"This add-on could not be installed because it appears to be corrupted"

Add-ons Add-on Support
#1

Hi there,

I’ve built my first addon ever this week and I got a few friends of mine who want to help me test it before I attempt to further polish it. Long live good feedback!

The problem is that I can’t seem to isntall it in my Firefox browser without it telling me that “This addon could not be installed because it appears to be corrupted” when I use the “Install Add-On From File…” command.

Things I’ve tried:

  1. I’ve packed the files I need in a .zip folder with the “Deflate” compression method through Windows.
  2. I’ve used “web-ext build” to get my .zip file. The building works, but I get the same error when trying to install the add-on.
  3. I am running Firefox Developer Browser 131.0b4. I have tried it on the normal Firefox Browser too. Neither work.
  4. I have set “xpinstall.signatures.required” to “false” in “about:config” (on both browsers).
  5. The .zip file DOES work when I load it as a temporary add-on through the “Load Temporary Add-on…” button (on both browsers).
  6. When loaded through “Load Temporary Add-on…” the addon itself works fine and throws no errors in the console.
  7. I have not made the mistake of packing the parent folder that contains the files for the addon, I have only packed the files themselves.

Does anyone have any ideas what I could try next?
Or better yet any ideas what I’m doing wrong?
Maybe someone knows a way to force Firefox to give me a little more information about the corruption?
Am I missing something incredibly obvious?

Thank you so much for the help in advance :smile:

#2

If you upload the zip file, I’ll take a look at it.
A minimal test extension that shows the problem would also work.

1 Like
#3

Hi there,

I have, since creation of this thread, tried a few other add-ons and not had any lucky with those either.

A great tiny test extension like Borderify gives the same error: https://fastupload.io/31695d242cc7f48e

Does this install without issue for you Mr. Squared?

Thanks for the reply!

Edit: Borderify from the linked .zip also runs like a dream when I use “Load as a Temporary Add-on…” button:

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#4

You’re getting the error because the extension doesn’t have an ID.

Extensions and the add-on ID > When do I need an add-on ID?

For Manifest V2 extensions, you need to add an add-on ID when:
You want to install an unsigned add-on from its XPI file, rather than loading it temporarily using about:debugging .

You can set the ID with browser_specific_settings .

3 Likes
#5

That did it, thank you very much :grinning: