How to enable or disable Firefox's new Screenshot tool

Martin Brinkmann
Aug 12, 2017
Firefox
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38

If your Firefox browser updated to version 55.0 recently, you may have noticed the new "Page Shot" icon in the browser's toolbar.

This icon powers the native screenshot capturing functionality of Firefox. It is being rolled out to users gradually which means that you may not see the icon yet in the browser's toolbar.

This does not mean however that the Firefox screenshot tool is not already available, as you may enable it in the browser to make use of it. Firefox users who see it already but have no use for it may disable it on the other hand.

This Firefox guide provides you with instructions on enabling and disabling the screenshot tool in the Firefox web browser.

Note: You need at least Firefox 55. You can check the version of the browser by loading about:support in the browser's address bar. Version under application basics lists the version of the Firefox web browser.

All you need to do is click on the icon to activate the functionality. The screenshot tool supports capturing a region, the visible part of a web page, or the entire (full) page.

You may save the screenshots to the local system or have it uploaded to firefox.screenshots.com for easier online sharing. Mozilla keeps the screenshots online for two weeks by default, but users may delete the screenshots at any time before that, or change the expiration date to extend it.

Enable or disable Firefox screenshot tool

Mozilla added two preferences to the Firefox configuration that control the screenshot tool of the browser.

To get there, load about:config?filter=extensions.screenshot in the browser's address bar. The page that opens lists the two preferences that control Firefox's screenshot tool functionality.

  • extensions.screenshots.disabled -- This is the main preference. A value of false means that the screenshot functionality is enabled, a value of true that it is disabled. Note that this is superseded by extensions.screenshots.system-disabled
  • extensions.screenshots.system-disabled -- Mozilla uses this preference to control the roll out of the screenshot functionality. If set to true, screenshot functionality is disabled regardless of what extensions.screenshots.disabled is set to. If set to false, screenshot functionality is enabled, if extensions.screenshots.disabled is set to false.
  • To disable the screenshot functionality in Firefox, set extensions.screenshots.disabled to true.
  • To enable the screenshot functionality in Firefox, set extensions.screenshots.system-disabled to false and extensions.screenshots.disabled to false as well.

You modify a preference with a double-click on the preference name.

Note that you can still capture screenshots in Firefox if you disable the Screenshot tool.

Another option that you have is to simply remove the Firefox screenshot tool from the browser's address bar. To do that right-click on the icon and select remove from toolbar from the context menu that opens up.

Summary
How to enable or disable Firefox's new Screenshot tool
Article Name
How to enable or disable Firefox's new Screenshot tool
Description
This Firefox guide provides you with instructions on enabling and disabling the screenshot tool in the Firefox web browser.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Anonymous said on January 19, 2020 at 3:43 pm
    Reply

    Thanks!!!

  2. Anonymous said on January 18, 2020 at 10:53 pm
    Reply

    GOOD!~

  3. Anonymous said on March 22, 2019 at 5:07 pm
    Reply

    Just what I was looking for, thanks!

  4. Natalie said on September 28, 2017 at 4:52 pm
    Reply

    My version claims it’s the latest version. It’s ESR, 52.3.0 (32-bit). I can’t get to version 55! I LOVE the screenshot on my Win7 laptop.

  5. Clairvaux said on September 7, 2017 at 10:37 am
    Reply

    extensions.screenshots.disabled — This is the main preference. A value of false means that the screenshot functionality is enabled, a value of true that it is disabled. Note that this is superseded by extensions.screenshots.system-disabled
    extensions.screenshots.system-disabled — Mozilla uses this preference to control the roll out of the screenshot functionality. If set to true, screenshot functionality is disabled regardless of what extensions.screenshots.disabled is set to. If set to false, screenshot functionality is enabled, if extensions.screenshots.disabled is set to false.

    *****

    Nice way to thoroughly confuse all users beneath the programmer level. Two preferences instead of one — and dependencies between them impossible to comprehend unless you have a phd. It seems Mozilla really wants to siphon off your data.

  6. Gary C said on September 5, 2017 at 10:23 am
    Reply

    Thanks – I don’t mind this screenshot function, but I constantly use “Inspect Element” and I want it to remain at the bottom of the right-click menu! Thanks again :)

  7. Hawk said on September 1, 2017 at 1:47 pm
    Reply

    Is there a way to get rid of the “Take a screenshot” option on the right-click menu?

  8. GiddyUpGo said on August 24, 2017 at 1:53 am
    Reply

    Martin you stated above:
    “Note: You need at least Firefox 55. You can check the version of the browser by loading about:support in the browser’s address bar. Version under application basics lists the version of the Firefox web browser.”
    A quicker way under Firefox is just mouse over and click “Help\About Firefox” tabs. I bet you already knew that.
    Any way, I appreciate this article, thank you!

  9. Dave said on August 13, 2017 at 5:57 pm
    Reply

    Now FF is taking screen shots of what pages I’m surfing? Yeah, no privacy issues there huh? I wonder how much metadata is attached to those photos?

    Yet another thing we don’t want or need. Windows has the “Snipping Tool” already, any other screenshot tool is redundant.

    I just want a browser not an os ffs!

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 13, 2017 at 6:15 pm
      Reply

      To be fair, you need to activate the functionality, and even then, images only appear to get uploaded when you use the cloud save option.

  10. chesscanoe said on August 12, 2017 at 9:32 pm
    Reply

    I threw Netscape out a long time ago, and now I’ve said goodbye to Firefox.

    1. canoechess said on August 12, 2017 at 10:34 pm
      Reply

      Nobody cares dude.

      1. Tom Hawack said on August 13, 2017 at 1:01 pm
        Reply

        Maybe canoe is referred to as the design pattern. Some canoes show a pattern of dark/lite shapes which could apply to a chessboard.

        I also have in mind a (new?) Chess opening strategy, maybe Canadian (canoe?) rather than Sicilian?

        Seeking for non obvious relationships explains my high IQ.

      2. Anonymous said on August 13, 2017 at 12:49 pm
        Reply

        Yeah. What people do care about is, can you really play chess on a canoe ?

  11. Richard Allen said on August 12, 2017 at 6:55 pm
    Reply

    @Tom Hawack
    https://screenshots.firefox.com/1WFpFdqyY30usQ8z/www.ghacks.net

    I’ve been using it for a couple days and it works all right. I would prefer that it have the ability to include the user interface though. And, I guess it will make it easier for those not used to using the Prnt scrn key or snipping tool.

    On a side note, what is up with the new horrendous Nightly icon? I was just getting used to and finally accepting the new neon one.
    https://s23.postimg.org/8dnugzobf/Firefox_Screenshot_Tool.png

    1. Karjala Takaisin said on August 13, 2017 at 9:57 am
      Reply

      @Richard,
      how or what add-on gives you the dark mosaic background with white text on this web site as seen in your screenshots? btw, thanks again for your reply on Vivaldi!

      Regarding the article, why would we want to disable the screenshot feature, is there any underlying implication I am missing here, security, privacy?
      And what does the pref “extensions.screenshots.system-disabled” actually imply, can this new functionality take a screenshot beyond the browser window, thinking of the whole OS desktop, i.e. the parallel between the word “system” and Operating System.

      1. Richard Allen said on August 13, 2017 at 8:05 pm
        Reply

        @Karjala Takaisin
        Whoops! I had a misfire copying the link for the userstyle I use for ghacks. Sorry! Some of us should NOT speed-read when we proof-read. ;)
        https://userstyles.org/styles/139395/simple-modern-dark-ghacks-2017

      2. Richard Allen said on August 13, 2017 at 7:43 pm
        Reply

        Dark background? That can be done with a couple different extensions that use userstyle.css files that are installed into those extensions. Originally done using Stylish which is a Legacy addon and now with Stylus which is the WebExtension equivalent to Stylish, almost. A webextension can not change the FF ‘about’ pages like preferences or bookmarks, as far as I know, which is why I’m still using Stylish in FF and Pale Moon and using Stylus (WebExt) in FF Nightly and Chromium browsers. Sometimes a ‘style’ will be offered as a userscript which can be installed into either Greasemonkey (Legacy addon) or Tampermonkey (WebExt). I would suggest using ‘Stylus’ especially if you use FF based browsers and Chromium based browsers at the same time. You can set one up, make a backup and then import it into a different browser. Transitioning from Stylish to Stylus is a major pain, in my experience. Making sense so far?
        For Firefox the addon is – Stylus (Beta) 1.1.3.1

        For gHacks I’m using https://userstyles.org/styles/120980/the-dark-and-flat-feedly but I’ve changed some of the colors for different elements. Most of the userstyles that I use I’ve modified some colors. The userstyle is installed in either Stylish or Stylus depending on which browser.

        “screenshot feature, is there any underlying implication I am missing here, security, privacy?” The only thing I can think of is Mozilla will know who and where the screenshot came from, if you save it. I don’t think it’s a big deal but others might. I use the print screen key or the snipping tool or if I want to capture the mouse cursor I use a portable app called Greenshot. I’m only using the FF Screenshot tool temporarily to see what’s what, I’ll probably disable it soon because I have what I consider better options. If it works for you use it. I don’t use any of the system addons but I do use and like the Reader function. JMO

        The FF Screenshot tool can not take an image of anything other than the webpage itself. Will not include any of the FF UI, about pages or desktop. At least that is what I’m seeing in FF and in Nightly. These screenshots taken using Greenshot because I already had it open. ;)
        https://s17.postimg.org/dy5x6w60v/Stylish.png
        https://s4.postimg.org/e88svbuu5/Tampermonkey.png
        https://s22.postimg.org/jcstnznqp/Stylus_in_Nightly.png
        By the way, I rarely have to click on any image links, anywhere, using any browser, because of Mouseover Popup Image Viewer userscript which is installed in Greasemonkey or Tampermonkey. Even works on Tweeter and Instagram images and Instagram vids. It’s the best invention by mankind since the bikini!!! Just saying! LOL

    2. jupe said on August 13, 2017 at 1:19 am
      Reply

      Yeah, I actually liked the neon icon, I hope this icon is only temporary, it looks really childish, reminds me of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.

    3. Tom Hawack said on August 12, 2017 at 7:09 pm
      Reply

      Thanks, Richard. Didn’t notice your comment/answer i)mmediately as it is under my above post.
      Now I know, download is OK for me here with FF ESR 52.3, and should be from all browsers.
      Seems interesting, not only the built-in screen screenshot feature but saving/sharing as well.
      No idea about that “horrendous [just learned the word] Nightly icon, we’re far from night with ESR :)

    4. Martin Brinkmann said on August 12, 2017 at 6:58 pm
      Reply

      Is not that Calvin and Hobbes? Don’t know, it is really out of place in my opinion.

      1. Richard Allen said on August 13, 2017 at 2:24 am
        Reply

        @Martin
        Good job! You were right about Calvin and Hobbes. Apparently I’ve been culturally deprived because I didn’t have a clue what that was!

        I was just lurking over on forums.mozillazine.org – Firefox Builds and there will be some other iterations pushed out before the final image. Supposedly the next image will be the old Phoenix from back when. Gotta be a comedian in every crowd! ;)

      2. Richard Allen said on August 12, 2017 at 8:00 pm
        Reply

        Yep, it’s pretty bad. I think I’m going to have to change it to the same one I use for Pale Moon, I think it’s the old FF Dev icon. Thankfully I have a folder with like 200 icons that I’ve saved over the years.

        The FF screenshot tool does have its limitations. The Mouseover Popup Image Viewer userScript does not work and taking a screenshot like this one is impossible.
        https://s18.postimg.org/6f107c3gp/g_Hacks_Tech_News.png

  12. JSB said on August 12, 2017 at 6:22 pm
    Reply

    Not available in Firefox 55.0.1 for Linux Mint.

  13. Anonymous said on August 12, 2017 at 5:27 pm
    Reply

    I don’t really see what good it is…but what I don’t get is I downloaded FF 55 Tuesday and now today, Saturday, there is already an update. WTF, can’t you do it right the first time people?

  14. Tom Hawack said on August 12, 2017 at 12:03 pm
    Reply

    What I’m wondering of is if screenshots uploaded to [https://screenshots.firefox.com/] require the Firefox (55+) browser to be downloaded, in other words if a screenshot saved there may be downloaded by anyone, from any browser. Sharing in non universal spaces reduces the very sharing concept, no?

    1. Anonymous said on August 12, 2017 at 2:25 pm
      Reply

      It’s a link to an image, any browser should do. Haven’t tried but I would bet a testicle on this.

      1. Tom Hawack said on August 12, 2017 at 7:02 pm
        Reply

        That’s what I’m aiming to know. Seems a valid question.

    2. bobb said on August 12, 2017 at 12:12 pm
      Reply

      try it and let us know

      1. Tom Hawack said on August 12, 2017 at 7:01 pm
        Reply

        Smart guy, right? If I ask it is because I cannot try it myself, did that possibility ever get to your speedy brains?
        I’m running Firefox ESR 52.3 which doesn’t prevent me from being curious from latest Firefox developments.
        Now you understand? Gosh …

  15. Anonymous said on August 12, 2017 at 11:41 am
    Reply

    .com ??? wtf

  16. happysurf said on August 12, 2017 at 11:18 am
    Reply

    In my case doesn’t work because is not available for all users.

  17. Anonymous said on August 12, 2017 at 11:00 am
    Reply

    ” Mozilla keeps the screenshots online for two weeks by default, but users may delete the screenshots at any time before that, or change the expiration date to extend it. ”

    I haven’t tried it but I heard you can even set it to auto-destroy after one single person downloaded it. Is it true ?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 12, 2017 at 6:35 pm
      Reply

      I don’t see that option right now.

  18. HK-Rapper said on August 12, 2017 at 10:54 am
    Reply

    Another thing worth noting on the topic of Firefox:
    FF57 flipped the switch yesterday to kill legacy extensions. Whilst on 9th Aug there was still support, they are disabled now. If re-enabled with an about:config switch, people will notice that XUL based addons don’t work either. I.e. cannot change the browsers appearance on a low level anymore with StyleRRR, which was a good Stylish replacement for a while.
    https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/stylrrr/

    Does anyone have an alternative to bottom tabs that works on 57+ versions?

    1. Django said on August 14, 2017 at 5:44 pm
      Reply

      ” Does anyone have an alternative to bottom tabs that works on 57+ versions? ”

      userChrome.css lets you move the tab bar below the address bar.

      I haven’t tested it, but taken from Reddit:

      #TabsToolbar {
      -moz-box-ordinal-group: 2;
      }
      #nav-bar {
      border-top-width: 0px !important;
      }

      Source:
      https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/6rp0yv/can_we_have_a_big_userchromecss_thread/dl6q8iw/

    2. Anonymous said on August 13, 2017 at 6:57 pm
      Reply

      usercrome.css is still working fine on the latest nightly

    3. Tom Hawack said on August 12, 2017 at 7:17 pm
      Reply

      Indeed. I had removed the ‘Super Drag’ Firedox add-on to replace it with the new ‘Glitter Drag’ Webextension. I later on realized I preferred ‘Super Drag’ and tried to download it from AMO. Impossible because “incompatible” with my FF version (52 ESR) : “Works with Firefox 22.0 – 43.* ” … when in fact it still runs fine. I had to change my Firefox User-Agent string to meet the 22-43 requirement… so much zeal from Mozilla is fascinating. I’m bound to download all my legacy add-ons while they’re still available on AMO, with or without modifying my User-Agent …

      What a pain.

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