How-To

How to Translate a Page in Firefox

By Adam Davidson

Updated October 30, 2023

Firefox doesn’t have built-in translation tools like some browsers, but it is still possible. Here’s how to translate a page in Firefox.

Some web browsers, such as Google Chrome or Safari, will translate a web page for you if it’s not in your native language. These built-in tools mean you can quickly turn a page that’s in a foreign language into a page in your own native language. Not every browser has this ability by default, however. Firefox, for example, even with all its cool tips, tricks, and capabilities, doesn’t have any built-in translation tools. All is not lost, however; by installing an extension that’s recommended by Firefox, you can quickly turn a foreign-language page into one you can read.

If you’re dying to know what that foreign website is saying, then here’s how to translate a page in Firefox.

How to Install the To Google Translate Extension in Firefox

Firefox recommends the To Google Translate extension. As with any Firefox extension, it’s quick and easy to install.

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click the Hamburger icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
   
3. Select Add-ons and Themes.
   
4. Make sure you’re in the Extensions tab.
   
5. You may see To Google Translate in the Recommended Extensions section.
   
6. If you don’t, search for it using the Find More Add-ons search box.
   
7. Click Add to Firefox.
   
8. Click Add to confirm your decision.
   
9. The To Google Translate extension is now installed.

How to Translate a Page in Firefox Using To Google Translate

Once you’ve installed the To Google Translate extension, you can quickly translate a page or a link from the context menu. All you need to do is right-click and select the appropriate option.

1. Open a web page in Firefox that’s in a different language.
   
2. Right-click somewhere on the page.
3. In the context menu, select To Google Translate.
   
4. Select Translate This Page.
   
5. The extension will translate the page into your target language.
   
6. If you want to see the original untranslated text again, click the Translation drop-down in the top-right of the screen and select Original.
   
7. The page will now show the untranslated text.
8. To see the translation again, click the Translation drop-down and select Translation.
   

How to Change the Source and Target Language in To Google Translate

By default, To Google Translate will attempt to identify the language in the web page and translate it into the default language that you use in Firefox. However, it’s possible to change both the target language and the source language if you’re not getting the results that you want.

1. Right-click on the page that you want to translate.
2. Select To Google Translate.
   
3. Choose Translate This Page.
   
4. To change the source language, click the current source language at the top-left of the screen.
   
5. Select one of the language options.
   
6. To change the target language, click the current target language in the top-left of the screen.
   
7. Select one of the language options.
   
8. Your page will now translate from the source language to the target language.

Do More With Firefox

It’s not immediately obvious how to translate a page in Firefox, as there are no translation options by default. However, by installing the To Google Translate add-on, you can add translation functionality to Firefox and translate webpages in moments. It’s definitely much quicker than trying to copy and paste an entire webpage into a Google Translate window.

There are plenty of other useful tricks that can make your Firefox experience even better. One useful trick is learning how to open a link in a new tab in Firefox. By default, links open on the same tab, which isn’t always ideal. You might want to open a link in another tab so that you can read it later without leaving the page that you’re already on. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can get Firefox to open links in separate tabs.