In my previous post on installing Firefox 3.5 on Ubuntu 9.04, I explained how to install Ubuntu’s firefox-3.5 package. As several commenters and I realized, this may not be the best solution. The package is branded Shiretoko instead of Firefox 3.5, including the user agent string which can cause compatibly problems with some websites.
Manually downloading and installing Firefox from Mozilla every time there is a security update is not a great option either. Instead, let’s use Ubuntuzilla, a script that can install and update Mozilla applications outside of Ubuntu’s repository system.
Ubuntuzilla can integrate the new version of Firefox into your system as well as undo its changes if you want to go back. All your extensions, bookmarks, plugins, and settings should transfer over to the new version. The only thing that didn’t transfer was my open tabs from my previous session.
- Visit the Ubuntuzilla download page to find the latest deb package appropriate for your system (32 or 64-bit). Download and install the package.
- At this point you should completely close Firefox.
- You’ll need to use a terminal to let Ubuntuzilla guide you through the installation. Run this command to start:
ubuntuzilla.py -a install -p firefox - Near the end of the process you should see The new Firefox version 3.5 has been installed successfully.
You can now use your normal Firefox item in the menu to start Firefox 3.5, or by running the command firefox. Check out Ubuntuzilla’s website for the simple removal instructions as well as what do do when you are notified there is a Firefox update available.
[update] Mozilla has released Firefox 3.5.1. I followed the instructions on Ubuntuzilla’s page to update to this new version.
I’ve come across two bugs so far in Firefox 3.5: clicking the middle mouse button anywhere on a page tries to load a URL from the clipboard (fixed using workaround), and fullscreen Flash video crashes Firefox (waiting for a fix or better workaround).
[update 2] Fixed some links.
Enjoyed this post? 
just what I and every ubuntufoxers need, thanks.
I’ll give it a try.
working great!
[...] there is a better way to update Firefox to 3.5 on Ubuntu! Recently i came across this blog. It shows how to update firefox though Ubuntuzilla, a script that can install and update Mozilla [...]
Thanks, seem to have worked here. Though I’m back to the crappy font rendering.
Btw, ©2008 Tombuntu
64bit flash doesn’t seem to be working with the ubuntuzilla version.
Following this method worked like a charm to get FF 3.5 64 bit up and running but it broke Adobe Flash 10 64 bit. Got any ideas?
Thanks for this VERY USEFUL information, I finally managed to install Firefox 3.5 and not Shiretoko (FF 1.6beta??).
Sorry for my mistakes and congratulations for the great blog!
Greetings from Spain!
Thanks the information!!
TO INSTALL FLASH 64bit, you must download the last version from adobe labs:
http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10.html
Download the file and decompress with this command:t
$ tar -xvzf libflashplayer-10.0.22.87.linux-x86_64.so.tar.gz
Now copy the file libflashplayer.so to the directory:
.mozilla/plugins/ (Usually in your home folder /home/username/)
If the folder plugins doesn’t exist, you will must create it.
Sorry for may English. Greeting from Venezuela
[...] Read more at Tombuntu [...]
Thanks for the tip.
TO INSTALL Flash Player 64bits.
You must download the AMD 64 version from:
http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10.html
Unpack the tar.gz with:
$ tar -xvzf libflashplayer-XX.XX.XX.XX.linux-x86_64.so.tar.gz
Copy the file libflashplayer.so to the directory:
/home/user/.mozilla/plugins/
Create the plugins directory if it doesn’t exist.
Now Flash Player will work
why i cant instal after download..unable to reach the web..
I followed all the instruction and installed FX 3.5 just fine, but having the same problem as you – can’t reach the web!
I’m using Jaunty 64-bit. Got any ideas?
That problem was fixed, have a look.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1136912
What if I have already installed Shiretoko?
If this update broke something, log a bug with Mozilla.
[...] In my previous post on installing Firefox 3.5 on Ubuntu 9.04, I explained how to install Ubuntu’s firefox-3.5 package. As several commenters and I realized, this may not be the best solution. The package is branded Shiretoko instead of Firefox 3.5, including the user agent string which can cause compatibly problems with some websites. More here [...]
Nevermind, I uninstalled Shiretoko and installed through that script – so far so good.
Fixed the flash-64bit problem by:
1) Downloading the 32 bit version of flash from http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ –the tar.gz version. 64bit version of flash did not work for me even though I run Ubuntu 64bit.
2) Extract “install_flash_player_10_linux.tar.gz” to desktop and copy the “libflashplayer.so” file to ‘/opt/firefox/plugins’ you can use the command:
sudo cp libflashplayer.so /opt/firefox/plugins
3) Restart Firefox. You can visit the page “about:plugins” to confirm installation. Hope this helps.
Thank you so much. I was struggeling for a long time, but finally found your comment. WORKED LIKE A CHARM
Hello All,
Regarding 64-bit flashplugin ,I will recommend that libflashplayer.so extracted from archive should be copied onto /usr/lib/firefox-addons/plugins/libflashplayer.so ,/usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so ,/usr/lib/xulrunner-addons/plugins/libflashplayer.so OR Symlink from One Source.Try and reply!
Hi
I am a ubuntu newbie….
I tried to install firefox 3.5 on ubuntu 9.04 using Ubuntuzilla, with no success!!! After that, if I start firefox I cant visualize google.com, which is my homepage, only if I type “sudo firefox” I can see it, what’s happened?
Sorry for my English.
Thanks
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Middle mouse button paste & load isn’t a bug, it’s a legitimate feature. Wish it hadn’t defaulted to ‘off’ in the last couple of Firefox revisions.
works like a charm!
wow I installed ubuntu noticed firefox was not up to date so searched in google on how to update (unfortunately i found your 1st post) and now i have Shiretoko!! Ive tried following your new instructions and its not working.. Can I suggest your 1st post be removed.
Sorry, but none of above tips did NOT WORK on my Ubuntu 9.04 64bit
I just can’t get ANY plugin to work. is the any command to see where the profile really is located?
Firefox 3.5.1 works fine but no plugins avaible and running.
Hi
Just a couple of quick updates for your nice article.
First, due to changes on sourceforge, ubuntuzilla.wiki.sourceforge.net no longer takes you to the project homepage… so instead, please link to http://ubuntuzilla.sourceforge.net.
Second, about the middle-click setting, and a few others, see the “tips” section of the ubuntuzilla page:
https://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ubuntuzilla/index.php?title=Main_Page#Some_Tips
Third, about plugins and 64bit users, see this section in the ubuntuzilla FAQ:
https://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ubuntuzilla/index.php?title=Ubuntuzilla_FAQ#.5BThunderbird.2C_Firefox.5D_For_64-bit_Ubuntu_users
Hope this helps
WRT the flash issues, I came across the following post:
http://ubuntugreatness.blogspot.com/2009/07/fixing-firefox-crash-when-fullscreen.html
I haven’t tried this for the ubuntuzilla/FF installation, but it might work there as well.
for flash to work on 64 bit you can read here:
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ubuntuzilla/index.php?title=Ubuntuzilla_FAQ#.5BFirefox.5D_What_happened_with_Flash_and_all_my_other_plugins.3F
in general you must install the 32 bit libflashplayer.so to /home//.mozilla/plugins/ and restart firefox
[...] Firefox + Thunderbird + Filezilla These programs are natively ported and work as expected. One issue is that the Ubuntu repos does not keep up with Firefox updates as often as I would like so I have installed my own version that I update independently. http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2009/07/15/install-firefox-35-in-ubuntu-904-using-ubuntuzilla/ [...]
To everyone whose using a 64bit version of Ubuntu. Ubuntuzilla installs the 32bit version of Firefox, Seamonkey and Thunderbird. This is because the official builds are all 32bit. If you use Ubuntuzilla to install Firefox 3.5 then you’ll also need to use the 32bit version of Flash from the Adobe site as mentioned above.
Actually, if you just download the bzip from Mozilla’s site, throw it in /opt and sudo ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox in your /usr/bin you can enjoy firefox just fine. It will auto update itself just like a Windows install would. I’ve done it. No problem and sooner than Ubuntu repo updates.
Try this you will love it
http://yomahol.blogspot.com/2009/08/best-way-for-installing-firefox-35-in.html
Thanks for this great tip – it worked like a dream and only took about a minute to do, all in. It also brought Addblock + and W.O.T along without any trouble.
I’d looked at other ways of doing it but they were so complicated I decided to wait for 9.10, but I’m glad I found your blog – Ff 3.5 is so much faster.
Thanks again!
[...] Install Firefox 3.5 in Ubuntu 9.04 using Ubuntuzilla | Tombuntu. [...]
Hello, I used Ubuntuzilla and hated how it works, it completely messed up Firefox for me, It install 3.5 then after some time it become 3.0.11 (I know updates can do that), and I found some weird folders of “profile backup” in my home directory so after all I deleted everything, reinstalled 3.0.11 then I downloaded 3.5.2 and put it in /opt, I made some links and everything works perfectly now, I have to do the updates manually though.
[...] Install Firefox 3.5 in Ubuntu 9.04 using Ubuntuzilla | Tombuntu [...]
Ubuntuzilla nearly made me cry. It certainly made me reinstall Linux!
Then, together with my Firefox config recipe, here’s what I did, Mr Tombuntu ..
Virtually the Best Web Dev PC on the Planet
hi,
i can’t use this script because at office we reach the web only over an http proxy which forbid ftp sessions.
if i try to replace all ftp:// strings with http:// the script throws download errors.
[...] I did get a bit of help from this site, so the credit doesn’t really go to me: Tombuntu.com: Install Firefox 3.5 in Ubuntu 9.04 using Ubuntuzilla [...]
Just a quick thanks. Shiretoko throws too many errors. Also, I just reinstalled jaunty and am not ready to upgrade to karmic, so this was great. Again, thanks for the info.
Thank you brother it is a good website.Keep it up.This is Hemanth Kumar
I’m unable to find firefox 3.5 please someone provide me the link so that i could download it!