Preview: These docs are available early so you can start using them now. Some pages may still be incomplete, outdated, or change as WebLibre develops.

Extensions

Most mobile browsers on Android either do not support extensions at all or only support a very small set. WebLibre uses Mozilla’s Gecko engine, so it can run Firefox add-ons.

WebLibre includes a fully redesigned in-app extension experience. You can browse, search, install, configure, and update add-ons without leaving the app, and you can manage uBlock Origin filter lists from the same place.

Install an Extension

There are three practical ways to install an extension in WebLibre:

  • During first launch, when WebLibre offers to install uBlock Origin

  • From the in-app Add-on Store under the browser menu’s Extensions section

  • From a local .xpi file in Settings → Extensions → Install from File

Add-on Store

The Add-on Store lets you discover and install add-ons directly inside WebLibre.

  1. Open the browser menu

  2. Open Extensions

  3. Tap Add-on Store (or Get Extensions)

On that screen you can:

  • browse curated and recommended add-ons

  • switch between segmented categories or app filters

  • search add-ons by name

  • open an add-on detail page for permissions, screenshots, and a description

Tap a screenshot in the detail page to open it in a zoomable overlay; tap again to close it without leaving the detail page.

When you tap Install, WebLibre handles the install flow in-app and the add-on appears in your Manage Extensions list.

Recommended: uBlock Origin

If you install only one extension, make it uBlock Origin.

WebLibre offers it during the initial setup, and it is usually the most useful first add-on for everyday browsing.

uBlock Origin helps block:

  • Ads and many pop-ups

  • Tracking scripts

  • Some known malicious domains

  • Many annoyances that make pages slower or harder to use

In practice, this usually means faster page loads, less data usage, and fewer distractions.

WebLibre already includes its own privacy protections, such as tracking protection, HTTPS-only protection, and Global Privacy Control. uBlock Origin complements those protections, but it does not replace them.

uBlock Origin Filter List Management

When uBlock Origin is installed, WebLibre exposes a dedicated screen for managing filter lists without opening the extension’s own settings page.

From this screen you can:

  • browse and toggle individual built-in filter lists

  • enable WebLibre’s recommended hardening filter lists with one action, including extra ad, tracker, cookie, and annoyance blockers

  • add a custom external filter list by URL

  • review which lists are currently active

The recommended hardening filters are also the ones offered during onboarding when you opt in to optimized defaults.

If a website breaks after enabling more filter lists, disable the most recently enabled list first, then re-enable lists one at a time.

Manage Installed Extensions

To manage extensions you already installed:

  1. Open the browser menu

  2. Open Extensions

  3. Tap Manage Extensions

The Manage Extensions screen has sections for Enabled, Disabled, Recommended, and Unsupported add-ons. There is also a one-tap Update All action that checks every installed add-on for updates and installs them together.

Tap an add-on to open its detail screen, where you can:

  • enable or disable it

  • review the permissions it requested

  • open the add-on’s own settings or popup directly inside WebLibre

  • open the add-on’s options page if it offers one

  • check or trigger an update for that add-on

  • uninstall it

Some add-ons also expose extra entries elsewhere, such as buttons in the toolbar or items inside the page menu.

Pinned Add-on Bar

You can pin add-ons that show a browser action so they appear in the browser toolbar.

A tap on a pinned add-on opens its popup as a bottom sheet, so you do not have to leave the page to use it. This is the fastest way to use add-ons such as content blockers, password managers, or note-taking tools.

To pin or unpin an add-on, use its detail screen.

Install from a File

If you already have an extension file on your device, you can install it directly. Compatible add-ons use the .xpi file format.

  1. Go to Settings → Extensions

  2. In Install from File, tap Install

  3. Select the .xpi file

Most people will only need this if they already downloaded an add-on file elsewhere.

Allow Unsigned Extensions

WebLibre also exposes a permanent Allow Unsigned Extensions setting under Settings → Extensions → Security.

Unsigned extensions have not been verified by Mozilla. Only enable this option if you trust the sources you install from. WebLibre shows security warnings and a confirmation dialog before turning it on.

If a file does not install, the most common reasons are:

  • the file is not really a compatible .xpi add-on

  • the add-on depends on desktop-only interfaces

  • the add-on is unsigned and you have not enabled the Allow Unsigned Extensions setting

Use a Custom Extension Collection

WebLibre can use a custom add-on collection instead of the default source. This is for people who know exactly which collection they want to use.

  1. Go to Settings → Extensions

  2. In Custom Collection, tap Configure

  3. Enter the collection details

  4. Tap Save & Restart Browser

The screen asks for three values:

  • Server URL - usually https://services.addons.mozilla.org

  • Collection User - the account name from the collection URL

  • Collection Name - the collection slug from the collection URL

For example, if the collection page is:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/collections/example-user/privacy-tools/

then the values are:

  • Collection User: example-user

  • Collection Name: privacy-tools

WebLibre restarts after you save a custom collection.

If you later want to go back to the default add-on source, open the same screen and remove the custom collection again.

What Works and What May Not

Not every desktop-oriented extension works well on Android. Some add-ons depend on desktop-only interfaces or features that are not practical on a phone.

If an add-on does not work well, you might notice that:

  • It installs but does not do much

  • Its interface is difficult to use on a small screen

  • Some features are missing or unreliable

If you install from a file or switch to a custom collection, be extra careful. Those routes make it easier to try add-ons that were not chosen with mobile use in mind.

When in doubt, start with well-known add-ons that mention Android or mobile support.