Firefox Nears PWA Support for Linux as macOS Timeline Stays Unclear

Mozilla developers are pushing Progressive Web App support to Linux, with early builds already surfacing in Firefox Nightly — the browser’s experimental release channel — according to a Mozilla employee posting on Reddit.

PWAs, or Progressive Web Apps, convert standard websites into standalone desktop applications that users install once and launch directly from their system, bypassing the browser entirely.

The feature gives those apps dedicated windows, custom icons, and behavior that mimics native desktop software.

Linux Closing In

A Mozilla employee using the handle u/drubino-mozilla confirmed on Reddit that Linux integration is actively in development and that early versions have begun appearing in Firefox Nightly builds.

The stable release channel is expected to receive the feature soon, though Mozilla has not set a specific date.

That would bring Firefox closer to parity with Chromium-based rivals such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, both of which have long offered PWA support across major desktop platforms.

Firefox currently supports PWAs only on Windows.

macOS Remains Unresolved

For macOS users, the picture is less clear.

The same Mozilla employee said the team is still “working on it,” citing unresolved challenges around how PWAs should behave with the macOS dock and menu bar.

Mozilla wants to get that experience right before shipping, and no timeline exists for a macOS release.

That means macOS users could wait several more months — or longer — while Linux users move ahead.

What Changes for Linux Users

Once the feature lands on Linux, users will no longer need to rely on third-party workarounds such as the PWAsForFirefox browser extension to install sites as desktop apps.

The change also reduces browser tab clutter. Frequently used web services such as Gmail or Slack can run in their own windows rather than competing for space in the browser’s tab bar and Address Bar.

The feature does not require any additional software. Users install a PWA directly through Firefox, and the app appears on their desktop as a standalone program.

Firefox’s Broader Development Push

Mozilla has been active across multiple fronts in recent months.

The organization is also restoring native Compact Mode — a tighter user interface density option — to Firefox after removing it in an earlier version.

Firefox launched in 2002 and remains one of the most widely used independent browsers not built on Google’s Chromium engine, which powers Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Opera, among others.