This guide will demonstrate how to install Pale Moon on Debian 12, 11, or 10 Linux using the command-line terminal and a third-party PPA maintained by Steven Pusser. This well-known repository provides easy access to future updates, having dedicated branches not just for Debian but also Ubuntu.
Pale Moon, an open-source web browser, stands out in the crowded field of internet browsers. Originating as a fork of Firefox, it’s designed to strike a balance between efficiency and customization. Here’s what sets Pale Moon apart:
- Optimized for Modern Hardware: Tailored to leverage the capabilities of current processors.
- Customizable Interface: Offers a user-friendly experience with customizable toolbars and UI elements.
- Focus on Privacy: Enhanced privacy features to protect user data.
- Extensive Extension Support: Compatible with a wide range of Firefox extensions and exclusive Pale Moon add-ons.
- Lightweight and Fast: Streamlined codebase for quicker browsing and lower memory usage.
- Active Development and Support: Regular updates for security and feature enhancements.
With these key features in mind, let’s delve into the installation process of Pale Moon on Debian Linux.
Table of Contents
Install Pale Moon Browser on Debian via APT
Step 1: Update Debian Before Pale Moon Installation
To avoid any potential conflicts during the installation process, updating your system and ensuring that all existing packages are up to date is essential. This step will help ensure a smooth and error-free software installation.
Open your terminal and use the following command:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Step 2: Install Pale Moon Initial Required Packages
To successfully install Pale Moon, you will need to install specific dependencies. While some of these packages may already be on your system, running the installation command will help ensure all necessary dependencies are installed and the installation process goes smoothly.
sudo apt install curl apt-transport-https -y
Step 3: Import Pale Moon APT Repository
To install the Pale Moon browser on Debian, it is necessary to import the GPG key that verifies the authenticity of packages from the repository and then import the repository itself. It is essential to ensure that you import the correct GPG key and repository that matches your Debian distribution.
The following commands can be used to import the Pale Moon repository:
Trixie (Debian 13 – Testing): Import GPG Key and APT Repository commands:
curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:stevenpusser/Debian_Testing/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_stevenpusser.gpg > /dev/null
echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/stevenpusser/Debian_Testing/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:stevenpusser.list
Bookworm (Debian 12): Import GPG Key and APT Repository commands:
curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:stevenpusser/Debian_12/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_stevenpusser.gpg > /dev/null
echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/stevenpusser/Debian_12/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:stevenpusser.list
Bullsey (Debian 11): Import GPG Key and APT Repository commands:
curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:stevenpusser/Debian_11/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_stevenpusser.gpg > /dev/null
echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/stevenpusser/Debian_11/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:stevenpusser.list
Buster (Debian 10): Import GPG Key and APT Repository commands:
curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:stevenpusser/Debian_10/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_stevenpusser.gpg > /dev/null
echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/stevenpusser/Debian_10/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:stevenpusser.list
After importing the repository, run an APT update to reflect the changes:
sudo apt update
Step 4: Install Pale Moon Browser via APT Command on Debian
You can now install the browser on your Debian system with the Pale Moon repository successfully imported. To install the browser, run the following command in your terminal:
sudo apt install palemoon
This command will initiate the installation and automatically install the Pale Moon browser on your system. Once the installation is complete, you can verify the version of the browser using the following command:
palemoon -v
Running this command will display the version of the Pale Moon browser installed on your system, confirming that the installation was successful.
Launch Pale Moon Browser on Debian
After successfully installing the Pale Moon browser on your Debian system, you can quickly launch it by following these steps:
- Click on the “Activities” button in the top left corner of your screen.
- In the Activities menu, select “Show Applications.”
- From the list of applications displayed, click on “Pale Moon.”
Alternatively, you could use the following terminal command:
palemoon
Getting Started with Pale Moon Browser on Debian
Now that you’ve adeptly installed Pale Moon on your Debian Linux, it’s time to delve into some first-time tips to kickstart your experience with this robust browser. These recommendations are tailored exclusively for Linux installations, ensuring a seamless browsing adventure on your Debian system.
General Pale Moon Tips with Debian
- Default Settings: Pale Moon comes with a set of pre-configured settings to ensure optimal performance. Familiarize yourself with these settings under the
Preferences
menu to understand the baseline configuration. - Keyboard Shortcuts: Expedite your browsing with keyboard shortcuts. For instance,
Ctrl+T
to open a new tab,Ctrl+W
to close the current tab, andCtrl+Shift+T
to reopen the last closed tab. - Profile Manager: Manage multiple browsing profiles by accessing the Profile Manager. Launch it from the terminal using the command:
palemoon -ProfileManager
- Extensions and Add-ons: Enhance your browsing capabilities by exploring the vast array of extensions and add-ons available within the Pale Moon ecosystem. Navigate to the
Tools
>Add-ons
menu to get started.
Pale Moon Customizations with Debian
- Themes: Alter the look and feel of Pale Moon to your liking by applying themes. Find a plethora of themes under
Tools
>Add-ons
>Themes
. - Toolbar Customization: Tailor the toolbar to meet your needs by right-clicking on it and selecting
Customize
. Here, you can add, remove, or rearrange toolbar items to streamline your browsing experience. - Homepage: Set a personalized homepage via
Edit
>Preferences
>General
. Insert the URL of your desired homepage in the designated field to make it the first page you see upon launching Pale Moon.
Other Pale Moon Browser Tips with Debian
- Search Engine Management: Customize your search engine preferences by venturing to
Edit
>Preferences
>Search
. Here, you can select your preferred search engine and manage search settings to refine your online inquiries. - Privacy Settings: Uphold your online privacy by configuring the privacy settings found under
Edit
>Preferences
>Privacy & Security
. - Performance Tweaks: Advance your browsing performance by tweaking the configurations under
about:config
. Proceed cautiously, as altering advanced settings could affect the browser’s stability.
Your endeavor with Pale Moon on Debian Linux is now poised with foundational insights to foster a proficient browsing environment. These initial steps set the stage for a rewarding and personalized browsing experience.
Additional Commands For Pale Moon Browser on Debian
Update Pale Moon Browser
To ensure that your Pale Moon Browser is up-to-date with the latest security patches and features, you can run an APT update in your terminal as you would to check for system updates. To do this, enter the following command in your terminal:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
This command will check for updates for your entire system, including the Pale Moon browser.
Remove Pale Moon Browser
If you no longer require the Pale Moon browser, you can remove it from your system by running the following command in your terminal:
sudo apt remove palemoon
This command will uninstall the Pale Moon browser from your system.
Ideally, you will also want to remove the repository you added earlier. To do this, enter the following command in your terminal:
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:stevenpusser.list
This command will remove the Pale Moon repository from your system.
Conclusion
There you have it! We’ve successfully navigated through the installation of Pale Moon on Debian Linux, using a reliable PPA for easy updates. Pale Moon stands as a great choice for those valuing speed, customization, and privacy in their web browsing experience. Just remember to keep it updated for the best performance and security. Thanks for following along; I hope this guide enhances your internet browsing on Debian. Happy surfing!
Following the instruction for Debian Bookworm I get the following error:
sudo apt install palemoon
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree… Done
Reading state information… Done
Package palemoon is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package ‘palemoon’ has no installation candidate
Hi Aleg,
I need to update this article, but for now just use this command which should overwrite the existing source list.
echo ‘deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/stevenpusser/Debian_12/ /’ | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:stevenpusser.list
basically we are replacing Debian_Testing with Debian_12 in this command, this should work.
The GPG key I believe will not need re-downloading, but if so use the command:
curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:stevenpusser/Debian_12/Release.key | gpg –dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_stevenpusser.gpg > /dev/null
I’ll update this guide in a day or so but this should get you sorted for now.
Thanks for the message.