mozilla Time To Make The Switch To 64-bit Firefox On Windows

[vissha]

Time To Make The Switch To 64-bit Firefox On Windows

 

With Mozilla retiring NPAPI plugin support in 2017, it is time to upgrade 32-bit versions of the Firefox web browser to 64-bit versions.

 

The story of 64-bit Firefox on Windows is a long and complex one, and it is just about to end with Mozilla moving from offering 32-bit Firefox as the default download option to offering 64-bit Firefox on Windows by default.

 

Mozilla Firefox is offered as a 32-bit and 64-bit version on Windows, with 32-bit still the default right now when it comes to downloads.

 

While the 32-bit version works well, and it is the only option for systems without a 64-bit processor, it is the 64-bit version that users should consider using if their device is equipped with a 64-bit CPU.

 

The reason is simple: more RAM becomes available per process that Firefox uses, and 64-bit applications benefit from security features that 32-bit applications don't.

 

 

The one downside that may have kept Firefox users from switching to 64-bit was limited plugin support in the 64-bit version of the browser. It only supports Flash and Silverlight. That restriction is still there, but with Mozilla throwing out NPAPI plugin support soon -- with the exception of Flash -- that is no longer an argument if you want to stay with a recent build of the browser.

 

Chance is, that you are still running a 32-bit version of Windows as you'd have to get out of your way to grab the 64-bit installer from the Mozilla website.

 

Back in July 2016, only 1.7% of Firefox users on Windows used a 64-bit version of the browser. That's not much. The number has probably gone up til then, but it is likely still low due to Mozilla prioritizing the 32-bit installer over the 64-bit currently.

 

I explained how to upgrade from Firefox 32-bit to Firefox 64-bit here, and suggest you check out the guide for a full rundown on how to do that.

 

Good news is that it is super easy to upgrade Firefox from 32-bit to 64-bit. All that is usually required is to download the dedicated 64-bit installer from Mozilla, and run it. All your shortcuts, profiles, bookmarks, modifications and so on will continue to work.

 

Note: The 32-bit version is not uninstalled automatically. I suggest you keep it around until you have worked with the 64-bit version for a while. Once you are confident that there are not any issues, you may remove the 32-bit installation of Firefox from your system.

 

Check the CPU

 

 

First thing you do, is check if you can update Firefox to 64-bit. USe Windows-Pause to open the System Control Panel applet. Find the "system type" listing on the page, and check whether it says 32-bit or 64-bit.

 

You need a 64-bit processor. If your system does not have one, you are stuck with 32-bit Firefox. Don't worry though, Mozilla won't end support for 32-bit, but will just focus on distributing 64-bit Firefox over 32-bit in 2017 and later.

 

Backup

 

 

Second thing that you do is back up the Firefox profile folder. Type about:support, click on the show folder link to open it on your system.

 

Note that this opens the profile that is in use at the moment. Go up two directories, so that you are in the main Firefox directory under the user folder.

 

Select profiles, press Ctrl-C to copy it to the clipboard. Now browse to another folder on your computer, and use Ctrl-V to place a copy of it in it.

 

The 64-bit upgrade

 

 

This is without doubt the easiest part. Download Firefox Stable, Firefox ESR, Beta, Developer or Nightly from Mozilla.

 

Make sure you pick the 64-bit version for Windows. It is indicated by a 64-bit icon on the download icon.

 

Make sure you close Firefox before you continue.

 

Run the installer afterwards, and follow it through to the end. Firefox will be upgraded to 64-bit.  You can verify that using the method mentioned above.

 

Now You: Do you run a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Firefox?

 

Source

 

FYI Note: For those who are not aware: Please note that there may be 64 bit plugins/addons already released for your installed addons/plugins. Please check the related addon/plugin source site to get the 64bit version.

[Kalju]

Till now running 32-bit Firefox much better than the 64-bit Firefox;
The transition to 64-bit Firefox does not need any chemistry, just remove (uninstall) 32-bit Firefox and install the 64-bit Firefox.

Nothing else or more is not necessary to do.
Why is recommended to uninstall (in fact it is not even necessary to do so) ? 

• 32 bit Firefox is installed in folder %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Mozilla Firefox
• 64-bit Firefox is installed to the folder %ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox. 

If You do not uninstall old 32-bit version manually, may happen, if installing 64-bit version, it will not remove 32-bit version or will not remove correctly.
That's the only difference.

However, there is nothing, what disables both of them to install and to use. It is recommended in this case to use different profile folders. But also this is only suggestion.

[Togijak]

and until now the Adobe Acrobat Create PDF addon don't work in the 64 bit version

[Kalju]

5 minutes ago, Togijak said:

and until now the Adobe Acrobat Create PDF addon don't work in the 64 bit version

This addon is useless anyway, because Firefox will open the .pdf file without any additional means/tools/addons in perfectly. Try, it is simple. If don't know how, can help.

[UnknownOne]

when the 32 bit plugins update to 64 bit it will be better..

[Kalju]

All plugins updates itself automatically, if plugins and addons updates are allowed.

[debebee]

Title should be  Time To Make The Switch To 64-bit Firefox On Windows 64 BIT OSes

for obvious reasons

 

 

[steven36]

I don't even use flash  in Firefox  only i use addons  and  in Linux they already had x64 Firefox  and Windows had Cyberfox and WaterFox and other fork  for years on windows so nothing new  you dont benefit from it  unless you have over 4 gb of ram and you do something in you're browser that requires over 4 gb of ram , by default  it takes more ram is all .

[Chancer]

I've been using Waterfox, a 64 bit Firefox derivative, for some time now. Anybody know if there would be any advantage to swapping across to 643 bit Firefox?

[steven36]

Quote

 

It does not make any difference at the moment. Not a huge difference anyway. One difference to note though is if you use Firefox in a very heavy way with 100s of tabs and you notice high memory issues. The 64 bit version is able to use more memory (over 4GB) past the 32 bit limitation of 4GB. But if your Firefox is using 4GB of memory, you're already in big trouble. :P

If you don't use Firefox in that way, you won't notice much difference. Also 64 bit plugins for Java, Silverlight and a few others won't work because they're being blocked for security & stability reasons. And other plugins like VLC media player won't work with 64-bit Firefox because they haven't been whitelisted. So something to think about before switching. You can try out the 64-bit version here: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/beta/all/

More info about the blocked plugins: http://www.ghacks.net/2015/07/30/mozilla-to-launch-64-bit-firefox-41-to-stable-channel/

Two articles about the theories/claims of 64-bit vs. 32-bit:

• http://www.i-programmer.info/news/86-browsers/7391-windows-chrome-64-bit-faster-better-more-stable.html
• http://www.pcworld.com/article/2892016/first-64-bit-firefox-build-released-promising-speed-boost-and-beefier-web-gaming.html

If you're not very computer savvy, just stick with 32 bit. 64 bit is better suited for advanced users & nerds at the moment. :)

 

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1088764

Mozilla didn't even want  too make x64 browser for windows  it had been in nightly  since 2010 but they done it for marketing reasons  is all because others had it and  still they keep losing users like files  so i dont see how it helped.

[Kalju]

11 minutes ago, Chancer said:

I've been using Waterfox, a 64 bit Firefox derivative, for some time now. Anybody know if there would be any advantage to swapping across to 643 bit Firefox?

Use, what seems to be good for You. It is the best choice.

[Jordan]

Installed x64 version and reverted back to x32 version quite some time ago

The only change i noticed is increase of memory usage!

 

This is the case for many programs. Using x64 version doesn't necessary means increased performances.

x64 architecture allows devs to implement other instructions as security and stability algorithms, not only those related to performance.

Which also means x64 programs may have instructions for more stability and security, but no performances improvements!

 

i don't use flash too btw.

[steven36]

19 minutes ago, jordan4x said:

Installed x64 version and reverted back to x32 version quite some time ago

The only change i noticed is increase of memory usage!

 

This is the case for many programs. Using x64 version doesn't necessary means increased performances.

x64 architecture allows devs to implement other instructions as security and stability algorithms, not only those related to performance.

Which also means x64 programs may have instructions for more stability and security, but no performances improvements!

 

i don't use flash too btw.

Some programs you benefit  from it if you need raw processor power like playing Hevc in video players  it will use less ram because most windows processors dont have native HW alteration  for Hevc  but if  you dont watch Hevc  there's really no benefit from it  because modern processors in last 10 years support x264 . Browsers already have HW alteration so you will see a increase in ram usage with x64.. Linux  always suffer from poor HW alteration and most of all there programs are x64 so it helps but just too do encoding  videos /audio you need too witch to a real time kernel because  it suffer from poor HW alteration. only windows suffers from this with modern stuff like hevc and vp9.

[Chancer]

21 minutes ago, Kalju said:

Use, what seems to be good for You. It is the best choice.

Thanks for the reply.

 

In order to assess that I would need to install it. I was hoping someone else already had experience of both and could comment.

[steven36]

14 minutes ago, Chancer said:

Thanks for the reply.

 

In order to assess that I would need to install it. I was hoping someone else already had experience of both and could comment.

The reason he tells you this if you happy with x64  stay with it i used both but i dont really see no difference but x64 seem more buggy so i just have x86 Firefox installed i have other browsers x64 though portables . i have friends all they use is x64 and  that's great they like it , but  dont let some article  not written  by Mozilla decide for you .  Everything i use or dont use was my choice and i dont let my peers pressure me into doing things  and i dont believe 75% of what i  read in the news no ways lol.

 

[sudoku]

6 minutes ago, steven36 said:

The reason he tells you this if you happy with x64  stay with it i used both but i dont really see no difference but x64 seem more buggy so i just have x86 Firefox installed i have other browsers x64 though portables . i have friends all they use is x64 and  that's great they like it , but  dont let some article  not written  by Mozilla decide for you .  Everything i use or dont use was my choice and i dont let my peers pressure me into doing things  and i dont believe 75% of what i  read in the news no ways lol.

 

 

What is the avergae usage of CPU and RAM on x86 firefox ?

 

I am using X64 version and it consume 500mb+ memory,  4-5% average cpu suage

[steven36]

5 minutes ago, sudoku said:

 

What is the avergae usage of CPU and RAM on x86 firefox ?

 

I am using X64 version and it consume 500mb+ memory,  4-5% average cpu suage

About 5%  when loading a page here  and like 30 addons installed remember the more addons  you have the more ram you're going too use you would have too test with my profile  for it too be fair lol.

[sudoku]

2 minutes ago, steven36 said:

about 5%  when loading a page here  and like 30 addons installed remember the more addons  you have the ram you're going too use you would have too test with my profile  for it too be fair lol.

 

i had installed mere 4 plugins and extensions and firefox using too much battery power, cpu and ram , I am going to install 32 bit on on 64bit system.

[steven36]

Just now, sudoku said:

 

i had installed mere 4 plugins and extensions and firefox using too much battery power, cpu and ram , I am going to install 32 bit on on 64bit system.

I average 4.69 % to be exact  and im loaded down with addons and user scripts .

[pc71520]

Firefox 64-bit user, here.

[Kalju]

59 minutes ago, Chancer said:

Thanks for the reply.

In order to assess that I would need to install it. I was hoping someone else already had experience of both and could comment.

You can to do it, but remember, because Waterfox and Firefox uses by default the same user profile (%AppData%\Mozilla\...... etc), you cannot use them simultaneously. (Cyberfox uses own user profile folder.)
So I recommend use for testing portable or make different user profile folders.
If You really want to know, I have all - Firefox, Cyberfox and Waterfox. Sometimes also Nightly and others.

[truemate]

 Time to switch the browser only....

This 64bit will also eat lot of memory !

 

Firefox, Cyberfox and Waterfox... nighties ... damm how many firefox version they making.

 

 

2 hours ago, jordan4x said:

Installed x64 version and reverted back to x32 version quite some time ago

The only change i noticed is increase of memory usage!

 

This is the case for many programs. Using x64 version doesn't necessary means increased performances.

x64 architecture allows devs to implement other instructions as security and stability algorithms, not only those related to performance.

Which also means x64 programs may have instructions for more stability and security, but no performances improvements!

i don't use flash too btw.

 

yessss

[Togijak]

3 hours ago, Kalju said:

This addon is useless anyway, because Firefox will open the .pdf file without any additional means/tools/addons in perfectly. Try, it is simple. If don't know how, can help.

do you need some glasses or can't / want you read? This PlugIn is for creating a PDF from a website and no printing is not the same, in a print links have no function, in PDF created on that way links can be clicked

[Kalju]

6 minutes ago, Togijak said:

do you need some glasses or can't / want you read? This PlugIn is for creating a PDF from a website and no printing is not the same, in a print links have no function, in PDF created on that way links can be clicked

Glasses, not bad if You send to me, but I do not need any Adobe plugin to make .pdf from a website also. 
What's now will happen? May not to be so smart, if between the ears is a bit dusty.
Make so many pdf's as You want and by the way You know.

I'll stay look forward to glasses!

[WALLONN7]

4 hours ago, Togijak said:

and until now the Adobe Acrobat Create PDF addon don't work in the 64 bit version

 

Use this addon: Print Edit

You can edit the page before saving it to PDF, and it works in Firefox x64!!!

Just click the printer icon that will appear in the toolbar / add-ons bar > click Preview > Edit, if applicable > check the PDF box > click Save PDF!!! Easy!!!