Alright, with the new update to the Mozilla Addons webpage, there is a new feature that automatically detects your version of firefox. This is very useful for finding fully compatible addons without having to check version compatibility. Of course, this is very annoying for people who want to get an old addon to work with a new browser without the original developer updating it.
There are 4 ways to get around this feature in order to obtain the .xpi file.
- Use a different browser to download the file instead of directly installing it (the new feature for Firefox)
- Locating the addon designation and then downloading the .xpi direct from Mozilla's public server
- Using Version History
- Using The "Version Override" Feature (Recommended)
Solution 1: Different web browser
This is a very easy way of getting around the new feature. You see, even though the updated site auto-detects your version of firefox, and will give you the option of installing direct if your browser is compatible, if you are using a different web browser, the link it displays is just the download link of the .xpi file. All you have to do is open up the Mozilla Addons web page and find the addon you want in a different web browser, download the .xpi and you can return to the main tutorial.
Pros of Solution 1
- quick
- easy
- No need to go digging around in lots of sub-folders
- You can get experimental addons
Cons of Solution 1
- You need to have multiple web browsers
- two different browsers running at the same time can eat your RAM like chips
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Solution 2: Public Server
This way is a little bit harder, but it assures that you have the most up-to-date version of the addon (even though this should usually be the case with Solution 1 anyways). But it does help you get more aquainted with the way Mozilla operates it's site.
Steps of Solution 2
- Go to Mozilla Addons, and go to the home page of whatever addon you want to download.
- Look in the URL of the addon's "homepage." You will see a number at the very end of the URL. For instance, the URL of one of my favorite addons (Remove it Permanently) is: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/521. The number in the case of this addon would be "521."
- Go to Mozilla's Public Addon host server. Scroll down the page until you find the folder labeled with the number you saw in the previous step. Enter that folder. For the example I gave earlier, the folder would be labeled "521."
- Download the .xpi that has the newest version number (or the other ones, the only difference will be the features the original developer includes between each release).
- Now you have the .xpi file that you need, so you can continue the main tutorial.
Pros of Solution 2
- Familiarization with the Mozilla server/web page
- Once routine is memorized, it will be quicker than Solution 1
- Builds character
Cons of Solution 2
- It does require a little more work
- Until routine is memorized, will be slower then Solution 1
- Experimental Addons are not hosted on the Public server, and therefore cannot be installed through this way
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Solution 3: Using the Addon's "Version History"
I recently discovered this means of getting the .xpi's, and I have to say, it is without a doubt one of the easiest ways to get the job done.
Steps of Solution 3
- Open Mozilla Addons in whichever version of firefox that you use. It doesn't really matter, the point is, you can use your default Firefox browser for this.
- Search for the addon that you want to get the .xpi of.
- Once found, click on the link so you can goto it's "homepage." (e.g. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/521 is the "homepage" for Remove it Permanently)
- Scroll a little down the page, you will notice a link that says, "See All Versions."
- After clicking "See All Versions," you will see a list of all the versions of the addon.
- The very top big green button (red button if addon is experimental), that says, "Add to Firefox," is the most recent version of the addon but the link has no version detection built in. Thus, you can right-click and save the .xpi.
Reasoning
This meathod works because, the "Version History" page has no automatic version detection built in. Meaning, regardless of what version you are using, you can still use the actual links to the .xpi's. These .xpi's will not install directly to firefox and work if you are using an incompatible version, though. Therefore, after you have the .xpi downloaded onto your HDD (Hard-disk drive), you can continue with the main tutorial here.
Pros of Solution 3
- You don't need to have multiple web browsers
- You don't need to dig through Mozilla's Public Release Server
- Experimental addons can be obtained
- Routine is quick and painless; easy to memorize
Cons of Solution 3
- Not all addons on Mozilla Addons list their current version in the Previous Version History. The newer addons don't have older versions, so they can't be listed anyways. The first means that in order to use the newest version, you'll have to use the find update feature in firefox. The second means, until the creator update the addon, or lists an older version, you will be unable to use it.
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Due to another update to the Mozilla Addons website, a new and truely fantastic feature has been added in. The ability to tell the site to not care what version of Fx you are using, and to just provide you with the dl link.
Steps of Solution 4
- Log in to your account with Mozilla Addons
- Search for the addon you want to get the .xpi for.
- Do Not click on the link to the addon's homepage. You will notice that a link has appeared under the blanked out "Add to Firefox" button. The link says, "Ignore Version Check."
- Click on that link, and you will see the blanked out button magically become regular again.
- Right-Click on the green button and select save as..
- You're done, you have the .xpi, you can return to the main page of this tutorial to finish the process.
Reasoning and Pro/Con analysis
The only drawback to this solution is that you need an account to Mozilla Addons. But these accounts are free, and very easily made. So, everyone should use this solution, unless they don't have an account and don't want one. You can see, this is the fastest and easiest way to get the .xpi, and it requires no computer know-how and is very new-user-friendly.
My Analysis
I personally, have the routine from solution 2 memorized. And while I have 4 web browsers on my computer that aren't firefox distributions (and 3 others that are :)), it is still quicker for me to go through solution 2 than it is to open another web browser and do solution 1. Of course, even though that is the case, Solution 3 makes it easier than either of the other two. As for solution 4, it is extremely handy to be able to just log in, find the addon, and have the .xpi.
To be honest, out of all 4 solutions, Solution 4 is without a doubt the best to use.
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