How to Install Firefox Without Snap on Ubuntu 26.04

By default, Ubuntu ships Firefox as a Snap package — but many users prefer a native .deb installation for faster startup times, better system integration, and full control over updates. This guide walks you through how to install Firefox without Snap on Ubuntu 26.04 using Mozilla’s official APT repository, giving you a traditional package that behaves like any other system application.

Software Requirements

Remove the Snap Firefox Package

The first step to install Firefox without Snap on Ubuntu 26.04 is to remove the Snap-packaged version that ships by default. If Firefox is currently open, close it before proceeding.

1. Remove the Snap Firefox package: Run the following command to uninstall the Snap version of Firefox:

   $ sudo snap remove firefox

   This removes the Firefox Snap and its associated data from your system. The process may take a moment as Snap cleans up the mount points and revision directories.

2. Prevent automatic reinstallation: Ubuntu’s firefox meta-package can trigger a Snap reinstall. Pin it by creating an APT preference file:

   $ sudo bash -c 'cat > /etc/apt/preferences.d/firefox-no-snap << EOF
   Package: firefox*
   Pin: release o=Ubuntu*
   Pin-Priority: -1
   EOF'

   This tells APT to never install Firefox from Ubuntu’s default repositories, consequently blocking any automatic Snap re-installation. We will add the Mozilla repository instead.

Additionally, if you want to go further and remove Snap entirely from Ubuntu, you can do so after completing this guide — though it is not required to use the deb version of Firefox.

Add Mozilla’s Official APT Repository

Mozilla maintains an official APT repository that provides Firefox as a native .deb package. This is the recommended approach for a non-Snap installation on Ubuntu 26.04.

1. Install required dependencies: Ensure software-properties-common is available for adding PPAs:

   $ sudo apt update && sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

2. Add the Mozilla Team PPA: The mozillateam PPA provides official Mozilla builds of Firefox as a deb package:

   $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa

   Press Enter when prompted to confirm. APT will then import the repository’s signing key and add the source to your system.

3. Update the package index: Refresh APT to index the newly added repository:

   $ sudo apt update

Install Firefox ESR as a .deb Package

With the Mozilla APT repository in place, you can now install Firefox ESR without Snap on Ubuntu 26.04 using the standard apt package manager.

1. Install Firefox ESR: Run the installation command:

   $ sudo apt install firefox-esr

   APT will pull the package from the Mozilla Team PPA. The download size is typically around 80-100 MB. Moreover, unlike the Snap version, this package installs directly to /usr/lib/firefox-esr/ without any containerised filesystem overhead.

Pin Firefox to the Mozilla Repository

To ensure that future apt upgrade runs continue to use the Mozilla PPA version rather than any Ubuntu-provided package, create an APT preferences file that gives the Mozilla PPA higher priority.

1. Create the Mozilla PPA priority file: This file instructs APT to always prefer Mozilla PPA packages for Firefox over any other source:

   $ sudo bash -c 'cat > /etc/apt/preferences.d/mozilla-firefox << EOF
   Package: *
   Pin: release o=LP-PPA-mozillateam
   Pin-Priority: 1001
   EOF'

   A pin priority of 1001 is higher than the default (500), therefore APT will always select the Mozilla PPA version when upgrading Firefox.

2. Verify APT policy for Firefox ESR: Confirm APT will correctly select the Mozilla PPA version:

   $ apt-cache policy firefox-esr

   The output should show the Mozilla PPA candidate at the top with the highest pin priority.

Verify the Installation

After completing the installation on Ubuntu 26.04, verify that Firefox ESR is running from the native deb package and not from a Snap.

1. Check the Firefox ESR binary path: A non-Snap Firefox ESR will resolve to a standard filesystem path:

   $ which firefox-esr

   Expected output: /usr/bin/firefox-esr. If the path contains /snap/, the Snap version is still active.

2. Confirm the installation source: Use apt-cache policy to verify the installed version’s origin:

   $ apt-cache policy firefox-esr

   The Installed line should reference the LP-PPA-mozillateam origin.

3. Launch Firefox ESR: Open Firefox ESR from the application menu or from the terminal:

   $ firefox-esr &

   Notice the significantly faster startup compared to the Snap-packaged version, as there is no Snap container to initialise.

Conclusion

You have successfully installed Firefox ESR without Snap on Ubuntu 26.04 by removing the default Snap package, adding Mozilla’s official APT repository, and pinning the package to prevent Ubuntu from reinstalling the Snap version. Firefox ESR delivers the same trusted Mozilla browser engine with regular security updates, and because it is managed through APT you can update it alongside the rest of your system packages with a simple sudo apt upgrade — no Snap tooling required.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will Ubuntu automatically reinstall the Snap version of Firefox after an update? Without the APT pin file created in this guide, Ubuntu’s package management could reinstall the Snap version when certain meta-packages are updated. The preference files at /etc/apt/preferences.d/firefox-no-snap and /etc/apt/preferences.d/mozilla-firefox prevent this by blocking the Ubuntu-origin Firefox and prioritising the Mozilla PPA respectively.
2. Is Firefox ESR missing any important features compared to standard Firefox? For everyday browsing, the difference is not noticeable. Firefox ESR carries the same core engine, security model, and extension support as the rapid-release version. The only practical difference is that new interface features and experimental APIs arrive later, typically on the next ESR major version released every 42 weeks.
3. Why is standard Firefox not available as a deb from the Mozilla PPA on Ubuntu 26.04? On Ubuntu 26.04 (Resolute), the firefox APT package in Ubuntu’s own repository is a transitional dummy that installs the Snap. The mozillateam PPA currently provides only firefox-esr as a real deb for this release. This may change in future PPA updates, but firefox-esr is the supported non-Snap deb option at the time of writing.
4. What is the difference in startup performance between Snap and deb Firefox ESR? Snap packages run inside a confined filesystem environment that must be mounted at launch, which adds several seconds to the initial startup time. The native deb package starts directly from the system filesystem, consequently resulting in noticeably faster cold-start times, particularly on systems with slower storage.