The fastest way to remove Firefox

The simplest way to uninstall Firefox is through your computer's built-in uninstall tool. On Windows, go to Settings, then Apps, then Apps & Features. Scroll down to find Mozilla Firefox in the list, click it once, then click Uninstall. A window will appear asking you to confirm — click Uninstall again. On Mac, open Applications in Finder, find Firefox, right-click it, and select Move to Trash. Then empty your Trash.

This method removes the Firefox program itself but leaves behind your browsing history, saved passwords, and bookmarks in a folder on your hard drive. If you want those gone too, you will need to delete them separately — the next section explains where they live and how to find them.

The uninstall process usually takes less than a minute. You do not need to close Firefox first on Windows, but on Mac you should quit Firefox before moving it to Trash.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can uninstall Firefox through Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, then click Uninstall next to Mozilla Firefox.
  • Mac users should open Applications in Finder, right-click Firefox, and select Move to Trash.
  • Uninstalling Firefox through these methods removes the program but leaves your bookmarks, passwords, and history behind on your hard drive.
  • To delete your Firefox data completely, you must manually find and delete the Firefox profile folder in your user account.
  • Restarting your computer after uninstalling is not required, but doing so confirms the program is fully removed.

Finding and deleting your Firefox profile folder

Your Firefox profile folder contains everything Firefox remembers about you: bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, extensions, and settings. If you want a completely clean removal with no trace of your Firefox use left behind, you need to delete this folder. It is hidden by default, so you have to show hidden files first.

On Windows: Open File Explorer and click the View tab at the top. Check the box next to Hidden Items. Now navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. You will see a folder with a name like "abc12345.default-release". Delete this entire folder. If you see multiple profile folders, delete all of them.

On Mac: Open Finder and press Command + Shift + Period (the period key). This shows hidden files. Navigate to /Users/[YourUsername]/Library/process Support/Firefox/Profiles. You will see a folder with a name like "abc12345.default-release". Drag it to Trash and empty your Trash.

After you delete the profile folder, Firefox is completely gone from your computer, including all your personal data. If you ever reinstall Firefox later, it will start fresh with no memory of your previous use.

Removing Firefox extensions and add-ons before uninstalling

If you installed extensions or add-ons in Firefox — things like ad blockers, password managers, or theme changers — they may leave files behind even after you uninstall Firefox. Removing them first is optional but cleaner.

Open Firefox and go to the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Click Extensions & Themes. You will see a list of everything you installed. Click the three dots next to each one and select Remove. Do this for every extension and theme you see.

Some extensions store data in your profile folder, which you will delete anyway if you follow the previous section. But removing them first means you know exactly what you are deleting and why.

What happens to your bookmarks and passwords

When you uninstall Firefox through Settings or Applications, your bookmarks and saved passwords stay on your computer in the profile folder. This is actually useful if you change your mind and reinstall Firefox later — your bookmarks and passwords will still be there.

If you want to save your bookmarks before uninstalling, open Firefox, go to the menu button, click Bookmarks, then click Manage Bookmarks. Click the Import and Backup button (three horizontal lines), then select Export Bookmarks to HTML. Choose where to save the file. You now have a backup you can import into another browser or back into Firefox if you reinstall it.

Passwords are harder to export from Firefox. If you have important passwords saved only in Firefox, write them down or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password before you uninstall. Once you delete the profile folder, those passwords are gone.

Uninstalling Firefox on a shared computer

If multiple people use the same computer, each person has their own user account with their own Firefox profile folder. Uninstalling Firefox through Settings or Applications removes it for everyone, but each person's data stays in their own user folder.

If you want to remove Firefox completely for just one user account, you still need to uninstall it through Settings or Applications (which removes it for all accounts), then delete only that user's profile folder. To do this, log into that user account, show hidden files as described above, and delete only that account's Firefox profile folder at C:\Users\[ThatUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles (Windows) or /Users/[ThatUsername]/Library/process Support/Firefox/Profiles (Mac).

If you want Firefox gone for everyone on the computer, uninstall it once through Settings or Applications, then delete the profile folder for each user account separately while logged into each one.

Checking that Firefox is completely removed

After you uninstall Firefox and delete the profile folder, you can verify it is gone. On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & Features, and search for Firefox — it should not appear. On Mac, open Applications in Finder and search for Firefox — it should not be there.

You can also check your hard drive for any remaining Firefox files. On Windows, open File Explorer and search for "Mozilla" in C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86). On Mac, open Finder and search for "Firefox" in your entire computer. If you find anything, delete it. In most cases, the uninstall process removes everything, so you should find nothing.

If you want to reinstall Firefox later, you can read it from mozilla.org. It will install as a fresh copy with no connection to your previous installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Firefox delete my passwords?

Uninstalling Firefox alone does not delete your passwords — they stay in the profile folder on your hard drive. Only when you manually delete the profile folder are your passwords removed. If you want to keep your passwords, do not delete the profile folder, and they will still be there if you reinstall Firefox.

Can I uninstall Firefox without restarting my computer?

Yes. You do not need to restart your computer to uninstall Firefox. The uninstall process works while your computer is running normally. Restarting is optional and only confirms that the program is fully removed.

What if Firefox won't uninstall?

If the uninstall button is grayed out or Firefox will not uninstall, make sure Firefox is completely closed. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager, look for any process with "firefox" in the name, right-click it, and select End Task. Then try uninstalling again. On Mac, open Activity Monitor, search for Firefox, click it, and click the X button to force quit it.

Can I uninstall Firefox if I use it as my default browser?

Yes. Uninstalling Firefox does not require you to change your default browser first, though you may want to set a different browser as default before you uninstall so you have a browser to use afterward. On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and choose a different browser. On Mac, open System Settings > General > Default Web Browser and choose a different one.

Will uninstalling Firefox remove it from my phone too?

No. Firefox on your phone is a separate app. Uninstalling Firefox from your computer does not affect Firefox on your phone or tablet. You would need to uninstall the Firefox app separately on each device through your phone's app store.