How-To

How to Enable and Use the New Firefox Screenshots Feature

When Mozilla rolls out Firefox version 56 it will include a screenshot tool. If you don’t want to wait, here’s how to turn it on and use it.

firefox screenshots my shots

If you are a Firefox user and have upgraded to version 55, you might have noticed a new screenshot button on the toolbar in the upper-right corner of the browser. However, not all users have it yet. It’s still in beta and the company is gradually rolling it out as it works out any remaining bugs. The screenshot tool will be available to all users when Firefox 56 is released at the end of September. If you don’t want to wait, here’s a look at how to turn on and use Firefox Screenshots.

New Firefox Screenshot Tool

To turn the screenshot tool on you need to at least be running Firefox 55. To verify your version type: about:support into the address bar and hit Enter. Look for your version number under the Application Basics section.

Firefox Version

Now to turn it, on type: about:config into the address bar and hit Enter. Click the “I accept the risk” button on the warning page if it comes up. Then search for extensions.screenshots.system-disabled and double-click the matching row to toggle its value to False.

about-config value

Restart Firefox and you should now see the Screenshots tool on the toolbar. The first time you click on it, you get a welcome screen with a quick tutorial to click through.

Firefox Screenshots Beta

It has the ability to capture the entire page or just a region that you want. Then it gives you the option to download the shot to your computer or upload it to your screenshots library at screenshots.firefox.com for easy sharing.

Firefox Screenshot Tool

If you save it to your online library, a link to the shot is copied to your clipboard which you can paste into an email, chat, or social site so others can see it.

copied link notification

Your shots will be saved for 14 days by default, but you can delete it whenever you want or change the date to keep it in your library longer.

my shots webpage

What do you think of the new Firefox Screenshots tool? Do you find it easy to use and share your shots or would you prefer more features? Leave a comment below and let us know.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Em

    September 21, 2017 at 7:21 am

    Very valuable and useful FF tip. Thanks.

  2. Wade Selph

    September 21, 2017 at 9:10 am

    I see no advantage over the win10 snipping tool apart from saving to the cloud.

  3. Jim Shunamon

    September 21, 2017 at 12:54 pm

    Went through all the steps.Tool is not showing up on my toolbar. :(

    • Brian Burgess

      September 21, 2017 at 1:28 pm

      Have you tried to customize the toolbar? Give it a right-click and select Customize. If you have to many icons sometimes they don’t always show up and you need to move it to a place where you can see it.

  4. Jim Shunamon

    September 21, 2017 at 1:33 pm

    I actually did try the Customize option. It isn’t listed in the Additional Tools and Features either.

  5. Jay Martin

    September 24, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    Probably reading this too literally – “It has the ability to capture the entire page or just a region that you want.” – but can’t find the option to capture whole page (including portion off screen). Can only capture visible portion on screen.

  6. Robert Hall

    September 24, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    I wish Firefox would put a little more effort into being able to run on Bank of America’s website.

  7. Drake Maverick

    March 11, 2020 at 10:49 pm

    Wow this served as an eye opener for me. Before I was not aware that we can capture an entire browser screen. Usually, I am opting to Acethinker Free Screen Recorder Online as it can record any part of your screen activity. The best thing about it is you can use it on multiple browsers, not only Firefox.

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