Skip to main content

Mozilla’s changed its mind, confirms work on Firefox for iPhone and iPad

mozilla firefox coming ios devices
Image via Flickr/Mozilla Image used with permission by copyright holder
In the past, Mozilla has refused to bring its Firefox Web browser to iOS devices, but now it looks as though it’s about to change its position. Executives reportedly discussed the importance of bringing Firefox to iOS during an internal meeting in Portland, Oregon.

Mozilla’s vice president for Firefox Jonathan Nightingale told fellow executives it’s time for Mozilla to focus on bringing Firefox to iOS no matter what. TechCrunch picked up the following quote from Nightingale, which was posted on Twitter by Firefox release manager Lukas Blakk.

“We need to be where our users are,” Blakk wrote. “So we’re going to get Firefox on iOS.”

Previously, Mozilla refused to bring Firefox to iOS because Apple doesn’t allow Mozilla to use its own Web engine on iOS. Apple only permits third-party Web browsers like Chrome and Opera on its mobile operating system because both use Apple’s rendering engines and Javascript. If Mozilla wants to get Firefox on iOS, it will probably have to follow similar procedures. Luckily, Firefox should still be able to support bookmark syncing and most of the other features it offers on Android, even with Apple’s limitations. At this point, it’s still unclear when Firefox will arrive on iOS.

Mobile is a very important frontier for all Web browsers to conquer, and Firefox is lagging behind. Most users expect to be able to access all their bookmarks, contacts, passwords, and more in their Web browser of choice, regardless of what kind of device they are using. Firefox has been declining in popularity recently, but this could help it spring back.

Editors' Recommendations

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
Don’t expect a folding iPhone anytime soon
Concept render of foldable iPhone.

Samsung is expected to reveal the sixth-generation Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip in July. And what about Apple? A new report suggests the first foldable iPhone might not arrive until 2027 -- two years later than a previous rumor suggested.

According to TrendForce, “Apple is still evaluating component specifications and performance, with strict requirements for crease and reliability.” Further, “(Apple’s) entry could significantly shift market dynamics.” TrendForce monitors and forecasts demand for smartphone components.

Read more
The iPhone 16 Pro may set a new record for smartphone displays
An iPhone 15 Pro Max sitting upright, showing one of its home screens.

The iPhone 16 rumor mill will almost certainly pick up speed now that we’re just three months away from the expected reveal. The lastest information isn’t so much news as confirmation of one of the changes coming to the top-of-the-line iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Similar to previous rumors IceUniverse, says Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature the world’s thinnest smartphone bezels. Thinner bezels make sense when considering another long-running iPhone rumor: the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to offer bigger displays. Where the iPhone 16 Pro should see its display jump from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches versus the iPhone 15 Pro, the one on the iPhone 16 Pro Max is likely to increasefrom 6.7-inches on the iPhone 15 Pro Max to 6.9 inches.

Read more
The iPhone’s new AI features may come with a gigantic catch
An iPhone 15 Pro Max laying face-down outside, showing the Natural Titanium color.

Imagine paying a minimum of $999 for a new iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, only to discover that it can’t run the full iOS 18 experience in less than two years. It might sound dystopian, especially for a product known for its long shelf life that's largely the result of an industry-leading software update policy at Apple.

Yet, it seems that nightmarish surprise will be here in just over a week. Bloomberg recently reported on some crucial AI-driven features coming to iOS 18, with Siri being one of the main recipients of all that innovation. But iPhone users might have to pay a pretty price for it all.

Read more