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10 Ways to Become More Productive With Firefox

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Key Takeaways:

  • Add-ons are the backbone of Firefox customization, helping you to get the best browsing experience.
  • Beyond add-ons, several built-in features of Firefox also help to enhance productivity.
  • Adjust the number of content processes to balance performance and memory usage and enable or disable prefetching to control how links are preloaded.

Method 1: Use Add-ons and Extensions

Firefox offers several add-ons and extensions to enhance productivity and customize your browsing experience. It can help to tailor your browser to your specific needs, streamline tasks, save time, and improve overall efficiency.

To install extensions on your Firefox browser, use the following steps:

  1. Click the menu button on the top-right corner of your Firefox browser and select Add-ons and themes from the options.
    Add-ons and themes
  2. Then, click Extensions on the left bar, under Recommended Extensions, click the blue + Install Theme or Add to Firefox button to install any of them.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Firefox extensions
  3. For more options, click the Find more add-ons button at the bottom of the list to open the Firefox Add-ons page, where you can search for desired add-ons.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Find more add-ons
  4. Once installation is complete, you can manage your add-ons by opening the Firefox menu, selectinAdd-ons and themes, or simply clicking the add-on icon.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Firefox extension icons
  5. You can then enable, disable, or remove extensions as needed.

Method 2: Personalize Firefox Looks with Various Themes.

Customizing Firefox’s appearance can significantly impact your browsing experience. A visually appealing and personalized Firefox browser can reduce eye strain, enhance focus, make your workspace enjoyable, and indirectly help you become more productive.

To customize your theme, use the following steps:

  1. Open the browser menu by clicking the menu button, then click Add-ons and themes.
    Add-ons and themes
  2. Then, select Recommendations or Themes.
    Recommendations or themes
  3. If you click Recommendations:
    • When the suggested themes open, locate one you desire or find more on the Mozilla add-on page.
      Become Productive With Firefox: Popular themes
    • You may click the theme’s author to get more information about it.
      Theme author
    • Afterward, click the Install Theme button.
      Install theme
    • You may also install a theme from the Mozilla add-on page by clicking the theme and selecting the + Install Theme button on the resulting page.
    • Firefox will then download the requested theme and notify you after installation.
  4. If you click Themes:
    • Click the Enable button to change the browser theme to your preferred theme.
      Enable theme

Method 3: Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Quicker Navigation

Using keyboard shortcuts in Firefox can significantly help you become more productive by allowing you to navigate and perform tasks more quickly. Other than the built-in shortcuts, you may customize your own shortcuts.

1. Use Built-in Keyboard Shortcuts

Firefox incorporates several built-in keyboard shortcuts you can use immediately after installation. Some of the most useful ones include the following:

  1. Navigation:
    • Back: Alt + Back Arrow
    • Forward: Alt + Forward Arrow
    • Reload: Ctrl + R
    • Home: Alt + Home
  2. Tabs:
    • New Tab: Ctrl + T
    • Close Tab: Ctrl + W
    • Reopen Closed Tab: Ctrl + Shift + T
    • Switch Tabs: Ctrl + Tab to move to the next tab, Ctrl + Shift + Tab to move to the previous tab.
  3. Search:
    • Find on Page: Ctrl + F
    • Find Next: Ctrl + G
    • Find Previous: Ctrl + Shift + G

2. Customize Shortcuts with Add-ons

You may also create custom shortcuts or modify existing ones. Add-ons like Shortkeys will allow you to achieve this. The following steps will guide you through how to set it up:

  1. Open the Firefox menu and click Add-ons and themes.
    Add-ons and themes
  2. Search for Shortkeys and open the relevant result.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Search Shortcuts extension
  3. Next, click Add to Firefox to install it.
    Add to Firefox
  4. After installation, click the Shortkeys icon in the toolbar.
  5. Then, click Options to access the settings page.
  6. You can include new shortcuts from there by specifying the key combination and the action you want it to perform.

Review your shortcuts regularly to ensure they are still useful and make adjustments as needed. Disable or change shortcuts that conflict with other apps or are not frequently used.

Method 4: Use Bookmarks

A well-organized bookmark library on Firefox can help you save significant time and effort, making the browsing experience more productive. You can quickly locate the needed websites when you categorize your bookmarks effectively.

To organize your bookmarks, do the following:

  1. Open the menu options by clicking the menu button and select Bookmarks.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Bookmarks option
  2. Then, click Show All Bookmarks to open the bookmarks panel.
    Show bookmark toolbar
  3. Afterward, click Manage Bookmarks to open the Library window.
    Manage bookmarks
  4. Then, right-click any folder (e.g., Bookmarks Toolbar, Bookmarks Menu, or Other Bookmarks) and select Add Folder.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Add folder
  5. Name the folder with something descriptive and click Save.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Name bookmark folder
  6. Next, drag and drop bookmarks into the appropriate folders.
  7. You may create subfolders for further organization if needed.
  8. Drag frequently used bookmarks to the Bookmarks Toolbar for quick access.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Bookmark added to panel
  9. Access bookmarks from the menu bar by dragging them to the Bookmarks Menu folder.
    Bookmarks toolbar and Bookmarks menu
  10. You can also sort the bookmark by right-clicking the folder you want to sort and selecting Sort By Name to arrange bookmarks alphabetically.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Sort by name

Method 5: Set Night Light

The Firefox night mode feature, similar to the Night Light Windows built-in feature, helps to reduce eye strain by adjusting your screen’s color temperature to warmer tones as the day progresses. While mainly designed for evening use, it can benefit productivity during the day, especially in low-light conditions or for those sensitive to blue light.

Firefox typically relies on your system’s nightlight settings. You can set the theme on the desktop app to Dark Mode. Refer to Method 2 for instructions on how to set your theme. You can set up Nightlight in Firefox Lite using the following steps.

  • Tap the menu button at the bottom of the display.
  • Then, toggle Night mode switch On.
    Night mode

Method 6: Add or Remove Buttons to Suit Your Workflow

Customizing Firefox by adding or removing buttons can enhance your browsing experience, simplify your workflow, and make the browsing more productive. Tailoring your Firefox toolbar to your specific needs can help you streamline your browsing experience and save time. Add or remove buttons to optimize your workflow with the following steps:

Adding Buttons to the Toolbar

  1. Right-click a space on the toolbar and select Customize Toolbar from the context menu.
  2. When you see the panel, drag and drop the desired buttons from the panel onto the toolbar.
  3. Standard buttons to consider adding include the following:
    • Bookmarks
    • Library
    • History
    • Downloads
    • Address bar
    • Tabs

Removing Buttons from the Toolbar

  1. Right-click a space on the toolbar and select Customize Toolbar from the context menu.
    Customize toolbar
  2. Then, drag the button you want to remove from the toolbar to the customization panel.
    Drag button

Method 7: Synchronize Your Work Across Devices

Firefox Sync seamlessly syncs your browsing data across different devices, making the process more productive. The data includes bookmarks, history, passwords, open tabs, and more. This means you can begin a task on one device and continue it on another without missing a moment.

Set up Firefox Sync using the following steps:

  1. Open Firefox on device, then click the menu button in the top right corner.
  2. If you are not signed in, click the Sign In button next to Sync and save data at the top of the menu, then follow the instructions to sign in.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Sync and save data
  3. If signed in, click the Settings option.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Settings
  4. Then, click the Sync option on the left pane and click Change on the right.
    Sync
  5. Finally, select the options you want to sync and click Save Changes.
    Data to be synced

Method 8: Set Your Preferred Search Engine as Default

Setting your preferred search engine as the default can significantly enhance your productivity. It saves time by removing the need to change search engines for every query. To set your preferred search engine as the default in Firefox, use the following steps:

  1. Open your Firefox browser, click the menu button, and select Settings.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Settings
  2. Then, click Search in the left sidebar.
    Search
  3. Afterward, find the Default Search Engine section, click the drop-down menu, and select your preferred search engine.
    Select search engine

Method 9: Use Private Browsing

Private Browsing in Firefox allows you to browse without leaving a trace of your activity and without using VPN. It protects your privacy by preventing Firefox from storing browsing history, cookies, site data, and passwords. If you need to isolate your browsing activities temporarily, Private Browsing can be helpful.

Although several browser apps can help you achieve private browsing, Firefox guarantees the needed protection for your data. The following steps help to guide you:

  1. Keyboard Shortcut:
    • Press the Ctrl + Shift + P keys simultaneously on Windows/Linux or Command + Shift + P keys on Mac.
    • A new Private Window will then open.
      Private window
  2. Menu Option:
    • Click the menu button and select New Private Window.
      Become Productive With Firefox: New and private window
    • You will know you’re using private browsing when you see a purple mask icon.
      Private window icon

Use Private Browsing when:

  • Checking emails on a shared computer
  • Shopping online without saving your information
  • Accessing sensitive accounts on a public Wi-Fi network

Method 10: Regularly Update Firefox

There is no better way to become more productive on Firefox than to regularly update it. Keeping Firefox up-to-date is crucial for optimal performance, security, access to the latest features, and productivity.

Updates often include performance enhancements, bug fixes, and security patches that can significantly improve your browsing experience. You can ensure regular updates with the following steps:

Automatic Updates (Recommended):

Firefox automatically updates itself by default. To manually check for updates:

  1. Click the menu button, then click Help.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Help
  2. Then, click About Firefox to open the About Mozilla Firefox window, and Firefox will check for updates.
    About Firefox
  3. If there is an available update, Firefox will download it.
  4. Finally, click Restart to Update the Firefox to complete the browser update.
    Restart to update Firefox

Customize Update Behavior:

If you prefer manual control, do the following:

  1. Open the browser menu and select Settings.
    Become Productive With Firefox: Settings
  2. In the General section, find Firefox Updates and adjust the settings to your preference accordingly.
    General

The benefits of keeping Firefox updated include the following:

  • Updates often incorporate performance optimizations for faster and smoother browsing.
  • Regular updates fix security vulnerabilities, protecting you from online threats.
  • Updates introduce new features and improvements for enhanced browsing experience.
  • Staying up-to-date ensures your device is compatible with the latest websites and web technologies.

In conclusion, we recommend reading our articles on features that Firefox is yet to offer.

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Richard Omachona
Richard is a techie in providing fixes and solutions for computer issues of various kinds. Among his contemporaries, he is a preferred choice. His experiences are vast in Windows operating systems, and several other skills in programming such as Python, Web Frontend designing implementing at industry standards, best practices in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. and basics in Web Backend. He also loves traveling, gaming and music.