Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

I downloaded Firefox 4 onto my PowerPC G4 1.67GHz running Mac OSX 10.5.6. When I try to open it I get error message You cannot open the application “Firefox” because it is not supported on this architecture. I can't find my Firefox 3.6.16 I'm on Safari.

  • 9 replies
  • 553 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by S-h-0-X

more options

I just want to download Firefox 3.6 again I downloaded Firefox 4 onto my PowerPC G4, 1.67GHz running Mac OSX 10.5.6. When I try to open it I get error message You cannot open the application “Firefox” because it is not supported on this architecture.

I just want to download Firefox 3.6 again I downloaded Firefox 4 onto my PowerPC G4, 1.67GHz running Mac OSX 10.5.6. When I try to open it I get error message You cannot open the application “Firefox” because it is not supported on this architecture.

Chosen solution

You can get Firefox 3.6.16 from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html

There is a third party version of Firefox 4 that runs on OS X 10.4/10.5 and PPC Macs, for details see http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox

Read this answer in context 👍 36

All Replies (9)

more options

Chosen Solution

You can get Firefox 3.6.16 from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html

There is a third party version of Firefox 4 that runs on OS X 10.4/10.5 and PPC Macs, for details see http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox

more options

Thanks a million!

more options

TonyE, I'd like to add my thanks for this "life-saving" solution. It's not like Mozilla Firefox to create such a download firestorm. Following my failure to apply Firefox 4.0 ("wrong architecture"?), until I picked up your suggestion I wasn't able to locate a download so that I could revert to the earlier version of Firefox.

more options

Use Tony's suggestion. I am running it right now and it is awesome. I love Mozilla but they basically screwed all of those older Macs over. Come on Mozilla. These Macs still work, and there are plenty of people with them out there.

more options

I just returned from the Apple Genius bar, where you can bring in any Mac for 20 minutes worth of trouble-shooting and help. The tech told me that the latest upgrade of Firefox is only for intel-based Macs. I wish they would have warned me clearly when they "invited" me to upgrade. He helped by going to Firefox and finding the 3.6 version, which I then downloaded. I then threw the Firefox 4 icon in the trash. Since it had never "opened", it didn't leave any other files to look for in the library, etc.

All my bookmarks and preferences were there when I opened Firefox 3.6, as they were stored on my computer in preferences.

Good luck to all!

more options

Thanks for the help!!! It's much appreciated ... I just returned from the Apple Genius bar, where you can bring in any Mac for 20 minutes worth of trouble-shooting and help. The tech told me that the latest upgrade of Firefox is only for intel-based Macs. I wish they would have warned me clearly when they "invited" me to upgrade. He helped by going to Firefox and finding the 3.6 version, which I then downloaded. I then threw the Firefox 4 icon in the trash. Since it had never "opened", it didn't leave any other files to look for in the library, etc.

All my bookmarks and preferences were there when I opened Firefox 3.6, as they were stored on my computer in preferences.

Good luck to all!

more options

While I understand that the PowerPC architecture can't be supported forever it would have been nice if when I opened Firefox 3.6.16 I didn't get a window suggesting I upgrade to 4.0 without telling me along the way that it won't work on PPC. I had to find 3.6.16 and install it again. Thanks to TonyE for providing the link.

Firefox developers: please put a PPC disclaimer on the 4.0 download page and put a link to 3.6.16 somewhere so PPC owners who mistakenly download 4.0 can re-install it. Thanks.

more options

Mozilla are working to prevent Mac users with non-compatible systems from getting the notification about Firefox 4, and also not displaying the "Download Firefox 4" button on http://www.mozilla.com

more options

Don't worry buddies, there is a fork of Firefox 4 for PowerPC Macs, TenFourFox . Not all is lost, there are people out there that believe that PowerPC architecture still rocks :).

Modified by S-h-0-X