How to Install LibreWolf on Ubuntu 26.04 – Step-by-Step Tutorial

Open a terminal window (Ctrl+Alt+T). Refresh your local package listings, and install the extrepo tool on your system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install extrepo -y

Tell the extrepo manager to download LibreWolf’s official installation setup:

sudo extrepo enable librewolf && sudo extrepo update librewolf

Now update your system’s software list so it sees the new LibreWolf repository, then install the browser:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install librewolf -y

If Flatpak is not already configured on your machine, install the Flatpak service and add the Flathub store:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install flatpak -y
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Run the flatpak installation command to fetch the browser package:

flatpak install flathub io.gitlab.librewolf-community -y

Download the AppImage file from the official LibreWolf website. Open your terminal in the directory where the file was saved (usually ~/Downloads) and run the commands to make the file executable and launch it:

# Grant execution permissions
chmod +x LibreWolf*.AppImage

# Run the executable file
./LibreWolf*.AppImage

Recommendation for Menu Integration: Since AppImage files do not show up in your application menu automatically, we recommend using a tool called AppImageLauncher. This tool automatically finds your downloaded AppImage files, adds them to your Ubuntu application menu, and lets you delete or update them easily.

Create the folder for your settings and open the overrides file in the terminal using the nano editor:

# For Native APT and AppImage Installations:
mkdir -p ~/.librewolf
nano ~/.librewolf/librewolf.overrides.cfg

# For Flatpak Installations:
mkdir -p ~/.var/app/io.gitlab.librewolf-community/.librewolf
nano ~/.var/app/io.gitlab.librewolf-community/.librewolf/librewolf.overrides.cfg

Add the following preference lines. Note that LibreWolf overrides use the defaultPref syntax rather than the standard pref or user_pref tags:

// LibreWolf Custom Overrides Configuration
// Location: ~/.librewolf/librewolf.overrides.cfg

// 1. Keep logins and active sessions (Stop clearing cookies/history on exit)
defaultPref("privacy.clearOnShutdown.cookies", false);
defaultPref("privacy.clearOnShutdown.history", false);

// 2. Enable DRM for video streaming (Netflix, Spotify, Prime Video)
defaultPref("media.gmp-widevinecdm.enabled", true);

// 3. Enable WebGL for 3D maps, canvas games, and rendering engines
defaultPref("webgl.disabled", false);

// 4. Disable fingerprint resistance if sites require native resolution or timezone
defaultPref("privacy.resistFingerprinting", false);

Since LibreWolf is based on Firefox, they store data the same way. You can easily copy your bookmarks, passwords, and history over. Close LibreWolf, open your terminal, and run these commands:

# For Native APT/AppImage (destinations end in .default or similar profile folder):
# Copy bookmarks and history database
cp ~/.mozilla/firefox/*.default-release/places.sqlite ~/.librewolf/*.default/

# Copy saved login credentials and keys
cp ~/.mozilla/firefox/*.default-release/key4.db ~/.librewolf/*.default/
cp ~/.mozilla/firefox/*.default-release/logins.json ~/.librewolf/*.default/

# For Flatpak installations:
cp ~/.mozilla/firefox/*.default-release/places.sqlite ~/.var/app/io.gitlab.librewolf-community/.librewolf/*.default/
cp ~/.mozilla/firefox/*.default-release/key4.db ~/.var/app/io.gitlab.librewolf-community/.librewolf/*.default/
cp ~/.mozilla/firefox/*.default-release/logins.json ~/.var/app/io.gitlab.librewolf-community/.librewolf/*.default/

Note on profile folder names: Replace the asterisk * character with the actual randomized string of your Firefox and LibreWolf profile folders. You can find the exact paths by typing about:profiles inside the browser address bars.

1. For the Native APT Repository Method:

Remove the browser, turn off the repository listing, and update your software list:

sudo apt purge -y librewolf
sudo extrepo disable librewolf
sudo apt update

2. For the Flatpak Method:

Uninstall the Flatpak package and clean up files that are no longer needed:

flatpak uninstall -y io.gitlab.librewolf-community
flatpak uninstall --unused -y

3. For the AppImage Method:

Delete the downloaded AppImage file. If you used AppImageLauncher, right-click the icon in your menu and click remove.

Delete Your Settings and Profile Data:

Uninstalling the browser does not delete your personal bookmarks, passwords, or history. To delete this personal data, run these cleanup commands:

# Delete native profile cache and data
rm -rf ~/.librewolf ~/.cache/librewolf

# Delete Flatpak sandbox profile data
rm -rf ~/.var/app/io.gitlab.librewolf-community/