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I've successfully installed Firefox as a snap package (done by default by installing it through Ubuntu's "software center"). It does work, and give me a more recent version of Firefox than the one available through APT.

I'm running through problems when downloading files, though:

  • Saving them in /tmp/ does not work, since the snap version of Firefox uses a different filesystem than the one of the host computer, hence Firefox and non-snap applications see different content in /tmp/.

  • The open with dialog application does not see most applications, in particular it doesn't see evince nor libreoffice, which I've installed through APT. The dropdown defaults to "Url Handler Script (default)", which apparently does nothing with my files.

  • If I save a downloaded file, the open containing folder button in the downloads list does not work. I'm guessing that it tries to open nautilus, but fails to do so because nautilus is a non-snap application.

Is there a way to make Firefox have normal interactions with my desktop and other applications, even though it's installed through snap?

Matthieu Moy
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5 Answers5

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In Ubuntu 20.04, just:

sudo snap remove firefox
sudo apt install firefox

I'm not sure why Ubuntu thinks it is cool to switch to the snap version, it only brings problems.

Users expect the browser to download files and "open" them. If you now download a file that you open, you can't find any application for it. The list is simply empty.

I understand running applications in containers is the way forward, but this is a huge oversight.

In Ubuntu 22.04, the APT version of Firefox no longer exists (firefox is a transitional dummy package), only the snap version is provided in the main distribution. There are however PPA apt repositories maintained by Mozilla that allow installing Firefox through APT. Here's an example tutorial on How to install Firefox deb as APT. More on OMG Ubuntu.

Archisman Panigrahi
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Sjoer van der Ploeg
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1

You are missing the xdg-desktop-portal packages. Simply install them via the Terminal as shown below:

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install xdg-desktop-portal
Petronilla Escarabajo
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Simplest way is to open Files and then go to Recent where you will find all the files you have recently opened.

Intuitively, you should be able to identify the file you downloaded

enter image description here

Other than that, in the topbar of FF is an Icon which relates to downloads. Left clisk with your mouse and you will be presented with files you have downloaded.

enter image description here

graham
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Open software centre again and check firefox permissions, might have to allow. Second way if first does not work, uninstall snap version and install deb version.

crip659
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-1

In Firefox navigate to about:preferences and scroll down until you reach the section labeled Downloads. There should be an option to select you downloads location.

G. R. Penland
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