Installing Pale Moon Browser on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
If you’re tired of the endless “I need a lighter browser” conversation and your Ubuntu box keeps spitting out “no such file or directory” when you try to run Pale Moon, this post will get it up and running in under ten minutes.
Why Pale Moon is Worth the Effort
Pale Moon is the stripped‑down descendant of Firefox that still loves its add‑on ecosystem. On Ubuntu 22.04 it gives you a fast, no‑bloat experience without giving up compatibility with legacy web apps. I’ve seen users ditch Chromium because of its heavy memory use and then complain about “slow tab opening” in Firefox; Pale Moon settles nicely in the middle.
Step 1: Prepare Your System
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Your package lists need to be fresh, otherwise the next command might try to fetch an old dependency that no longer exists. It also pulls in any kernel updates that could affect libssl or glibc versions used by Pale Moon.
Step 2: Install Dependencies
sudo apt install -y libgconf-2-4 libxss1 libappindicator3-1 wget
Pale Moon relies on `libgconf` for certain UI tweaks and `libxss` for power‑saving features. Without them the browser might start but crash instantly or fail to render pages correctly. The `wget` package is just a handy tool to pull the `.deb` later.
Step 3: Download the Latest Debian Package
cd ~/Downloads wget https://www.palemoon.org/downloads/palemoon-latest.deb
Using the official download link ensures you get the most recent build that supports Ubuntu 22.04’s libraries. If you grab an older package from a mirror, you might end up with missing symbols or broken extensions.
Step 4: Install via `dpkg`
sudo dpkg -i palemoon-latest.deb || sudo apt install -f -y
`dpkg` will complain about unmet dependencies. The `||` clause triggers an automatic fix with `apt install -f`, pulling in any missing packages the Debian installer didn’t handle. Skipping this step would leave you staring at a gray screen the moment you try to open Pale Moon.
Step 5: Add the Browser to Your Menu
The `.deb` installer usually creates a launcher, but if it doesn’t:
printf '[Desktop Entry]\nName=Pale Moon\nExec=palemoon %u\nIcon=palemoon\nTerminal=false\nType=Application\nCategories=Network;WebBrowser;\n' | sudo tee /usr/share/applications/palemoon.desktop
Having a desktop entry is the simplest way to launch Pale Moon from the Activities overview. Without it you’d have to type `palemoon` in a terminal each time.
Step 6 (Optional): Pin to GNOME Shell for Easy Switching
If you’re on Wayland and want the browser to respect your session:
sudo gsettings set org.gnome.shell.app-switcher current-workspace-only true
This keeps the browser in the same workspace, preventing accidental tab switching when you press Alt‑Tab. Some users report a confusing “ghost window” on Wayland; this tweak eliminates that.
Step 7: Launch and Verify
palemoon &
Open `about:support` in the address bar. The page should show:
- Operating System: Linux Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- Browser Build ID: recent (e.g., 2023‑08‑12)
- Available Add-ons: Full list of extensions
If any of those fields say “unknown” or throw errors, you’re still missing a dependency. The `about:support` page is the quickest sanity check.
Common Pitfalls and How to Fix Them
1. “Could not open display” when running from terminal – You’re likely in SSH or TTY. Run it from X session, or use `sudo -H palemoon`.
2. Extensions won’t load – Some add‑ons target the old Firefox API that Pale Moon still supports but requires the correct `mozilla.cfg` file. Make sure you didn’t accidentally delete `/usr/lib/palemoon/mozilla.cfg` during an update.
3. Memory spikes after a few tabs – That’s normal for any browser based on Gecko. If it feels sluggish, try disabling “Hardware acceleration” in Preferences => General => Performance.
The Bottom Line
Pale Moon is a lightweight, no‑frills alternative that still plays nicely with Ubuntu 22.04. It takes just a handful of commands to get it running; the key is ensuring dependencies are present and fixing any leftover package issues with `apt install -f`. Once installed, you’ll have a browser that feels fast, keeps your add‑on workflow intact, and doesn’t eat your system resources.
