DTT

How To Install FireFox on Mac

Published: December 1, 2025 (Updated: Dec 1, 2025)

Enjoying this content? Subscribe to the Channel!

Escape Safari: How to Download and Install Mozilla Firefox on Your Mac in Minutes!

Hello from Darren’s Tech Tutorials!

Hi there! This is Darren O’Neill from Darren’s Tech Tutorials.

When you first unbox a Mac, you’re greeted by the sleek performance of Safari—the default web browser. But sometimes, you need an alternative. Whether you’re looking for different privacy features, better developer tools, or just want to use the browser you’re already familiar with from your PC, installing Mozilla Firefox on your macOS system is a fantastic choice.

The good news? The process is incredibly simple. In this short, powerful guide, we’ll walk you through every step needed to get Firefox up and running on your Mac without breaking a sweat.

Why Choose Firefox?

While Safari is a great browser, Firefox offers compelling reasons to make the switch or use it as a secondary option:

  • Privacy Focus: Firefox is known for its strong commitment to user privacy, offering robust tracking protection features right out of the box.
  • Customization: Access a huge library of add-ons and themes to tailor the browsing experience exactly how you like it.
  • Cross-Platform Consistency: If you use Firefox on other devices (Windows, Linux, mobile), installing it on your Mac allows for seamless syncing of bookmarks, history, and passwords.

Ready to install? Let’s dive in!

Step-by-Step Guide: Installing Firefox on macOS

Since you currently have Safari open (or whichever browser you use), we’ll start there to grab the installer file.

Step 1: Download the Mozilla Firefox Installer

  1. Open Your Current Browser: Launch Safari (or Google Chrome) on your Mac.
  2. Search for Firefox: Head to Google and search for “Firefox” or navigate directly to the official Mozilla website.
  3. Click Download: Look for the official link that says “Download Firefox.” Click the main download button on the page.
  4. Wait for the Download: Firefox will automatically detect you are using a Mac and begin downloading the necessary file, which will be saved as a .dmg (Disk Image) file. Wait for this file to fully download to your system’s Downloads folder.

Step 2: Begin the Installation Process

Once the .dmg file is finished downloading, you are ready to start the installation.

  1. Locate the File: Click on the download icon in your browser or navigate to your system’s Downloads folder to find the file named something similar to Firefox.dmg.
  2. Open the Disk Image: Double-click the Firefox.dmg file. This will mount the disk image, opening a new Finder window that shows the installation contents.
  3. Drag and Drop: Inside the newly opened window, you will see two icons: the Mozilla Firefox logo and the Applications Folder icon. To install Firefox, simply click and drag the Firefox logo icon directly onto the Applications Folder icon.
  4. Wait for Copying: Your Mac will now copy all the necessary application files from the disk image into your core Applications folder. This process is usually very fast.

Congratulations! The installation is technically complete.

First Launch and Final Checks

Now that Firefox is installed, we need to run it for the first time.

  1. Open Launchpad or Applications: You can press F4 to open Launchpad, or simply open your Applications folder via Finder.
  2. Find and Launch Firefox: Search for or click on the Firefox icon.
  3. Address the Security Prompt: The first time you launch any application downloaded from the internet, macOS security systems will prompt you with a warning (e.g., “Firefox is an application downloaded from the internet. Are you sure you want to open it?”). Since we downloaded this directly from Mozilla, click Open to proceed.

And that’s it! You should now see the official Firefox welcome screen open on your desktop, ready for you to start browsing.

Ready to Start Browsing?

See? Installing an alternative browser on a Mac is fast, straightforward, and painless. You now have the power of Mozilla Firefox installed alongside Safari, giving you the flexibility and privacy controls you need for a modern web experience.

If you encountered any bumps along the way, please feel free to comment below—if I can help troubleshoot, I certainly will!

Did this tutorial help you out? If so, please give this post a share and head over to Darren’s Tech Tutorials on YouTube to like and subscribe for more clear, accessible technology guides! Thank you for watching!