How to Install Pale Moon Browser on Debian 11 or 10

Pale Moon is a fast, efficient, and customizable web browser that offers a unique alternative to major browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi. Designed to provide a clean and straightforward browsing experience, Pale Moon offers a range of features and benefits that set it apart from the competition.

Here are some of the key ways that Pale Moon differs from major browsers:

• Focus on customizability: Pale Moon allows users to customize their browser experience more than other browsers, with various add-ons, themes, and configuration options available.
• Optimized for older hardware: Unlike some modern browsers requiring the latest hardware to run smoothly, Pale Moon works well on older and less powerful computers.
• Reduced telemetry: Pale Moon is designed with privacy in mind, with minimal data collection and telemetry features that can compromise user privacy.
• Simpler interface: Pale Moon provides a clean and straightforward interface that is easy to navigate without the bloat that can come with other browsers.

This tutorial will guide you through installing Pale Moon Browser on a Debian 11 Bullseye or Debian 10 Buster desktop environment using the command line terminal. Additionally, you will receive helpful tips on how to maintain and remove different versions of the browser. By following these instructions, you can enjoy the benefits of Pale Moon Browser while keeping your system secure and up-to-date.

Step 1: Update Debian

To avoid any potential conflicts during the installation process, it is important to update your system and ensure that all existing packages are up to date. 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 the Required Packages

To successfully install Pale Moon, you will need to install certain 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 gnupg2 -y

Step 3: Import Pale Moon Repository

To install the Pale Moon browser on Debian 11 Bullseye or Debian 10 Buster, 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:

Import PaleMoon browser for Debian 11 Bullseye:

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

Import PaleMoon browser for Debian 10 Buster:

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

With the Pale Moon repository successfully imported, you can now install the browser on your Debian system. To install the browser, run the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt install palemoon -y

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.

Step 5: Launch Pale Moon Browser

After successfully installing the Pale Moon browser on your Debian system, you can easily launch it by following these steps:

1. Click on the “Activities” button in the top left corner of your screen.
2. In the Activities menu, select “Show Applications.”
3. From the list of applications displayed, click on “Pale Moon.”

Alternatively, you could use the following terminal command:

palemoon

Example of PaleMoon application icon on Debian:

When you open Pale Moon Browser for the first time, you can expect to see a pop-up message that asks you to select the browser as the default for your Debian desktop. Depending on your preference, you can select the browser as your default or decline the option. Here are some general tips on getting started with customizations and other useful tips to enhance your browsing experience with Pale Moon:

• Customize your browser: Pale Moon offers a range of customization options, including themes, add-ons, and configuration settings. You can access these options by clicking on the “Menu” button and selecting “Add-ons” or “Preferences.” This will allow you to personalize your browsing experience and tailor the browser to your needs.
• Enable site-specific preferences: Pale Moon allows you to set site-specific preferences, which can be useful for managing website permissions and security settings. To enable this feature, go to “Preferences” and select the “Privacy & Security” tab. From here, you can manage your site-specific preferences and permissions.
• Use tab groups: Pale Moon allows you to group your tabs for better organization and easier navigation. To create a tab group, right-click on a tab and select “New Tab Group.” You can then drag and drop tabs into the group and switch between groups using the drop-down menu on the tab bar.

Example of PaleMoon browser default page on Debian:

Additional Tips

Updating 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.

Removing 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

In conclusion, Pale Moon Browser is a fast, efficient, and customizable alternative to major browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. With a focus on simplicity, privacy, and user control, Pale Moon offers a unique browsing experience tailored to its users’ needs.

This guide provides a step-by-step process for installing and maintaining Pale Moon Browser on Debian 11 Bullseye or Debian 10 Buster. From importing the repository and installing the browser to updating, customizing, and removing it, we have covered everything you need to know to get started with Pale Moon on your Debian system.

With its range of customization options, site-specific preferences, and tab grouping features, Pale Moon Browser offers a powerful and flexible browsing experience that is easy to use and tailored to your needs. By following the instructions in this guide, you can get started with Pale Moon Browser on Debian and enjoy a fast, efficient, and customizable browsing experience free from the bloat and distractions of other browsers.

FAQs on Pale Moon Browser with Debian