Mozilla Firefox llega a Microsoft Store

Mozilla Firefox has been listed on the Microsoft Store. But, before you get too excited, I must tell you that the app is not yet available to users (only those with a code to unlock the app).

Here is the list, instead of the “Get” option, the button indicates that you must redeem a code to download the browser. A text above says: “Mozilla Firefox is not currently available.”

The app does not appear in search results if you search for it in the Store. Redditors were quick to joke about Mozilla running out of stock for digital download and supply chain issues. A Firefox developer chimed in on the thread, to confirm that the Firefox Microsoft Store version is in the internal testing phase at the moment and therefore not available to the public.

There are some issues presented in Bugzilla related to this. (1 2 and 3). Based on bug-related discussions, the Firefox application will use the same user profile folder as the normal standalone browser. That will be good for users who can install the Store app and switch to it without losing their browsing history, extensions, and other data.

Some users were able to install the Store version and said that it may exist alongside the desktop version. But, you will only be able to run one of those at a time.

Unlike Linux and macOS, which ship with app stores that are useful for updating programs, Windows users have to manually watch for updates or use the app’s built-in update checker. I use RSS feeds to make this a little simpler. That’s why I think having Firefox on the Microsoft Store is a good thing, timely updates with security fixes, to be delivered automatically. And it would be easier for the layman to get the correct version of the browser, rather than a potentially malware-ridden one. Also, putting it in the Store offers an additional way for users to download Firefox, it could be another way to attract new users.

The minimum requirements in the Firefox store list say that users will need to have Windows 10 version 17763.0 or higher. It is a 64 bit application. More importantly, this confirms that the application will not be exclusive to Windows 11. Speaking of which, the new operating system allows developers to load different types of applications, including Win32, .NET, UWP, Xamarin, Electron, React Native, Java and Progressive web applications. But there are some limitations for the other types, especially Win32, because the Store will not allow the applications to be updated. One of the Bugzilla discussions reveals that the Microsoft Store version of Firefox is an MSIX package. This means that users will receive automatic browser updates delivered through the Store app.

Windows 11’s Microsoft Store is much better than Windows 10’s, hopefully the experience will improve once more developers bring their products to the table.

Oh, and we can’t forget about the meme. Soon, you will no longer need Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge to download Firefox.

Image Courtesy: Reddit

Would you switch to the Microsoft Store version of Firefox or would you stick with the standalone browser?

advertising