How to Perform a Mozilla Firefox Silent Install: A Step-by-Step Guide

Maverick Updated on Mar 6, 2025 Filed to: UEM

Silent installation of apps and software is one of the most preferred modes of installation as it allows for the installation of apps without any interruptions in usual operations. Owing to the benefits like zero downtime, automation, and time saving, silent installations help organizations install and deploy software and tools across the entire fleet of devices without any disruptions. For example, silent installation of Firefox can be performed in the background without impacting the devices' users.

In this guide, we will explore how Mozilla Firefox can be silently installed on a large scale across multiple corporate devices using different methods without causing any interruptions at all.

1Understanding Silent Installation

Before we dive into the methods used for silent installation of Firefox, let’s first understand the concept of silent installation itself.

1 What is Silent Installation

Silent installation is the process of automated installation without user interface. It is used mostly in corporate environments, and it helps install software without any prompts or dialogues, causing no disruption. Using pre-set configurations, a corporation’s IT team can automate the installation of software across multiple devices.

2 Why Choose Firefox for Silent Install

Firefox is among the most suitable software for silent installation. It is equipped with certain built-in features that make it highly suitable for deployment through silent installation across an organization. Let’s see what makes silent install highly suitable for Mozilla Firefox in enterprises:

Highly Customizable Installation

Firefox allows for highly customizable installation options. For example,

Admins can disable updates
It can be set as the default browser
IT admins can enforce policies across the organization
Bookmarks and extensions can be pre-loaded

Quick Deployment

Firefox’s small and light installation package ensures fast deployment, avoiding extra burden on the system and the process is not highly resource intensive.

Ability to Use Various Enterprise Tools

Quick and easy installation through various enterprise tools like SCCM, Intune, and GPO is possible because Mozilla Firefox provides Microsoft Installer (MSI) packages.

Open Source Nature, Giving Importance to Privacy

Unlike many other browser options that come with loads of ads, Firefox is an open source option with a focus on privacy. That is why it is a good fit for organizations where privacy is super important. For instance, its Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) by default blocks third-party cookies and cryptominers.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Firefox is compatible with various platforms including macOS, Linux, and Windows. This high compatibility makes it a perfect choice for those corporate ecosystems which have varying types of devices.

2 Preparing for Mozilla Firefox Silent Install

1 Downloading the Firefox Installer

Start by downloading the Firefox installer. You can choose between an online installer and an offline installer.

Firefox Offline Installer/Full Installer

Once downloaded, it can be installed without requiring an internet connection as it comes with the complete setup package with all the files required. However, compared to the online installer, it has a larger file size.

Best for:

Silent mass installation in corporate environments
Environments with slow internet connectivity

Get it from the official Mozilla Firefox website.

Firefox Online Installer/Stub Installer

It cannot be installed without an active internet connection. The online installer fetches the latest version of Firefox during installation. Using online installer means going for a lightweight installer option with a comparatively smaller file size.

Best for:

Getting the latest version
Environments with high-speed internet connection

Get it from the official Mozilla Firefox website.

2 Mozilla Firefox MSI vs. EXE: Which One to Choose?

The exe. And MSI files differ in various features, making each one of them suitable for different use cases. Here is an overview of what these two file types are, and what their strengths and limitations.

File Type	Firefox EXE	Firefox MSI (Microsoft Installer Package)
Definition	It is an auto-extracting, executable Firefox installer that has the required files to download Firefox.	It is a format developed by Microsoft with all the data and instructions needed for installation.
Use Cases	Most suitable for standalone devices and where a uniform, standard deployment is not a requirement.	Suitable for enterprise standard deployments and bulk installations
Mode of Installation	Interactive or silent installation (`/S` switch)	Silent installation with automation and no requirement of user interface
Is Silent Installation available?	Yes	Yes
Group Policy Deployment (GPO)	Not supported	Fully supported
Level of Customization	Some command-line options	Advanced customization
SCCM, Intune and GPO Support	No	Yes
Suitable for Mass Deployment?	Manual installation is needed on each device	Designed for mass deployment across multiple systems
Scalability	Standard installation for a single machine	Automated and scalable deployment across enterprise networks

3 Executing the Silent Install

Now that you know which one of the installation types is suitable for you among the online installation, offline installation, exe, and MSI installations, it is time to get started with the execution process. Given below are step-by-step guides for different installation methods.

1 Method 1: Using Command Line for Silent Install

You can install Mozilla Firefox silently using MSI installer and even customize the command line to make the process even quieter. Below are the steps for both 32-bit and 64-bit file sizes.

Using MSI for Mozilla Silent Installation

32-bit File

Step 1: Download the MSI 32-bit installer for your specific OS using this link. Use the drop-down menu as shown in the image below to select 32-bit file and download it to a folder.
Step 2: Type CMD in the start menu and right-click CMD. Select Run as Administrator.
Step 3: Run this command to navigate to the file location: Cd <file location>
Step 4: Enter the following command and press the enter key: msiexec /i Firefox.msi /qn

Make sure you use the correct file name. This should start the silent installation of Firefox using MSI installer.

64-bit File

Step 1: Start by installing the 64-bit Firefox from this link using the drop-down menu as shown in the image. Download it to a folder.
Step 2: Type CMD in the start menu and right-click it. Select Run as Administrator.
Step 3: Run the following command to navigate to the file location: Cd <file location>
Step 4: Use the following command and press enter: msiexec /i Firefox.msi /qn

Make sure the file name is correct. This should start the silent installation of Firefox with MSI installer.

You can further customize the installation according to your needs. For example,

The IT admins might want to avoid a system restart to avoid disruption to the normal work and avoid downtime. So they can use the command /norestart and the systems won’t restart automatically.
You can use this command as well MOZ_MAINTENANCE_SERVICE=0 to stop auto updates.
Similarly, if you do not want Firefox to create a shortcut on the desktop, use the command DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=0

Using Full Installer(EXE) for Mozilla Silent Installation

Based on your system’s architectural requirements, you can install 32-bit or 64-bit Mozilla Firefox files using full installer (.exe). Here are the steps involved:

Step 1: Install the full installer (.exe) for Mozilla by visiting their official website and selecting 32-bit or 64-bit size according to your system’s requirement. Install it into a folder.
Step 2: In the start menu, type CMD and right-click it to select the option, Run as Administrator.
Step 3: Use the command cd <file location> to navigate to the location of the installed file.
Step 4: To run silent installation, use this command below and press the enter key: firefox_installer.exe /S

The /S command runs the installer in the silent mode without the user’s interference.

There are several customization options that the IT admins can use according to their requirements. For instance,

Use this command firefox_installer.exe /S /norestart to avoid auto reboot.
Use this prompt firefox_installer.exe /S /log "C:\firefox_install.log" to enable logs during installation, and this will help troubleshoot the installation problems.

2 Method 2: Using Powershell for Silent Install

Step 1: To run silent installation of Firefox using PowerShell, type PowerShell in the start menu and right-click it to select the option ‘Run as Administrator’.
Step 2: Paste the following command and press the enter key:
```
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Path\To\firefox_installer.exe" -ArgumentList "/S" -Wait -NoNewWindow
```
Here is a breakdown of the above command for ease of understanding:
- -FilePath indicates the complete path of the installer
- -ArgumentList "/S" runs the installer silently
- -Wait ensures the script waits until the installation is complete
- -NoNewWindow avoids running the process in a separate window

3 Method 3: Silent Install with SCCM

You can also use System Center Configuration Manager to deploy Firefox across multiple endpoints in your organization through silent installation. Let us have a look at the steps involved in this process, using MSI installer.

Deploy Firefox Using SCCM | MSI Installer Enterprise Guide

Step 1: Start by downloading Firefox MSI installer from the official website. You can go for either 32-bit or 64-bit file size according to your system’s architectural requirements. Or if you have devices with both 32-bit and 64-bit, download both.
Step 2: Save the installer in a folder.
Step 3: Also download the Firefox application icon that is provided to you when you install MSI installer.
Step 4: Now it's time to create a Firefox Application in SCCM. To do this, in your SCM console, navigate to the following path;
```
Software Library > Overview > Application Management > Applications
```
Step 5: Right-click Applications and select ‘Create Application’.
Step 6: In the page that appears, make sure you have ‘Windows Installer (*.msi file)’ selected in front of the ‘type’ section. Specify the path for the installer and click next.
Step 7: In the product code window that appears, click ‘next’ again.
Step 8: In the next window, in front of the ‘install behavior’ tab, select ‘install for system’ and hit ‘next’ again.
Step 9: You will see the summary page. Check the information displayed and hit ‘next’.
Step 10: Finally, hit ‘close’ and you’ve successfully created Firefox as a new application in SCCM which will be shown under ‘Applications’ in your SCCM console.
Step 11: Now you need to assign this application an icon. Right-click the application and click ‘properties’. Then click the ‘software centre’ tab.
Step 12: Navigate to the bottom and hit ‘Browse’ and select the Firefox icon. Hit ‘apply’.

This was all for applying the Firefox icon and adding the Firefox application to SCCM. Let’s now have a look at the step-by-step process of packaging both 32-bit and 64-bit Firefox applications to SCCM. We are assuming that your enterprise setting needs a mix of both 32-bit and 64-bit Firefox. Here’s the process to package both of them.

64-bit

Step 1: Follow the path

Software Library > Overview > Application Management > Applications

Step 2: Once you are in applications, right-click it and select ‘create application’.
Step 3: You will now see the ‘general’ window. Here, at the bottom, check the option that says ‘Manually specify the application information’ and hit ‘next’.
Step 4: On the window that follows, provide the details of the information and hit ‘next’.
Step 5: Now you are on the Software Center page. Click ‘browse’ in the bottom, add Firefox icon, and hit next.
Step 6: In the ‘Deployment Types’ tab, click ‘Add’.
Step 7: In the page that follows, navigate to the ‘General’ tab and in front of the ‘type’ option, select Windows Installer (*.msi file). Specify the path to 64-bit installer and finally hit ‘Next’.
Step 8: Hit ‘Next’ again.
Step 9: In the ‘Requirements’ tab, we need to tell the wizard that we want 64-bit to be installed only on the relevant 64-bit OS devices. To do this, click ‘Add’. In the ‘Create Requirement’ option, your provided specifications will be as such:
- Category – Device
- Condition – Operating System
- Rule type – Value
- Operator – One of
- Click the ‘Windows’ 10 option to expand it and select the option ‘All Windows 10 (64-bit)’.
Step 10: On the next window, click ‘close’ and you will be done adding 64-bit Firefox.

32-Bit

For 32-bit Firefox, follow the same steps as you followed for 64-bit and when you reach the ‘Deployment Types’ wizard, click the ‘Add’ button, specify the path to 32-bit MSI installer and hit ‘Next’.

On the ‘General Information’ page, hit ‘Next’ again.

Now to add the requirements, click ‘Add’ button on the ‘Requirements’ window and for the ‘Create Requirement’ option, use the following specifications:

Category – Device
Condition – Operating System
Rule type – Value
Operator – One of
Click Windows 10 to expand it and select All Windows 10 (32-bit).

Click ‘Ok’ followed by ‘Next’.

Now we are done adding both 32-bit and 64-bit Firefox. Click ‘Next’ and then hit ‘close’.

Now that you’ve added both 64-bit and 32-bit to the SCCM, you can start the deployment process and can also divide the devices in groups for that purpose.

4 Method 4: Silent Install with MDM

One of the most efficient means of mass deploying Firefox silently on devices is by using MDM solutions like AirDroid Business. This can help automate the process and run the installation silently on the remote devices with a number of customization options using a single dashboard.

Let’s have a look at the steps for using AirDroid Business to install Firefox silently.

Step 1: In your AirDroid Business dashboard, click the ‘Apps’ tab in the top menu and select ‘Apps Library’ from the left pane.
Step 2: Click the +Add App button and select Windows.
Step 3: Now click the option ‘Windows Installer Package (MSI)’
Step 4: In the next window, click ‘Select a file of MSI app’
Step 5: Once you click the above option, you will be taken to the MSI installer apps installed on the system. Select the Firefox setup that you’ve installed and click open. Then click ‘next’.
Step 6: Now AirDroid Business allows you to test release Firefox on the selected devices (or groups) before deploying it to all the devices. On the top right corner, click the ‘Add’ button and select the devices on which you want to roll out the installation of Firefox as a test run.
Step 7: Once you’ve selected the devices, hit the green ‘Test Release’ button. You’ll get a message ‘Installation Successful’.
Step 8: Now it's time for the formal release of the Firefox app. Click the button ‘Go Formal Release’ in the bottom of the screen, and on the next window, select the devices on which you want to deploy Firefox.
Step 9: You can even go for a staged rollout by percentage, by country or area, by device ID or by Group.
Step 10: Once you are done with setting the staged roll out, you can select the release time and configure release settings as well. If you want to release immediately, check the option ‘release now’ and you’ll receive the message, ‘App released’.

4 Advanced Silent Install Options

There is a lot more you can do as an IT admin according to your specific requirements using custom silent install parameters. Let us have a look at some of the examples of customizing installation parameters.

1 Customizing Installation Parameters

During the silent installation of Firefox, you can customize installation parameters to meet your needs. For example, given below are some of the commonly used parameters and how to use different switches for each one of them.

Installing to a Particular Directory

firefox_installer.exe /S /D="C:\Custom\Firefox"

Preventing auto updates
If you want to stop Firefox from auto updating, create a file like the following after installation:
```
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref\autoconfig.js
```
Then add the following:
```
pref("app.update.enabled", false);
```

Set a Default Homepage

Modify this:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\browser\defaults\preferences\config-prefs.js

Add:

pref("browser.startup.homepage", "https://yourhomepage.com");

Silent Uninstall Firefox
You can silently uninstall Firefox without any user interference. Use the command below for the MSI installer installations:
```
msiexec /x "Firefox.msi" /quiet
```
If you used .exe installer, use the following for silent uninstall:
```
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\uninstall\helper.exe" /S
```
Besides, after uninstall is complete, you can manually delete the residual files using the following:
```
rd /s /q "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox"
rd /s /q "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla"
```
You can use the following command lines to uninstall 32-bit or 64-bit Firefox silently.
For 64-bit, use the following:
```
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\uninstall\helper.exe" /S
```
For 32-bit, this is the command line for silent uninstall:
```
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\uninstall\helper.exe" /S
```

5 Best Practices and Troubleshooting

Although, when done using the appropriate steps and command lines, Firefox silent install often runs smoothly, but it can sometimes encounter problems. To make sure the process runs as smoothly as possible, and to troubleshoot common problems, here are a few handy tips.

1 Best Practices

Following certain best practices before, after, and during installation can minimize the chances of installation problems. Below are the steps to follow for a smooth experience.

Ensuring a Smooth Installation Process

Run as Admin
Make sure you run the commands for installations as admin. This will help avoid issues related to user permission.
Close Firefox Related Tasks Beforehand
Before you start the installation or uninstall process, make sure all the Firefox processes are closed. Use this command:
```
taskkill /F /IM firefox.exe
```
Small test Deployments
Always start with a test run before going for a full deployment. This will help point out any issues and troubleshoot them before complete rollout.

2 Troubleshooting

Here are some common problems and their solutions:

How to suppress the "Pin to Taskbar" prompt during silent installation of Firefox?
Solution: The issue occurs only with the EXE installer. Switching to the MSI installer resolves the problem as it does not prompt to pin Firefox to the taskbar.
How to prevent the Firefox ESR MSI installer from silently overwriting the non-ESR version?
Solution: Specify different installation directories for different versions to avoid overwriting. This prevents confusion with shortcuts and ensures multiple versions can coexist.
How to uninstall all versions of Mozilla Firefox, especially those not deployed via Intune?
Solution: Use MSI ID, PowerShell commands, or Mozilla's uninstall program to remove Firefox. Directly running the uninstall program avoids UAC prompts.
How to silently update Firefox on Windows 10 without errors?
Solution: Use the MSI installer with the command msiexec /i Firefox.msi /passive for updates. This method retains user settings but may remove shortcuts.
How to resolve issues with INI file parameters not being passed correctly during silent installation using PowerShell?
Solution: Use UNC paths instead of mapped drives to ensure proper parameter passing. Alternatively, copy files locally before installation.
How to create a silent install package for Firefox without setting it as the default browser?
Solution: Use a specific command format and an INI configuration file to customize the installation. Ensure correct file names and settings to avoid user interface prompts.

Click a star to vote

68 views

Was This Page Helpful?

Maverick

For more than 8 years, Maverick has dig deep into IT and mobile device management. He delivers practical MDM solution tips and strategies for various endpoints management.

Discussion

The discussion and share your voice here.