I had to do was acknowledge it. I haven't tried it with any other sites yet.

Mar 19, 2011. 9:20 PMWesfletch says:

The Beta version of Firefox 4 is available, and it did much better, it actually went back to original, found my most visited, and automatically made them bookmarks, without me importing old info.

Mar 17, 2011. 6:22 AMjj.inc says:

Chrome does the same thing, I type In and then I just hit enter, I don't even have to click the down arrow or the actual drop down, it just auto goes in unlike any other browser.

Mar 17, 2011. 3:20 PMWoogaus says:

When I typed in about:config, I got a lot more than 3 or 4, haven't counted them, but I would say close to 1000 lines.

Mar 7, 2008. 6:01 AMLftndbt says:

bah!!

Internet explorer > Firefox >>> OPERA

Nice Instructable though... ;)

Mar 17, 2011. 6:23 AMjj.inc says:

Just so you know, You need to swap > to < unless OPERA sucks 4 times worse than IE.

Apr 6, 2008. 2:21 PMxACIDITYx says:

WHAT??!!?!?

IE<Opera< =Firefox!!!=

Mar 16, 2009. 10:29 AMGamer917 says:

(removed by author or community request)

Mar 16, 2009. 10:55 AMxACIDITYx says:

Erm... placing IE above firefox... epic fail.

Mar 24, 2009. 7:49 PMGamer917 says:

sorry, i messed up, i deleted that

Mar 25, 2009. 6:13 AMxACIDITYx says:

Ah, I see.

Mar 16, 2009. 6:39 PMheyzuphowsitgoin (author) says:

I think you two are looking at it different ways. Nonetheless, Firefox still seems to be best, although chrome is catching up. If any of you use a mac, try out Sunrise. Fastest browser ever. Unfortunately, it has no add ons and is very basic.

Mar 7, 2008. 6:12 AMheyzuphowsitgoin (author) says:

thanks I;'ll try opera out! thanks for the advice :p

Feb 26, 2010. 1:10 PMerikals says:

there's an extension I use called Net Usage Item. It takes an XML feed from your ISP's data usage page and shows it in a handy bar in your tool bar.

May 27, 2009. 2:41 PMampaxx says:

a nice add on, if you use gmail, is gspace. it allows you to easily store files using the storage space in your gmail

Feb 24, 2009. 2:43 PMjohn 621 says:

will tweak work with firefox 3.0.6 ? cant get past step #4 or this info does,nt applie i reset verything back to there defaults

Nov 18, 2008. 6:57 PMcamel flag says:

because u have a proxy on chalky

Oct 19, 2008. 5:08 AMDms12444 says:

Thanks, I am using firefox right now (although I have been for 4 years now) and i just made it better. ps:seriously nice job, In my opinion though I do like Opera web browser as well.

Sep 27, 2008. 5:07 PMchalky says:

in the "speed her up" category of your instructable you said they were only three options but i have four so what gives??

Oct 6, 2008. 8:38 PMdariel24 says:

yeah i have 4 options too, just modify the:
network.http.pipelining-----------------------true
network.http.pipelining.maxrequests---20 or 30
network.http.proxy.pipelining---------------true

and ignore the fourth, or in mine it says
network.http.pipelining.ssl

Oct 7, 2008. 4:28 AMchalky says:

network.http.pipelining.ssl is the third option in my pipe config??
see enclosed clip i have already changed it from false to true,so should i change it back??
thanks in advance
sean.

Oct 7, 2008. 5:39 AMdariel24 says:

i also dont know. well if your firefox is still working i dont think you need to change it back... even if you ignore it (back to false) firefox still runs very fast. you decide.

Sep 27, 2008. 5:10 PMchalky says:

PS/firefox roxxxxxs

Sep 18, 2008. 2:23 PMcs12345 says:

everyone who likes this should take a look at google chrome it is a cool web browser

Aug 14, 2008. 6:52 AMdariel24 says:

from years ago.....
i KNEW FIREFOX IS THE BEST
and now my firefox is even BETTER
thanks for the GREAT instructibles
ps, i rate this instructibles with 5 star :-P

Jul 26, 2008. 1:03 PMLemonyPotatoes says:

FIREFOX ROX! Anyways, I knew about the pipelining, but not the rest.

Jun 4, 2008. 5:13 AMnomax says:

I recommend the add-on fast-dial, you can have your favoured websites as thumbnails for faster access (like in opera):

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5721

May 15, 2008. 8:49 PMhotrodlincoln says:

Holy crap, I have had Firefox for ever, and didn't know you could speed it up. Just tried it, and its like moving from dial up to hi speed all over again. This thing is on some serious speed now. Thanks!

May 15, 2008. 6:37 PMmartymunch says:

I just got a new Mac and started using Firefox (about two weeks ago) after someone else had recommended it. Good ideas, I did steps two through five and there is a definite noticeable difference. Thanks!

Apr 26, 2008. 3:58 PMenza99 says:

"This sets the maximum number of requests that can be sent to a server via pipelining before anything is sent back to the browser. You can choose between 1 to 8."
Making Firefox faster: editing your about:config

Apr 26, 2008. 3:59 PMenza99 says:

forgot to say thats for network.http.pipelining.maxrequests
btw i was looking for this i havnt seen it on here yet =P