This simple tutorial shows how to install the latest Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) via PPA in Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 16.04.
Firefox ESR:
Mozilla Firefox has 2 release series: Rapid and ESR. The rapid release updates every month with new features, and it’s default in Ubuntu. Firefox ESR moves slowly. It receives major updates on average every 42 weeks, but includes security fixes and policy updates as need every month.
Firefox ESR is an official version that does not come with the latest features but has the latest security and stability fixes. It is useful for business or school use, or those who don’t want to update the browser quite regularly that might break specific extension/addon.
Install Firefox ESR via PPA:
Ubuntu Mozilla Team, the packaging team for Ubuntu’s official Firefox package, maintains a PPA repository that contains the latest Firefox ESR packages for all current Ubuntu releases.
1. Add the PPA
To add the PPA, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open a terminal window. When it opens, run command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa
Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it asks and hit Enter to continue.
2. Refresh package cache:
Ubuntu 20.04 and higher will update the package cache automatically after adding PPA. Though, Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 18.04 need to manually run the command below to do it:
sudo apt update
3. Install Firefox ESR:
Finally, install the Firefox Extended Support Release via command:
sudo apt install firefox-esr
The ESR package won’t replace the system default Firefox package. So, you may have duplicated app icons afterwards.
Check the about page for Firefox edition and pin it into dock (left panel), or you may remove the rapid release if you don’t need it anymore.
How to Remove Firefox ESR:
To remove the Firefox package, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:
sudo apt remove --autoremove firefox-esr
And run command to remove the Ubuntu PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:mozillateam/ppa
That’s all. Enjoy!
I use the ubuntuzilla version which can be found on sourceforge. You can also install standard Firefox, Seamonkey and Thunderbird from their via a repository rather than a ppa. The one disadvantage is it may take a day or two longer for updates.