How to Use Firefox Focus to Open Links From Third Party Apps
I prefer having two browsers on my Android smartphone – Google Chrome (for its speed) and Firefox Focus (for privacy). For general web browsing, I use Google Chrome as it syncs with my Desktop and I can access my bookmarks as well. However, when I’m browsing Reddit and often come up with NSFW links, that I would not like to share with Google Chrome. I couldn’t find a direct way to disable custom chrome tabs on third-party apps, but I did however found a way to use Firefox Focus to be used as a default browser for in-app browsing.
Read:How to Import Bookmarks From Chrome to Firefox Android
A Brief History First
Traditionally when you clicked the link from within the app, it would always open in your main browser which though a resource heavy was loved by users. Then WebView was implemented which allowed app developers to implement web pages within the app but the users hated that interface due to the fact that it had no features and didn’t feel like an upgrade. Therefore custom chrome tabs were implemented and offered the full functionality of the chrome browser like auto-fill, passwords, login credentials etc.
However, if you like me, who prefer to use privacy focus browser in third-party apps, then it makes sense to use Firefox Focus. For those who don’t know, it’s similar to Firefox browser in a sense that it focuses on your Privacy and also doesn’t store any cookies, history, or data anywhere. All of the sessions are anonymous and data is deleted after you exit the app every time.
Use Firefox Focus to Open Links
First, you need to installFirefox Focuson your Android Device. You can go to the Play Store and search for it by its name or install directly by clicking on the above link from your Android.
Read:Top 10 Firefox Extension For Android To Supercharge your Privacy
Now, if you regularly use chrome as your go-to browser you can keep that or switch to Firefox altogether. The steps to change the default browser is a bit different on different Android devices.
Change Default Browser on Stock Android
Go toSettingsand tap onApps and Notification> scroll down till you seeDefault Appsand tap on it. A new list of option will open listing default home app, browser app, phone app etc. Tap onBrowser Appand would list all the browsers available on your device, selectFirefox Focus.Now go back to save settings.
Change Default Browser on Samsung
The steps are pretty similar, go to theSettingsapp by pulling down the notification app and then tap on the gear icon. Scroll down to theAppsoption and tap on the smallGearicon next to it. A new window will open, tap onBrowseapp and selectFirefox Focusfrom the list.
Change Default Browser on Xiaomi MIUI
To change default browser on Xiaomi phones, go toSettingsscroll down till you see Apps Settings. Tap on the second option that saysInstalled Apps.Next tap on3 vertical dotson the top right, and selectDefault Appsoption. Tap on the Browser option and select FireFox focus from the list. To save changes, go back.
To check if you have successfully change the default browser, you can open third-party apps like Reddit, Instagram or Slack and tap on any web link. It would open in the similar looking browser. However, if you tap onthree vertical dotson the top right, you should seePower by Firefoxwritten at the bottom of the popup.
The only downside with this method is that you lose a few features which you get with Chrome such as the ‘Find in page’ feature which lets you search for a string in a webpage. But hey your browsing history is secure.
This was a very easy way to set Firefox Focus as your default in-app browser. Alternatively, you’re able to useLynketapp on your Android and implement Lynket browser on every app that supports custom tab protocol. It seamlessly connects with all the apps and pushes its own browser for more consistency throughout the Android Environment.
Works as an in-house Writer at TechWiser and focuses on the latest smart consumer electronics. Closely follows the latest trends in consumer IoT and how it affects our daily lives. You can follow him on Twitter. Yes, he sometimes speaks in Third Person.
