How to download the Firefox offline installer
The Firefox offline installer, which Mozilla calls the full installer, is available on Mozilla's all downloads page. Pick the browser edition, the platform (for example Windows 64-bit) and the language, then click Download. The file contains the complete browser, so it installs Firefox without an internet connection. Older versions are in Mozilla's release archive.
This guide explains how the offline installer differs from the default stub installer, which platform package to choose, how to get older releases from the archive, and how to install Firefox silently on several PCs.
Firefox offline installer vs. stub installer
The Firefox offline installer contains the whole browser, while the stub installer is a small launcher that downloads Firefox during setup. The big download button on the Firefox homepage gives Windows users the stub. Mozilla's developer documentation describes it as a 200 to 300 KB file that downloads and installs the browser without asking any questions. The full installer is the program that does the real installation work: the stub fetches and launches it, and Mozilla also offers it as a separate download.
| Attribute | Stub installer | Offline (full) installer |
|---|---|---|
| File size | About 200 to 300 KB | The complete browser package |
| Internet needed during setup | Yes | No |
| Version installed | Always the latest release | The exact version you downloaded |
| Reusable on many PCs | Downloads Firefox again on each PC | One download serves every PC |
| Silent install options | No | Yes (/S and INI file) |
Use the offline installer for PCs without internet access, slow or metered connections, USB repair kits, and rollouts to several machines.
How to download the Firefox offline installer
Mozilla's all downloads page always offers the full installer for the current version of every Firefox edition. Follow these steps:
- Open the Firefox all downloads page. Old mozilla.org/firefox/all links now redirect there.
- Under Browser, select the edition: Firefox, Beta, Developer Edition, Nightly or Extended Support Release (ESR).
- Under Platform, select the operating system and architecture, for example Windows 64-bit.
- Under Language, select the interface language.
- Click the download button and save the file.
A quick check confirms you have the right file: the stub weighs a few hundred kilobytes, while the full Windows installer is many megabytes. If the file is tiny, you downloaded the stub from the main download button.
Which platform package to choose
Firefox's all downloads page lists nine platform packages for desktop editions, and all of them except the Microsoft Store entry are full installers. Choose based on your system:
- Windows 64-bit: the right choice for most Windows 10 and 11 PCs with 64-bit processors.
- Windows 64-bit MSI and Windows 32-bit MSI: packages for IT administrators that simplify configuration, deployment and management.
- Windows ARM64/AArch64: native build for Windows on ARM devices such as Snapdragon laptops.
- Windows 32-bit: for 32-bit Windows installations; Mozilla recommends it if you are unsure.
- Microsoft Store: not an offline installer; the Store installs Firefox and handles its updates.
- macOS: a disk image that contains the complete app.
- Linux 64-bit and Linux ARM64/AArch64: compressed archives, packaged as .tar.xz since Firefox 135.
Two platform limits matter for offline installs. Firefox 144 was the last release with 32-bit Linux builds; Mozilla kept security updates for 32-bit builds of ESR 140 until at least September 2026, so check the ESR page before relying on it. Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 (and macOS 10.12 to 10.14) need Firefox 115 ESR, which Mozilla supports with security updates until March 2027.
Download older Firefox versions from the Mozilla archive
Mozilla keeps full installers of every Firefox release, back to Firefox 0.10, in its public release archive. Mozilla's support article on older versions links to the directory at ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/, which works in any browser.
- Open the releases directory and click the version folder you need.
- Select the platform folder, for example win64, win32, mac or linux-x86_64. Folders ending in EME-free contain builds without the Encrypted Media Extensions DRM component.
- Select the language folder, for example en-US, de or pt-BR.
- Click the installer file to download it.
You can skip the clicks by editing the URL directly: releases/VERSION/PLATFORM/LANGUAGE/, for example ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/115.0/win64/en-US/.
Mozilla warns that older releases receive no security updates. Installing an older version also triggers downgrade protection, so Firefox asks you to create a new profile; our guide to managing profiles in about:profiles helps keep the old one safe. To stop Firefox from updating itself, open Settings, go to General and change the Firefox Updates section. If you only need a slower update cadence, the ESR edition is the safer choice because it still receives security fixes.
Install Firefox silently on several PCs
The Firefox full installer for Windows supports silent installation with the /S switch, which makes it the right file for scripted rollouts. The full installer configuration documentation lists these command-line options:
- /S: installs silently with default settings (the older spelling -ms still works).
- /INI=C:\path\firefox.ini: reads settings from an INI file with an [Install] section.
- /InstallDirectoryPath=C:\path: sets the complete install location.
- /DesktopShortcut=false, /StartMenuShortcuts=false, /MaintenanceService=false: command-line options (or INI keys without the slash) to skip shortcuts or the background update service.
A typical command is: "Firefox Setup.exe" /S /InstallDirectoryPath=C:\Apps\Firefox (keep the quotes, because the file name contains a space). Any command-line option enables silent mode on its own. To remove Firefox silently, run helper.exe /S from the uninstall folder inside the Firefox installation directory, as described in Mozilla's silent install guide. Managed networks can use the MSI packages instead. Combined with Firefox's own command-line options, this covers most deployment scripts.
FAQ
Is it safe to download the Firefox offline installer from third-party sites?
There is no need to. Mozilla offers full installers for every edition, platform and language on firefox.com and in its release archive. Third-party portals add a middleman and a risk of modified or bundled files without adding anything useful.
Does Firefox installed from the offline installer update automatically?
Yes. The offline installer only changes how Firefox gets onto the PC. Once installed, Firefox updates itself like any other installation unless you change the Firefox Updates setting or an administrator policy controls updates.
Can I keep one offline installer for later use?
Yes, but it always installs the version you downloaded. Firefox then updates to the current release on first connection, so download a fresh installer from time to time to reduce the update traffic after setup.
Related: the best Firefox add-ons, hardware acceleration settings in Firefox, tab groups in Firefox
Hello friend I am from Brazil and I am grateful for the opportunity to download mozilla firefox, thanks until then.
will this work with the Alcatel model 40440 with kaios technologies and operating systems
i am not sure how to understand different hashes of win32 ff v5290esr setup at ftp site (there is two folders). perhaps because ff has to much versions through it is own evolution. there is no time for application code
2 days ago, I came across a lightweight, no-install application called ‘Firefox Download Tool’ by WinTools.Info (Peter Panisz) that some users might be interested in.
It allows you to download Firefox Stable offline installers from Mozilla’s servers via an easy-to-understand GUI. In other words, there is no need to manually drill through Mozilla’s multi-level web directory pages.
https://www.wintools.info/index.php/firefox-download-tool
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/download/internet-tools/firefox-download-tool-12115-3331552
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Download-Managers/Firefox-Download-Tool.shtml
You can select either the latest version, or one of the last 30 POINT-release versions (eg. v55.0.3 or v58.0 or v59.0.3), as well as choose the preferred bitness (32/64-bit) & language.
To view the details of the chosen file, click “Copy Info to Clipboard” below the progress bar, & you can see the download URL & file hashes.
At the moment, the tool only supports downloading Firefox Stable, but not other builds like ESR, RC, Beta, Developer or Nightly.
There are three things I do not understand about the FF ftp archive.
1) Why did Mozilla remove the direct ftp: of files and convert access to https://ftp.?
2) With the extensive publishing of hash values for each and every release file, why are hashes never published for EME versions?
3) While the provision of hashes on the same site (page) as the file is valuable for insuring uncorrupted transmission, for security hashes should be on a separate server. (see Linux Mint breach). Why has Mozilla not followed such a set up?
@ q.: “Why did Mozilla remove the direct ftp: of files and convert access to https://ftp.?”
Below are some possible reasons for choosing (to wrap FTP in) HTTPS for public access. The issue to strike a balance in terms of optimizing security, transfer speed, & ease of access.
1) HTTPS (& FTP) can be accessed via the web browser, while FTPS & SFTP require the use of a dedicated FTP client. But since public end-users do not need (& are not allowed) to upload anything, public FTP (as well as FTPS & SFTP) access is somewhat unnecessary.
2) HTTPS uses a single port (443). FTP (ports 20 & 21) is natively insecure.
FTPS (more secure than FTP, but less secure than SFTP) uses multiple ports. FTPS opens an additional port for every file-transfer request & every directory-listing request. This might be an issue for users behind a heavily-firewalled network.
SFTP also uses a single port (22). But SFTP is very slow & consumes lots of bandwidth, compared to HTTPS & FTPS.
3) For HTTPS & SFTP, the entire session is encrypted. In contrast, FTPS sessions typically begin in an unencrypted state. If the client does not explicitly request security from the FTPS channel, the client may continue in an unencrypted state, such that data-transfer is not secured.
4) HTTPS downloads are usually not throttled. On the other hand, many ISPs impose bandwidth throttling on FTP, FTPS, & sometimes SFTP.
Im running portable WHY because I can.
I like having a copy ready to drop in when Fx…
While we are at it, the ftp-server also have all Thunderbird version
installers at hand.
Click on the version you want – choose lang. – dowmload and install
when ready to do so!
link: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/
Gordon7.
Martin (or anybody else who also knows this) I have a question concerning the Mozilla FTP Server section of this article on the Mozilla website (under the Firefox 60 releases) I found some number like from what I think the first releases (like dir 7.0.1/ ,dir 7.0/ , Dir 7.0b1/ and more.
But I also finding (after the numers I mentioned here above) directories with names ( I mentioning them hereunder) I never heard of. Are those maybe future releases or very old release?
Dir bonecho/
Dir custom-updates/
Dir deerpark/
Dir devpreview/
Dir granparadiso/
Dir latest-beta/
Dir latest-esr/
Dir latest/
Dir namoroka/
Dir partners/
Dir sha1-installers/
Dir shiretoko/
Dir stub/
@ Paul(us): “directories with names I never heard of. Are those maybe future releases or very old release?”
Those are codenames referring to very old Firefox alpha releases uploaded to the Mozilla servers for archival purposes, egs:
☻ 2005: Deer Park
☻ 2006: Bon Echo
☻ 2007: Gran Paradiso
☻ 2008: Shiretoko
☻ 2009: Namoroka
Thanks, Gigologic
Nice to now. I thought so much but its always nice to know for sure!
Those will work probably on XP or even Millenium or even seven. But I am quite sure not on 10.
I also avoid using download stubs
It is important to have access to the original and complete setup.exe file, for all software that you install on your computer (including Firefox)
You often will need this original file – in case your computer crashes, and in case you wish to install it at a later date, for example on another computer
Having the original full setup.exe is also important, because software is often updated to a version that you dont like.
New versions of all software (including Firefox) can become incompatible with your existing computer setup, or have features that you dont want (including intrusive spyware, or poor design, or an intrusive ‘ribbon’, or poor addon support)
Lesson: always download and store the full setup.exe for every software program you use, if possible
I use ONLY the “real thing” and avoid stubs.
Download, save and archive the original setup.exe file.
Exactly for reasons outlined in your post
I hate that stub installer, and I always wondered what the rationale for it was. Now I understand better why it exists. Thank you. I’ll continue to avoid it.
Since Linux versions of Firefox can’t update themselves, I use the Ubuntuzilla repositories which contain Debian based packages. This has been useful for the ESR version which many distros do not include.
For more info see https://sourceforge.net/projects/ubuntuzilla/
Crawling (or crying ?) down the Neonate Firefox Nostalgia lane — if you have Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000 …
File size of EXE offline installer for:
♥ Firefox v0.10 “GREENLANE” Preview Release (14 Sep 2004): 4.52 MB
♥ Firefox v1.0 “PHOENIX” (09 Nov 2004): 4.69 MB
There were user reports that Firefox v1.0.4 — released on 11 May 2005, ie. exactly 13 years ago — worked well on Win 95 with 80 MB RAM, although Mozilla only officially supported Win 98 to Win 2000 since the v0.10 Preview Release.
1) Missing from the article (which currently only lists the latest Stable, Beta, Developer & Nightly builds):
☻ Latest Firefox ESR builds (offline installer):
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all/
→ available as of 09 May 2018: v52.8.0 ESR & v60.0 ESR
2) From article: “You access the Mozilla FTP server via HTTP right now using the following URL: http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/ ”
Incidentally, the FTP server can be accessed via HTTPS. The SSL certificate is issued by DigiCert SHA2 Secure Server CA. And the Developer & Nightly builds are hosted on separate pages:
☻ Stable, ESR, Beta & Release Candidate builds:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/
☻ Developer builds:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/devedition/releases/
☻ Nightly builds:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/nightly/
3) From article: “The core difference between the two options is that you can download any version of Firefox from the FTP server but not from the website.”
Below are the links for offline installers of all versions (from historical to latest) & all builds for various platforms on the Mozilla.org website, as well as its CDN servers. The pages sport an identical directory structure as those hosted on the FTP server.
☻ Stable, ESR, Beta & Release Candidate Builds:
https://releases.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/
https://archive.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/
https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/
https://download-origin.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/
☻ Developer Builds:
https://releases.mozilla.org/pub/devedition/releases/
https://archive.mozilla.org/pub/devedition/releases/
https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/devedition/releases/
https://download-origin.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/devedition/releases/
☻ Nightly Builds:
https://releases.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/nightly/
https://archive.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/nightly/
https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/nightly/
https://download-origin.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/nightly/
While we are at it, the ftp-server also have all Thunderbird version
installers at hand.
Click on the version you want – choose lang. – dowmload and install
when ready to do so!
link: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/
Gordon7.
Thanks!
I avoid software with net installer only.
Many many thanks for this information Martin.
At least Mozilla has the decency to keep this option open, altough they could have made it easier for the people who don’t happen to find this information. I had hoped they would, as I knew they used to do in the past, but so far I had not found it anymore.
I had to reinstall Windows on my XP in medio 2015, and at the same time I installed the then active version of Firefox, 39.0 it was, with a number of addons. I immediately blocked updates, which appeared to have been a good decision when afterwards reading about all the adventures of that Mozilla…
Today, this setup is still working as fine as it was then. Despite all trolls calling me nuts for that. But somehow I did not keep the installer, it must have been the stub at the time. So, responding to your article, I quickly went to download it today. Successfully. I keep it for in case… , though I am meanwhile using New Moon by default, with the same addons.