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

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

Firefox can run in headless mode, where no graphical user interface (GUI) is necessary. That's useful in server environments and when running automated tests at scale. This guide will show you how to set up Firefox for headless operation as a Windows Service.

To install Firefox as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp:

1. Download and install Firefox if necessary:

   

2. Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.

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. If you installed Firefox in the default folder, this will be:

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

   • In the Arguments field, enter -headless.

   • And in the Name field, enter the name that you will call the application in AlwaysUp. We stuck with the default of Firefox but feel free to specify virtually anything you like.

   

6. Move to the Logon tab and enter the user name and password of the Windows account where you installed and configured Firefox.

   This step is important. If you don't set the right account, Firefox won't find your profiles 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.

   We also recommend checking Stop all copies of the application running on this computer and the boxes below. These options will ensure that another copy of Firefox won't prevent the instance launched by AlwaysUp from starting properly.

   

8. We're done configuring Firefox as a service so click the Save button. In a couple of seconds, an application called Firefox will show up in the AlwaysUp window. It's not yet running though:

   

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

   

   Firefox will be running invisibly in the background, in the isolated Session 0. You won't see it on your desktop, but you'll see the firefox.exe processes in Task Manager.

10. That's it! Next time your computer boots, AlwaysUp will launch Firefox immediately, before anyone logs on. Reboot now and confirm that everything works as you expect.

    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?

• Consult the AlwaysUp Troubleshooter — our online tool that can help you resolve the most common problems encountered when running an application as a Windows Service.

• From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today to bring up an HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and Firefox. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains what each message means.

• Browse the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.

• Contact us and we will be happy to help!