# Top APIs missing on Firefox for Android?

**URL:** <https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506>\
**Category:** Firefox for Android Add-ons\
**Created:** [November 22, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506 "2023-11-22T15:22:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Edward\_Sullivan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/edward_sullivan/32/63229_2.png) [@Edward\_Sullivan](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Edward_Sullivan)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/1 "2023-11-22T15:22:19Z")

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Hey Folks.

Our Engineering team just wrapped up a large effort to make add-ons on Android work, but we realize there is still plenty left to do.

Please let us know about your developer experience around our Android support. Is there something missing you need for development, an API or some functionality that exists on Desktop that you cannot live without on Android?

Please share any feedback in the comments section - we value your input!

Ed Sullivan

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**Author:** ![juraj.masiar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/juraj.masiar/32/30587_2.png) [@juraj.masiar](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/juraj.masiar)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/2 "2023-11-22T18:29:38Z")

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Hello Ed! 🙂

The one I miss the most is the [storage.sync](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1625257) - to synchronize addons data between desktop and Android.

When this is implemented, I can release my “Private Notes” and “Send note to device” addons to Android.

Plus my already released “Auto Highlight” would also start to synchronize highlights with desktop which would be nice to have!

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**Author:** ![Edward\_Sullivan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/edward_sullivan/32/63229_2.png) [@Edward\_Sullivan](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Edward_Sullivan)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/3 "2023-11-22T19:24:13Z")

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Thank you for your input!!

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**Author:** ![regseb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/regseb/32/30689_2.png) [@regseb](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/regseb)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 9:07am UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/4 "2023-11-23T09:07:39Z")

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To port my [_Cast Kodi_](https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/castkodi/) extension to Android, I need the API [**`menus`**](https://bugzil.la/1595822) / `contextMenus`. The extension sends video links to the Kodi media player. The user right-clicks on the link, then selects _Cast to Kodi_ in context menu.

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**Author:** ![metastable](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/metastable/32/61647_2.png) [@metastable](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/metastable)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/5 "2023-11-23T15:22:33Z")

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To port Container Tab Groups we are developing, `contextualIdentities` API is needed. As soon as it becomes available, we will develop an Android version.

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**Author:** ![cadeyrn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/cadeyrn/32/60285_2.png) [@cadeyrn](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/cadeyrn)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/6 "2023-11-24T12:34:53Z")

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As a developer of two add-ons for organizing bookmarks, I would like to see the support of the Bookmarks API in Android. Especially [Keep or Delete Bookmarks](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keep-or-delete-bookmarks/) would work excellently on a smartphone in terms of user experience, as people are used to this concept from other popular apps. The user experience could be even more enhanced with swipe gestures for smartphone users, then it’s really the “Tinder way for organizing Firefox bookmarks”. 😃 It would be a fun project to implement for Android.

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**Author:** ![Edward\_Sullivan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/edward_sullivan/32/63229_2.png) [@Edward\_Sullivan](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Edward_Sullivan)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/7 "2023-11-27T12:34:29Z")

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Duly noted, @regseb!

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**Author:** ![Edward\_Sullivan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/edward_sullivan/32/63229_2.png) [@Edward\_Sullivan](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Edward_Sullivan)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 12:35pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/8 "2023-11-27T12:35:06Z")

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Thank you for the feedback, @metastable!

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**Author:** ![Edward\_Sullivan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/edward_sullivan/32/63229_2.png) [@Edward\_Sullivan](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Edward_Sullivan)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 12:35pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/9 "2023-11-27T12:35:48Z")

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Thank you for the feedback, @cadeyrn!!

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**Author:** ![milouse](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/milouse/32/63549_2.png) [@milouse](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/milouse)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 9:15am UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/10 "2023-12-21T09:15:48Z")

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I confirm being able to use the contextMenu/menu API would be a real game changer. I maintain an addon allowing one to “clean up” links by removing any tracking code in it. Being able to long press a link and choose an action on it would be great!

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**Author:** ![IpsumLorem16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@IpsumLorem16](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/IpsumLorem16)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 10:49am UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/13 "2024-05-05T10:49:25Z")

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Not an API, but I would like to see more instructions on the page: [Set up your computer and Android emulator or device](https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/develop/developing-extensions-for-firefox-for-android/).

Following the Android instructions to install the [Android SDK Command-Line Tools](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line#tools-sdk) for Linux misses a step or two. And took some googling to get it to work.

I found this: which helped me [https://dev.to/mesaquen/android-sdk-command-line-tools-only-4g6e](https://dev.to/mesaquen/android-sdk-command-line-tools-only-4g6e).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![daniboi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/daniboi/32/65256_2.png) [@daniboi](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/daniboi)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/14 "2024-05-05T13:21:19Z")

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Glad to see Omnivore addon finally onboard. Thanks! 😃

Wish there was an alternative for  
QuoteURLText2 extension (works for desktop).

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**Author:** ![denilsonsa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/denilsonsa/32/65424_2.png) [@denilsonsa](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/denilsonsa)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/15 "2024-06-01T21:38:10Z")

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Missing on Firefox Android:

- [storage.sync](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/storage/sync#browser_compatibility).
- A way to create private tabs. On desktop we use [windows.create({ incognito: true })](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/windows/create#incognito), but there is no way to achieve a similar behavior on mobile.
- [openOptionsPage](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/runtime/openOptionsPage) that actually works. When I tried, it opened a new tab `moz-extension://…/options.html`, but it was blank. Instead, I had to go to _⋮ → Extensions → Extensions Manager → my extension → Settings_.

I wanted all of these for my [URI Splitter](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/uri-splitter/) extension.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![regseb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/regseb/32/30689_2.png) [@regseb](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/regseb)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/16 "2024-06-01T22:45:32Z")

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> [@denilsonsa](#):
>
> [openOptionsPage](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/runtime/openOptionsPage) that actually works. When I tried, it opened a new tab `moz-extension://…/options.html` , but it was blank.

[Bug 1795449](https://bugzil.la/1795449) has been opened for this problem.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rob\_Dunka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/0ea827/32.png) [@Rob\_Dunka](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Rob_Dunka)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/17 "2024-09-30T20:21:06Z")

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glad to see ommivore addon finallon onboard, thanks 😀 😀 wish there there was an alternative for quote was an altetnative for Quoteurlt exension works fos desktop

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**Author:** ![Rob\_Dunka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/0ea827/32.png) [@Rob\_Dunka](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Rob_Dunka)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/18 "2024-09-30T20:28:20Z")

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Thank you fohtthank you for your input!!ps://discourse.mozilla.org/guidelinesr your input//we are developing, contextualIdentities API is needed. As soon as it becomes available, we will As a developer of two add-ons for organizing bookmarks, I would like to see the support of the Bookmarks API in Android. Especially Keep or Delete Bookmarks 8 would work excellently on a smartphone in terms of user experience, as people are used to this concept from other popular apps. The user experience could be even more enhanced with swipe gestures for smartphone users, then it’s really the “Tinder way for organizing Firefox bookmarks”. 😃 It would be a fun project to implement for Android.develop an Android version.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rob\_Dunka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/0ea827/32.png) [@Rob\_Dunka](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Rob_Dunka)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/19 "2024-09-30T20:29:07Z")

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I confirm being able to use the contGlad to see Omnivore addon finally onboard. Thanks! 😃

Wish there was an alternative for  
QuoteURLText2 extension (works for desktop).extMenu/menu API would be a real game changer. I maintain an addon allowing one to “clean up” links by removing any tracking code in it. Being able to long press a link and choose an action on it would be great!

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**Author:** ![kristhianX](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/kristhianx/32/66665_2.png) [@kristhianX](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/kristhianX)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/20 "2024-10-27T22:33:50Z")

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Hello, everyone.

Regarding this topic, I would like to know if there is a page where we can view the APIs made available for Android Firefox in the browser updates.

I am aware that a list of browser support for each API exists on the [MDN website](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Browser_support_for_JavaScript_APIs), but if there is any way to receive notifications or access a changelog, it would be more convenient.

Thank you!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Edward\_Sullivan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/edward_sullivan/32/63229_2.png) [@Edward\_Sullivan](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/Edward_Sullivan)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/21 "2024-10-28T15:20:41Z")

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Hey @kristhianX, I think the page below is the best option we have.

> **[Firefox release notes for developers - Mozilla | MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Firefox/Releases)**
>
> Below you'll find links to the developer release notes for every Firefox release. These lovingly-crafted notes provide details on what features and APIs were added and improved and what bugs were eliminated in each version of Firefox. All written to...

Thanks – Ed

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kristhianX](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/kristhianx/32/66665_2.png) [@kristhianX](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/kristhianX)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506/22 "2024-12-26T02:44:04Z")

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Hi!

The tabs API is missing functionality. For instance, **tabs.query({})** does not return the full list of tabs on Android. It returns only the loaded tabs. Also, unloaded tabs will be given a new ID when the user activates them again, so storing a list of tab IDs on tab events is not a good solution to know the real number of tabs.

In my case, I would like this functionality because my [add-on](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/android/addon/essential-buttons-toolbar/) has buttons to allow the user to close all the tabs or close all the tabs in the background. Currently, these actions will only close the loaded tabs.

Another missing functionality, as someone also indicated in a previous comment, is that there is no API to open private tabs, and tabs opened from a private tab using **tabs.create()** will open in private mode, but are not private tabs. I had to disable the buttons that create tabs when the user is in a private tab, to prevent unwanted behaviors.

Thank you!

[Next page](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/top-apis-missing-on-firefox-for-android/124506.md?page=2)