How do I install the latest stable version of Firefox?

The latest version of Firefox is available for as a security updates in all supported releases of Ubuntu, just doing a normal update will pull it in. You need to enable at least one of the security or updates repositories (e. g. via Software & Updates → Updates); security should be enabled by default but it's better to check, especially if the package manager doesn't update Firefox yet.

Usually it's available within a few hours of Mozilla's announcement, sometimes faster, depending on the archive builders, and the speed of your local mirror, etc.

See also:

  • Firefox New Version - Community Help Wiki
  • How to install the latest stable version of Thunderbird?

A generic way to install Firefox

You can either go to Firefox page and download the latest.

Then you could create a directory where you're going to test this release of Firefox, unpack the downloaded package (I assume it is in your $HOME/Downloads folder) and launch it:

cd $HOME
mkdir Apps
cd Apps
tar jxf ~/Downloads/firefox-4.0b*.tar.bz2

To launch it, it's probably more interesting to create a "Launcher" (Gnome specific), an icon on your desktop to launch the beta. I guess there are similar steps for KDE. For this:


If you want the Beta you can use this PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-next

Source - Firefox Next

If you want the Bleeding Bloody Edge Next 2.0 Experience (Firefox 11.x now) then use this PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-mozilla-daily/ppa

Sources - Firefox Daily Builds (WARNING - Very unstable and you get several updates a day)