Multiple Problems with 79
How can I downgrade until version 79 is fit for purpose?
If this is not possible, how to I request Mozilla to reinstate the older version under a new name, say "Firefox classic"?
Frankly I think the update is a total disaster. Just look at all the one star reviews it's got since the "upgrade".
How can I set the home page to my own custom page - I really hate the "top sites" page and always have done? Why is there no option (or add on) to have a home page button (even if I'm stuck with top sites)?
Where is the back button?
Where have all the multiple useful extensions gone? Why was this released until it supported at least a decent subset of all the previously available ones?
All Replies (9)
Just to be clear, I don't think this doesn't have the potential to be an improvement, it just looks as if it's been released way, way too early in its development. You've removed far more functionality than you've added.
Why isn't it still in the beta version?
Modified by Pete
I have the same Problems,
- Miss the Back Button - If I like to get the look and feel of Chrome, I install Chrome, Firefox was the best, till now, and now we lost alll features we like - wth do you think, is there a new marketing Team, that dont wait for a stable version an release a Beta? - I like to get back the old Version as Firefox Classic, good Idea
Where is the back button????????
There is no back button. And if you have one on your phone, you now always click it by accident when you try to tap into the search bar. Because that one is on the bottom of the page now.
I think this version was developed by pre-schoolers who still think the start of a page is the bottom. What is next? Websites that start at the bottom and you scroll up?
Agree 100% - this "up"grade is a disaster. Lots of good features just evaporated. the upgrade FAQs haven't been properly updated - lots of the advice they give is WRONG - for an earlier version of the interface. Too much has been changed at once. I got my first mobile device a couple of months ago - and have been slowly learning the Android Firefox UI - which is a challenge after years on a desktop Windows machine. Then today - utter disaster - the upgrade (so-called) to version 79.0.5 - to be quite honest, it looks like they took it out and stamped on it for half an hour, put it in a blender, and then released it to the public. I simply don't recognise it as the same browser - and I'm back to square one on the learning process. I've submitted one of the many one star reviews - I'd have given it a minus five if it was available. My suggestion? Admit that it is a slugs breakfast, and roll back immediately. Then introduce your changes slowly, and make sure it's RIGHT before inflicting it on us. It not only wasn't worth waiting for, it's far far worse than what we had before.
As of now, you can get the v68 APK from here: https://download.mozilla.org/?product=fennec-latest&os=android&lang=multi
(Found this via: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Platforms/Android)
If that link ends up being pointed to v79, then you should still be able to get v68 from:
[removed random third-part site] https://archive.mozilla.org/pub/mobile/releases/68.11.0/
So you can "reverse" the update by uninstalling, then reinstalling from the APK. Note, this will lose any settings, bookmarks, history etc that you have locally, so before uninstalling, sync anything you want to keep!
Modified by James
This update is a disaster. Give me a least an option to chose.
This goes to anybody who wants to go back...
1. Go to https://f-droid.org/en/ and install the apk - it's an alternative package source. 2. Download IceCatMobile - it's a fork of an older firefox - version (7 month ago) https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.gnu.icecat/ 3. If you want to install add-ons visit addons.mozilla.org and install it from there (maybe "ublock origin" is what you want?) 4. check the settings of f-droid (maybe you want to disable automatic updates)
a4c8 said
This goes to anybody who wants to go back... 1. Go to https://f-droid.org/en/ and install the apk - it's an alternative package source. 2. Download IceCatMobile - it's a fork of an older firefox - version (7 month ago) https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.gnu.icecat/ 3. If you want to install add-ons visit addons.mozilla.org and install it from there (maybe "ublock origin" is what you want?) 4. check the settings of f-droid (maybe you want to disable automatic updates)
Another option from FDroid is to download "Fennec 68.12.0", which is built from the latest (late Aug 2020) version of the Firefox 68 ESR.
Essentially that gives you Firefox as it was before the v79 release, just without the Mozilla branding, and with one more round of security updates. (I think 68.**11**.0 was the last Firefox 68 version officially released for Android.)