Mozilla has announced that Firefox browser extensions will soon be available on Android. The update is scheduled for November 21. Mozilla urges developers to evaluate their extension code in anticipation of the new release.
Scott DeVaney, Editorial Manager for Firefox Add-ons, expressed optimism about the new customization options for Firefox on Android. It is excepted that at least 200 new Firefox extensions for Android will be available on AMO (addons.mozilla.org) by December.
Mozilla has been exploring the mobile extension idea since 2019, though concerns about safety had previously hindered the plans. Allowing Firefox for Android users to download and install extensions presents potential risks. Particularly, they are related to privacy and smartphone data. Browser extensions in the desktop ecosystem are known to be a common source of malware and abuse.
Currently, Google does not support extensions in Chrome for Android. This is possibly due to the prevalence of ad-blocking among Android users. However, Google is redesigning the architecture of Chrome extensions to be less CPU-intensive and reliant on persistent processes, potentially making Manifest v3 extensions more adaptable for mobile devices.
So, Firefox will be the first modern mainstream browser that will officially support regular add-ons in its mobile version.
More in the Mozilla blog.
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