AskVG

How to Enable Built-in Facebook Messenger and Social API in Mozilla Firefox?

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UPDATE: New about:config method added which allows you enable the new social API. Scroll down to read the new method.

If you are a Mozilla Firefox user and also love spending your time on Facebook, here is an excellent news for you. Yesterday we told you that the latest Firefox version comes with a new feature called “Social API” which will help you in accessing social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc right from your favorite web browser Mozilla Firefox without opening the social networking websites in the browser. This new feature will add social network buttons and sidebars in Firefox window so that you can chat with your friends, check messages, notifications, etc quickly and easily.

Currently the feature is new and only Facebook integration has been implemented in the latest Firefox version but in future more social networks will be added.

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If you are not a social network fan, don’t worry. This feature it not enabled by default. It gets automatically enabled if you access these social networking websites frequently.

If you don’t want to wait and want to turn the feature on immediately, you can do it using following simple steps:

1. First go to following official Facebook URL to turn “Facebook Messenger” on in Firefox:

facebook.com/about/messenger-for-firefox

Just click on “Turn On” button in the above link and it’ll immediately enable the Facebook API in Firefox.

Turn_Facebook_Messenger_on_Firefox.png

2. As soon as you turn the Facebook messenger on, it’ll add Facebook buttons in Firefox toolbar and Facebook chat sidebar in right-side of Firefox window as shown in following screenshot:

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Facebook_Sidebar_Firefox.png

3. The Facebook buttons in Firefox toolbar will help you in checking your notifications, messages, etc without going to actual Facebook website.

Facebook chat sidebar will allow you chat with your friends just like you do in original Facebook website.

4. You can disable the Facebook chat sidebar by clicking on Facebook button present in Firefox toolbar and unchecking “Show sidebar” option.

Remove_Facebook_Messenger_Firefox.png

If you don’t like the Facebook messenger and want to disable it, you can click on “Remove from Firefox” option using Facebook button in toolbar.

UPDATE: You can also use a built-in tweak to enable and activate the whole social API in Firefox. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Open Firefox and type about:config in the addressbar and press Enter. It’ll confirm, click on I’ll be careful, I promise! button.

2. Now type social in the Filter box and look for following boolean keys:

social.active
social.enabled

3. Both keys would be set to false. Double-click or right-click on the keys and select “Toggle“. It’ll set their values to true.

That’s it. It’ll enable the new social API in Firefox. Thanks to our reader “ankur” for this tip…

So do you like this new feature of Firefox? Feel free to share your comment…

Published in: Mobiles and Internet, Mozilla Firefox

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

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Comments

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  3. this can be done via about:config
    just set these two values to true

    social.active=true
    social.enabled=true

    no need to go that site

  5. i enabled this feature and then disabled it. since that day whenever someone sends me a chat message, the chat pop up windows does not come up and the message goes in my messages on top bar. really frustrated.

  7. ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
    i also have disabled Java due to recently raised security concerned. could this be the reason why the API is gone? ive also checked about:config and find that both “social.active” and “social.enabled” keys are gone. that leads to another question: did mozilla just removed the API?

  8. ^^ Its working fine here in latest Nightly. Try to reinstall the messenger using official Facebook link given in the topic.

  11. This is the most helpful info I found, and i had checked and tried different websites. Thank you AskVG.com

  12. i have the same problem with @Chetan.. i enabled this feature and then removed it. since that day whenever someone sends me a chat message, the chat pop up windows does not come up and the message goes in my messages on top bar.

  13. hey VG it seems that about:config method no longer works. (FF v23 stable)
    because social.active = not found

    update the article or find a solution.

    what i did previously that go to that site and enable the messenger (online method) and
    then look for changes in “Important Modified Preferences” on about:support page.

  14. found a link about new services in FFv23
    support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-services-add-social-features-your-browser?as=u&utm_source=inproduct

  15. The First key: “social.active” is not found in “about:config” page in Firefox.
    Then How do I enable it?

    Firefox 28.0
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64

    Thanks in Advance

  16. The link”facebook.com/about/messenger-for-firefox” is now broken, please update this page

  17. If you want the facebook messenger for firefox, download it from this link:
    addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/facebook-messenger/

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