LibreWolf is a new fork of the Firefox browser, meticulously designed to offer users a significantly higher degree of privacy, security, and freedom. This open-source project is actively maintained by a dedicated community of enthusiasts, positioning it as a robust and reliable alternative to mainstream web browsers.
What sets LibreWolf apart is its foundation on Firefox, enhanced with a suite of internal modifications and optimizations focused on security. Developers have diligently removed all components that could potentially communicate with external services or collect user data, such as telemetry and background connections. It comes pre-configured with privacy settings based on well-known user.js configurations like those from pyllyukko and arkenfox, eliminating the need for manual adjustments to safeguard anonymity. Additionally, LibreWolf integrates uBlock Origin for effective ad and tracker blocking, alongside an extension firewall to restrict plug-ins’ network access. Standard search engines are replaced with privacy-centric alternatives like DuckDuckGo, Startpage, and Qwant, further solidifying its commitment to user privacy.
In This Post
The Winning Edge
Managing Cookie Persistence for Essential Sites
- Open LibreWolf settings by typing about:preferences in the address bar.
- Navigate to Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
- Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section.
- Click on Manage Exceptions… to add websites where you want to remain logged in.
- Enter the domain (e.g., example.com) and click Allow, then Save Changes.
Reason To Do This: LibreWolf is configured to delete cookies and site data upon closing for maximum privacy. This setting allows you to selectively retain login sessions for frequently used or essential websites, balancing privacy with convenience without compromising overall security.
Configuring Enhanced Tracking Protection
- Open LibreWolf settings (about:preferences).
- Go to Privacy & Security.
- Under Enhanced Tracking Protection, ensure Strict mode is selected.
- Optionally, check Fix major site issues if you encounter broken websites, though this might slightly reduce protection on those sites.
Reason To Do This: By default, LibreWolf employs strict tracking protection to block a wide array of known trackers, analytics scripts, and cookies. Setting it to Strict ensures the highest level of defense against online surveillance and profiling, making your browsing more private.
Enabling DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)
- Open LibreWolf settings (about:preferences).
- Navigate to Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down to the DNS over HTTPS section.
- Choose a DoH provider from the dropdown menu (e.g., Cloudflare, NextDNS) or enter a custom one.
- Select your preferred mode (e.g., Max Protection if fully confident).
Reason To Do This: DNS-over-HTTPS encrypts your DNS queries, preventing your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or other entities from monitoring the websites you visit. While LibreWolf disables DoH by default due to trade-offs, enabling it can significantly enhance your privacy on insecure networks.
Download LibreWolf
File size: 154 MB
OS support: Windows
Windows
Main Features
- Enhanced Privacy & Security: LibreWolf removes all telemetry, data collection, and unnecessary background connections found in standard Firefox, ensuring a private browsing experience. It’s hardened against tracking and fingerprinting techniques.
- Built-in Ad & Tracker Blocker: The browser comes with uBlock Origin pre-installed and configured with custom default filter lists, effectively blocking ads, trackers, and malicious domains from the moment you start browsing.
- Privacy-Focused Search Engines: Default search engines like Google and Yandex are replaced with privacy-respecting alternatives such as DuckDuckGo, Startpage, and Qwant, giving users more control over their search data.
- Independent Installation: Despite being based on Firefox, LibreWolf uses its own installation and data directories, allowing it to run in parallel with Firefox without any conflicts.
- Configurable Privacy Settings: It includes pre-optimized privacy settings based on established configurations like user.js by pyllyukko and arkenfox, saving users the effort of manual adjustments.
- No DRM or Mozilla Services: Components like Pocket and Mozilla VPN ads are removed, and DRM is disabled by default, prioritizing user freedom and a distraction-free experience.
- Fast and Regular Updates: LibreWolf is consistently built from the latest Firefox stable source, ensuring users benefit from up-to-date security patches, features, and overall stability.
Technical Specifications
| Software Name | LibreWolf |
|---|---|
| Version | 150.0.3-1 |
| License | Open Source (MPL 2.0) |
| File Size | 154 MB |
| OS Support | Windows |
| Language | Multi-language |
| Developer | LibreWolf Community |
| Homepage | https://librewolf.net/ |
| Changelogurl | https://librewolf.net/releases/ |
| Last Updated | May 9, 2026 |
Required Specs
Minimum
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 (64-bit)
- Disk Space: ~200 MB free disk space
Setup Instructions
Installation Steps
- Click the download button above to get the installer for your operating system.
- Locate the downloaded file (e.g., librewolf-150.0.3-1-windows-x86_64-setup.exe) and double-click to run the installer.
- Follow the on-screen installation wizard, accepting the license agreement and choosing your installation path.
- Complete the setup process. Once installed, you can launch LibreWolf from your applications menu or desktop shortcut.
Compatibility: LibreWolf is compatible with Windows 10, 11 (64-bit), macOS 10.15 and later, and various Linux distributions. Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for optimal performance.
Problem Solving
- Issue: Installation fails or browser doesn’t launch → Solution: Ensure you have the necessary Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages installed (for Windows) and try running the installer as an administrator.
- Issue: macOS unidentified developer warning → Solution: This occurs because LibreWolf is not notarized by Apple. You can remove the quarantine attribute from the application using the command: xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/LibreWolf.app in Terminal.
FAQ
Is LibreWolf a free web browser?
Yes, LibreWolf is a free and open-source web browser. It is developed by a community of enthusiasts and is licensed under the MPL 2.0, ensuring its availability without cost.
What are the key differences between LibreWolf and Firefox?
LibreWolf is a fork of Firefox that prioritizes privacy, security, and user freedom. It distinguishes itself by removing all telemetry, data collection, and unnecessary Mozilla services. It also comes with pre-configured privacy settings, a built-in ad blocker (uBlock Origin), and privacy-focused search engines by default, offering a more hardened browsing experience out-of-the-box.
Does LibreWolf support multiple languages?
Yes, LibreWolf supports multiple languages. It includes all the language packs available in Firefox, allowing users to customize the browser’s menus, messages, and notifications to their preferred language through the settings.
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