How to Run Firefox 24/7 as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp

Mozilla Firefox is one of the world's most popular web browsers.

Note: Mozilla, Firefox and the Firefox logo are trademarks of the Mozilla Foundation in the U.S. and other countries.

To configure Firefox with AlwaysUp:

1. Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.

2. Download and install Firefox if necessary. By default, Firefox is installed to C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox and we will use that setting in the steps below.

3. Start AlwaysUp.

4. Select Application > Add to open the Add Application window:

   

5. On the General tab:

   • In the Application field, enter the full path to the Firefox executable file, firefox.exe. Since we installed Firefox in the default directory, we have specified:

     C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

   • In the Name field, enter the name that you will call the application in AlwaysUp. We have used Firefox but feel free to specify virtually anything you like.

   

6. Click over to the Logon tab and enter the user name and password of the account where you installed and have configured Firefox. This step is important; if omitted, Firefox will not find your bookmarks and other settings...

   

7. Click over to the Startup tab and check the Ensure that the Windows Networking components have started box. This informs AlwaysUp that Firefox needs the TCP/IP networking stack to operate.

   

8. Click the Save >> button. In a couple of seconds, an application called Firefox will show up in the AlwaysUp window. It is not yet running though.

   

9. To start Firefox, choose Application > Start "Firefox":

   

   Firefox will be running in the background, on the isolated Session 0.

10. Note: If running in the background in Session 0 is not an option and Firefox must be visible on screen (for example, if you are constructing a Kiosk application), you may want to follow these instructions to run Firefox in a "regular" user session.

11. That's it! Next time your computer boots, Firefox will start up immediately, before anyone logs on. We encourage you to edit Firefox in AlwaysUp and check out the many other settings that may be appropriate for your environment.

Firefox not working properly as a Windows Service?

• From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today... to bring up a HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and your application. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains the more obscure messages.
• Consult the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.
• Contact us and we will be happy to help!