LibreWolf is a custom version of Firefox, described on its own page as "focused on privacy, security and freedom" and not affiliated with Mozilla. The project says it aims to remove all the telemetry, data collection and annoyances, and to strengthen protection against tracking and fingerprinting. Its install page for Windows does not show a version number, and the official release lists on GitLab and GitHub could not be loaded, so no current version is given here.
The project is community-driven. The home page lists core contributors by their handles, including ohfp as project admin. It does not state a price or show the licence text, linking to a "License and Disclaimers" page that was not read.
Ways to install it on Windows
| Option | What the install page says |
|---|---|
| Setup installer | x86_64 and arm64 .exe; can optionally install LibreWolf WinUpdater, recommended for automatic updates |
| Microsoft Store | Updated by the system |
| Portable ZIP | x86_64 and arm64; includes WinUpdater |
| Chocolatey, Scoop, WinGet | Package managers that can keep it current; WinGet needs Windows 10 1709 (build 16299) or later |
Scope: librewolf.net/installation/windows, read 23 Oct 2026. The page lists no general Windows minimum, so the WinGet figure is the only one stated.
Updates are the point to understand. The page recommends WinUpdater for automatic updates and offers it as an option during setup, and scheduled checks can be switched on or off later. A reader who skips WinUpdater should plan how to update, since an out-of-date browser misses security fixes such as the ones in Firefox 158.0.1.
Defaults the home page states
| Item | Statement |
|---|---|
| uBlock Origin | Included; the page says it is already included for your convenience |
| Search providers | Privacy-focused providers such as DuckDuckGo and Searx are listed; the default is not stated |
| Telemetry | The project aims to remove all of it |
| Fingerprinting | Meant to strengthen protection; no setting names are given on the page |
Scope: librewolf.net, read 23 Oct 2026. A stronger privacy stance usually changes how some sites behave, and the pages we read do not describe those trade-offs, so test your sites.
How it relates to Firefox
LibreWolf follows Firefox, so a Firefox release changes it. Firefox's dated release notes show a two-week rhythm, 158.0 on 13 October 2026 and 158.0.1 a week later, and LibreWolf builds then need to follow. The pages read do not say how long that takes, and the mirror sites that list LibreWolf versions are third-party, so this page does not rely on them.
Settings that differ from stock Firefox
LibreWolf's features page lists the changes made to Firefox's defaults. They are the reason someone chooses it, and each one changes how websites behave.
| Change | What the features page says |
|---|---|
| Cookies | Deleted when the browser closes |
| Search | Privacy-focused engines such as DuckDuckGo and Searx |
| Blocking | uBlock Origin with custom filter lists, and strict tracking protection |
| Cookie isolation | Total Cookie Protection (dFPI) keeps cookies separate between sites |
| Fingerprinting | RFP anti-fingerprinting so users appear more uniform to websites; reports en-US as the language; WebGL disabled |
| Connections | HTTPS-only mode; DNS and WebRTC routed through the proxy when one is in use |
| Google services | Google Safe Browsing disabled |
| Telemetry | Telemetry, crash reports and studies turned off |
| DRM | Disabled |
Scope: librewolf.net/docs/features, read 23 Oct 2026.
Three of these will be noticed quickly. Cookies cleared at close mean being signed out each time. Disabled DRM means streaming services that rely on it may not play video. A page reporting en-US as your language can change what some sites show. Disabled Safe Browsing means the Google service that Firefox normally uses to warn about dangerous sites is off, a trade-off the project's own list makes plain.
Before you install: a short check
- Choose an install route. The page lists a setup installer, the Microsoft Store, a portable ZIP and three package managers, and WinGet needs Windows 10 1709 or later.
- Decide on updates before you start. Take WinUpdater if you want automatic updates, or use the Store or a package manager, which the page says keep it current.
- Expect sign-outs. Cookies are cleared when the browser closes, so keep a password manager ready.
- Check your streaming needs. DRM is disabled, so services that rely on it may not play video.
What the pages leave open
LibreWolf's pages give no price, no licence text in what we read, and no current version number on the home or installation pages. The project's release page on Codeberg lists 158.0.1-2, dated 16 October 2026, numbered after the Firefox 158.0.1 release covered in this directory. The project describes itself as community-driven and names its core contributors by handle, which is useful for judging who maintains it. The pages do not say how quickly a Firefox security release reaches LibreWolf users, and that delay is the main practical risk of any Firefox derivative. Until you have checked it yourself, assume it follows Firefox, not that it matches Firefox's release day.
| Release | Date on the release page |
|---|---|
| 158.0.1-2 | 16 Oct 2026 |
| 158.0.1-1 | 16 Oct 2026 (same timestamp) |
| 158.0-1 | 13 Oct 2026 |
Scope: codeberg.org/librewolf/bsys6/releases, read 24 Oct 2026. The GitLab releases page says development has moved to Codeberg.
Alternatives in this directory
Mozilla Firefox is the base project, with its own release schedule and Windows 10 or later requirement. Brave and Vivaldi offer ad blocking in Chromium-based browsers. Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are the mainstream Chromium options. LibreWolf's cache is one of many that BleachBit can clean.