Mozilla Firefox has been listed on the Microsoft Store. But, before you get excited, I have to tell you that the app is not yet available to users (only those who have a code to unlock the app).

Here is the SEO, instead of the “Get” option, the button indicates that you must use a code to download the browser. A text above reads: “Mozilla Firefox is currently not available”.

The app does not appear in search results if you search for it in the Store. The editors were quick with the jokes about Mozilla’s out of stock for digital download and supply chain issues. A Firefox developer rang the thread, to confirm that the version of Firefox Microsoft Store is currently in internal testing and is therefore not available to the public.

There are a few bugzilla issues related to this. (1, 2, and 3). According to the bug discussions, the Firefox app will use the same user profile folder as the normal standalone browser. It will be good for users who can install and switch to Store app, without losing their browsing history, extensions and other data.

Some users may have installed the Store version and said it can coexist with the desktop version. But, you will only be able to run one at a time.

Unlike Linux and macOS which come with handy app stores for updating programs, Windows users have to manually monitor for updates or use the app’s built-in update checker. I am using RSS feeds to make this a bit easier. That’s why I think having Firefox on the Microsoft Store is a good thing, timely updates with security patches, which will be delivered automatically. And it would be easier for the layman to get the right browser version, instead of getting one potentially infected with malware. Also, putting it on the Store gives users an additional way to download Firefox, it could be another way to attract new users.

The minimum system requirements on the Firefox Store listing state that users will need to use Windows 10 version 17763.0 or higher. It is a 64 bit application. More importantly, it confirms that the app will not be exclusive to Windows 11. Speaking of which, the new operating system allows developers to download different types of apps including Win32, .NET, UWP, Xamarin, Electron, React Native, Java, and Progressive Web Applications. But there are some limitations for other types, especially Win32, because the Store will not allow apps to be updated. One of Bugzilla’s discussions reveals that the Firefox Microsoft Store version is an MSIX package. This means that users will receive automatic updates for the browser through the Store app.

Windows 11’s Microsoft Store is much better than Windows 10’s, hopefully the experience improves once more developers bring their products to the table.

Oh, and we can’t forget the meme. Soon you will no longer need Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge to download Firefox.

Image Courtesy: Reddit

Would you like to upgrade to the Microsoft Store version of Firefox or stick to the standalone browser?

Summary

Article name

Mozilla Firefox arrives on the Microsoft Store

The description

Mozilla is testing a version of Firefox on the Microsoft Store, but it is not yet available to users

Author

Ashwin

Editor

Ghacks Technology News

Logo

Advertising