Hi Abe

What desktop environment are you using with Debian? I use Xfce where there is a option in the settings to set the default browser - you may find that the same in the desktop that you are using.

I am not using any desktop, I just start Linux apps using the icons.

Thanks for responding.

Abe

Hi Abe

I am not sure what you mean.

Was the Chromebook running ChromeOS which you have replaced with Debian? If so, you will need to have installed a desktop environment to be able to run any apps with a graphical user interface.

Or, have you installed Firefox on ChromeOS using this guide? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/run-firefox-chromeos

In Debian GNOME, go to Settings > Default Apps > Web > Firefox.

Thank you both for your answers.

Zeroknight - I am not running Gnome. At least I didn't knowingly install it.

Paul - I didn't use that particular article; the instructions I used were pretty much identical. I am using the beta mode of ChromeOS. I believe the Google people call this Crostini.

Abe

Try running:

xdg-settings set default-web-browser org.mozilla.firefox.desktop

Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice.

I opened your response in Thunderbird and clicked on didn't solve the problem (more on that later). Firefox opened with the proper URL in the search window and went nowhere. I could not get Firefox to go to the support URL or any other URL.

As to your suggestion. I ran xdg-settings set default-web-browser org.mozilla.firefox.desktop and received the following response from Linux - xdg-settings: $BROWSER is set and can't be changed with xdg-settings. Judging from my first paragraph Linux is using Firefox as my designated browser. Now the question becomes why doesn't Firefox do anything?

Try changing DNS over HTTPS (DoH) to "Off" or "Max Protection" and in Connection Settings change "Use system proxy settings" to "No proxy".

Does it still happen in Troubleshoot Mode?

This did not solve my problem which seems deeper than originally reported.

First, I looked to see DoH was turned off and it was. Then I looked at No Proxy was the active selection, and it was. Next, I tried to go into Troubleshoot mode, but my system rejected that command with "-bash: firefox: command not found". I tried "sudo -bash: firefox: command not found", which was similarly found to be in error.

I have attached a screenshot of Firefox as it appears when I open it. The initial size of Firefox is quite small, the top right does not show any of the three size icons, minimize, etc. I cannot enter any URLs into the search bar. The Firefox icon on the Task Bar shows an owl, not Firefox. I get the owl with other Linux apps, but not all.

As it sits, Firefox is not viable for use.

Thanks for your help,

Abe

Do you see error messages if you start Firefox via a terminal window ?

cd <path_to _firefox>
./firefox

Did you follow the guide: Run Firefox on ChromeOS?

Does it still happen in a new profile (without signing into sync account)? Alternatively you can refresh your existing profile.

Np, no error messages at all.

Abe

I have not read that document, I had not heard of its existence. I will read it during the week and post my results.

Abe

That document did not help as I have Flatpak installed and use it for my installs. I did not use Flatpak for Firefox as it listed an older version.

Abe

Is this an ARM chromebook or an Intel/AMD chromebook?

• https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-install-firefox-on-a-chromebook

I have done everything the article directs me to do so it was no help. My instinct tells me that some switch in Firefox or Linux is blocking the acceptance of, and the search for URLs.

Abe

I was just fooling around with Firefox and got everything working OK. It runs slow, but it does work. Thanks for all the help and understanding.

Abe