Mozilla rolled out a new privacy feature to reshape how users protect their online activity in March 2026: a free VPN integrated into the Firefox browser. Despite this, Firefox users are still beating their heads against the wall when it comes to actually activating it. We tested the VPN personally and found its activation to be complex because of one step we’ll explain in this guide. Here’s how to use Firefox VPN in 2026, from activation to server connection.
How to Activate and Use Firefox VPN?
Firefox VPN is officially available in the latest build, so before we start, I want to make sure you’ve updated your browser. If you did, the steps to activate your Firefox VPN are simple. If you don’t see the VPN icon next to the search bar (as displayed below), here’s what to do:
- Type in about:config in the address bar.
- Search for browser.ipprotection.enabled and if it’s set to FALSE, set it to TRUE. This will make the Firefox VPN icon appear next to the address bar.
Click the VPN icon. You’ll notice that Firefox VPN offers 50 GB of free data per month and 5 VPN locations. Simply press Get Started and sign in with your account. For this tutorial, I created a new account, and when I attempted to activate my Firefox VPN, I chose Continue on this screen:
How to use Firefox VPN after that? Click the icon next to the address bar and select Turn On VPN. If unsatisfied, click the Location button to select from one of the 5 countries (Canada, France, Germany, the UK, or the USA).
You can even choose whether to use the VPN for the site you’re on. While not the best VPN in its class in terms of unblocking, speed, and customization, it’s at least safe and does the job for beginners. Here’s what it actually offers.
What is Firefox VPN? How Does It Work?
A Virtual Private Network creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, and masks your real IP address and encrypts all traffic. When you connect to a site through a VPN, your internet service provider can no longer monitor your online activity, and the websites you visit only see the VPN server’s IP address (not yours). This technology has become crucial for online privacy in countries with strict internet regulations.
As French tech publication 01net has noted, VPN is vital in France, where recent legislation has imposed significant constraints on internet freedom. French authorities have blocked access to many content platforms, and VPNs allow users to circumvent this censorship, a situation reminiscent of restrictions implemented in certain U.S. states like Texas and Utah. The key distinction with Firefox VPN is its scope.
Unlike Mozilla’s existing paid service, Mozilla VPN (read our review here), which protects all internet traffic across your entire device, Firefox VPN focuses exclusively on web traffic generated within the Firefox browser itself. Think of it as browser-level protection rather than system-wide security. As Mozilla explicitly states on its official support page, “Firefox VPN only protects traffic within Firefox—it doesn’t cover other apps or background services.”
Firefox VPN vs. Mozilla VPN
Mozilla VPN is the company’s existing paid service, and it is a rebranded version of Mullvad VPN, a standard privacy-focused VPN. It operates as a standalone app that encrypts all network traffic from your computer or mobile device and protects everything from your email client to your streaming apps. Firefox VPN is a bit different as it integrates into the browser without requiring a separate app. It sacrifices a protection scope for convenience.
If you’re downloading files through a torrent client or checking email through a desktop application, Firefox VPN won’t protect that traffic. Only Mozilla VPN would cover those. For users who conduct their online activities through a web browser, Firefox VPN has sufficient protection while remaining free. Mozilla has confirmed that the service routes traffic through Mozilla-managed servers in the United States.
Mozilla also guarantees that there are no speed or usage limits when Firefox VPN is active, so that your browsing experience continues uninterrupted. Though the 50 GB/mo data limit still stands, which is hard to complain about, as most free VPNs typically cap out at 10 GB or less.
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Potential Limitations and Workarounds
While Firefox VPN aims to provide protection, Mozilla acknowledges that some websites may block VPN traffic or require additional authentication. According to the official support documentation, platforms like Reddit and YouTube may ask users to sign in before granting access when the VPN is active. If a website isn’t working correctly and signing in doesn’t resolve the issue, Mozilla recommends temporarily turning off the VPN.
The company also says that it will “collect minimal technical data” necessary to maintain service reliability and security, such as connection success rates and daily bandwidth usage. For example, Mozilla may log whether a connection succeeded or failed, or record that your account used 2 GB of data on a certain day. This information helps Mozilla improve performance and plan for infrastructure growth.
Critically, Mozilla pledges never to log the websites you visit or track the content of your communications. Any data collected that’s linked to your account will be automatically deleted after three months. For long-term planning, Mozilla retains bandwidth statistics, but these are aggregated across all users and cannot be traced back to individual accounts.
Upgrading to Full Device Protection
For users who need comprehensive protection beyond their browser, Mozilla offers a clear upgrade path: The paid Mozilla VPN subscription provides device-level protection with encrypted traffic across all apps and services, not just Firefox. It also includes additional privacy features and customization options that the free browser-based version doesn’t offer.
Mozilla specifically recommends that existing Mozilla VPN subscribers remove the Firefox VPN icon from their toolbar to avoid duplicate protection and potential conflicts. On Windows, Mozilla VPN subscribers can also install the Mozilla VPN extension for more value from their subscription.
Competition in the Built-in VPN Space
Firefox isn’t breaking new ground here, and it’s merely catching up to competitors. Opera was among the first major browsers to integrate a free VPN. Microsoft Edge offers a limited VPN through its partnership with Cloudflare. There is also the Brave browser, which includes its own privacy-focused VPN, and Vivaldi partnered with Proton to offer better protection.
Mozilla’s ambition is to make Firefox “the best VPN-integrated browser on the market,” and given its strong reputation for privacy advocacy and open-source development, this goal seems achievable. The free version has limitations compared to the paid Mozilla VPN, but it should provide robust basic protection for everyday browsing.