Ideas for Android (how to inject the config files)

[TerkiKerel]

Hi,

the new web-extension API does not allow add-ons to edit about:config references. We can change the user.js file on our desktop operating systems. But how we can edit user.js on mobile Android Firefox? We can change them manually from about:config but these takes long time. Also I always reset my settings/or I reset the mobile phone completely. It is difficult to set all these settings from mobile.

It would be great if you have an idea for Android Firefox.

Thank you

[Atavic]

The entire Mozilla profile is not visible to the non-rooted Android user.

http://codeverge.com/mozilla.support.firefox/why-would-mozilla-developers-disallow/2044673

[TerkiKerel]

@Thorin-Oakenpants but many users use non-rooted phone. %99 of user.js preferences are about privacy and you are telling me to use sync (the cloud thing) ? :)

There should be tricks to change the preferences. The only way is not to use user.js file. For example:

1- we can try to write user-script for Greasemonkey or violentmonkey which executes a script on about:config page ?

2- remote debugging about:config page from destkop firefox ?

3- execute a javascript from url-bar (like bookmarklet) ?

Or any other tricks/ideas?

Thank you

[Atavic]

2 - Android has strict permissions and a single user by default.

[TerkiKerel]

I try remote debugging from my desktop Firefox. I did not installed any extension or ADB on my operating system. It is very easy to debug remote android.

I write a simple javascript to execute on about:config page. I tested it. I write it here. maybe someone will need it.

var user_pref = function(pref, val){

  try{
    if(typeof val == "string"){

         Services.prefs.setStringPref(pref, val);      
    }
    else if(typeof val == "number"){

         Services.prefs.setIntPref(pref, val);      
    }
    else if(typeof val == "boolean"){

         Services.prefs.setBoolPref(pref, val);      
    }
  } catch(e){
    console.log("pref:" + pref + " val:" + val + " e:" + e);
  }
}
//paste your user.js file content here

[TerkiKerel]

@Thorin-Oakenpants yes it works. I tested it.

First you start remote debugging from desktop Firefox (without any extension or Android-SDK). Desktop Firefox has build-in WebIDE module. After you connect to android firefox app, you go to about:config page. You can also inject a script to a web page that opened from Android. Copy my script, also copy your userjs file below it, and execute whole script to android firefox.

I am using:

• desktop Firefox 57.0.3
• android mobile firefox beta 58.0b12
• android mobile firefox stable 57.0.1

"only take the active ones?" --> I don't know if I understand your question exactly. But I see this: If I will call my user_pref method with any parameter it works. I mean If I have "media.navigator.this.pref.is.not.exist" it works. But does it matters ? Who cares if I have a pref which is not using by anyone?...

I think this topic should be clearly documented. Mobile privacy is more terrible status than Desktop.

[Atavic]

👍 Android [Generic]

[Atavic]

I didn't mean that as title, but as an idea that a wiki page for non-rooted devices only seems limited IMHO

[icpantsparti]

I managed to set some Firefox preferences on my non-root Android using TerkiKerel's javascript. It is straight forward, but not entirely obvious at first. Here are some notes which might help towards an Android wiki page.

Using remote debugging to inject user.js preferences to Android Firefox

1) Choose a) Wi-Fi (easier) or b) USB connection

1a) Connecting Firefox on your Desktop Computer and Android Device via Wi-Fi

mozilla - Debugging_Firefox_for_Android_over_Wifi

• Install the ZXing Team Barcode Scanner Android app
• Enable "Remote debugging via Wi-Fi" on Android Firefox (Options|Settings|Advanced)
(You might have to toggle this off/on later if troubleshooting)
• On desktop Firefox visit and set true: about:config?filter=devtools.webide.enabled
• Open WebIDE on desktop Firefox (Shift+F8 or menu|Tools|Web Developer)
• Click "Refresh Devices" icon (upper right), click on your Android device
• Scan the QR code with your Android to connect

Troubleshooting, if the device is not seen (note any settings changes for reversal later):
(Visit the troubleshooting link on the Mozilla page for more details.)

• Is desktop firewall stopping connection?
• Is Android firewall app stopping connection? (eg NetGuard, No-root firewall, etc)
• Is Network/router settings/firewall stopping connection?
• Desktop needs to be on Wi-Fi too and not wired? (wired can work)
• Desktop firefox version is too much older than Android firefox?

1b) Connecting Firefox on your Desktop Computer and Android Device with a USB cable

mozilla - Debugging_Firefox_for_Android_with_WebIDE

• Enable "Remote debugging via USB" on Android Firefox (Options|Settings|Advanced)
• Enable Android's "USB debugging" (Settings app|Developer options)
(You might have to toggle either of these off/on later if troubleshooting.)
Note: to unhide "Developer options" tap "Build number" 7 times (Settings app|About Device)
• Watch out for any Android allow/connect prompts.
• On desktop Firefox visit and set true: about:config?filter=devtools.webide.enabled
• Open WebIDE on desktop Firefox (Shift+F8 or menu|Tools|Web Developer)
• You need the ADB Helper Add-on (menu|Project|Manage Extra Components)
(Click uninstall/install to update, or get it here if you have trouble.)
• Click "Refresh Devices" icon (upper right), click on your Android device

Troubleshooting, if the device is not seen (note any settings changes for reversal later):
(Click the troubleshooting link on the Mozilla page for more details.)

• Did you plug in your USB cable? ;-D
• Windows: you might need to install Google USB Driver from Android SDK?
• Linux: you may need a /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules file, then restart udev (or reboot)?
• Linux: you might need to install android-tools-adb / adb? (it can work without)
• Desktop firefox version is too much older than Android firefox?

2) Remote access

• Open "about:config" page on Android Firefox
It will show under WebIDE "TABS" on Desktop Firefox too (use tabs refresh icon)
• Click the remote tab name and the "web developer tools" panel will open
(if you exit the panel by accident use: F12 or Project|Debug App)
• Select the "Scratchpad" button
(If there is no button for "Scratchpad" click the cog and enable it)

3) Inject the preferences

• Paste the javascript (by TerkiKerel), and your user.js into the scratchpad

var user_pref = function(pref, val){
  try{
    if(typeof val == "string"){
         Services.prefs.setStringPref(pref, val);      
    }
    else if(typeof val == "number"){
         Services.prefs.setIntPref(pref, val);      
    }
    else if(typeof val == "boolean"){
         Services.prefs.setBoolPref(pref, val);      
    }
  } catch(e){
    console.log("pref:" + pref + " val:" + val + " e:" + e);
  }
}
//paste your user.js file content here

• The script sets a function called user_pref so wherever that appears in the rest of the code (ie in the part from your user.js) that function is called to set the user preference. Any code for preferences that are commented out will not be run. If a preference name does not exist or is mistyped it will still be created without any warnings.
• Use "Display" (Ctrl+L) to run the javascript as it adds a result message in a comment after the script, which will say "undefined" or show errors.
• Also click the "Console" button to look for any other error messages.
• If errors occur on a line, the script might have stopped at that line, and you will need to correct the error in the code and re-run.
• Check your Android Firefox about:support and about:config pages for your modified preferences, and see if the "_user.js.parrot" preference is showing success.

4) Finish

• Disconnect: WebIDE menu|Runtime|Disconnect
• For security, reverse settings you temporarily changed in any steps above:
• Desktop Firefox's WebIDE preference back to false
• Android Firefox's debugging off
• Android's USB debugging off (if used)
• Troubleshooting changes (desktop firewall, android firewall, router, etc)

[icpantsparti]

May be also worth a mention on a Android wiki page. You can view the prefs you have set on about:support, but if you want to get the contents of prefs.js on non-root Android.

Enter into the firefox url address bar: file:///data/data/org.mozilla.firefox (if using beta append _beta). Navigate your way through to the file inside your profile directory, such as: file:///data/data/org.mozilla.firefox/files/mozilla/????????.default/prefs.js

Tap on the prefs.js file and it displays, long press, select all, copy and paste into a text editor type app (such as QuickEdit, etc) for saving. (Note that firefox updates the prefs.js file on app exit so settings made during the current session would not be visible yet.)

[jghq]

I am rooted but FF wouldn't pick up user.js for some reason. This method worked perfectly. THANK YOU.

Suggesting this for rooted:

All steps are performed on your Android.
*Bring up the list of running apps by tapping the usually square button and stop Firefox by swiping it away.
*Start your file manager that supports root, such as https://f-droid.org/packages/com.ghostsq.commander/.
*Copy your user.js file to your profile folder at data/data/org.mozilla.firefox/files/mozilla/[random_string].default.
*Set permissions on the file to match other files in the directory.
*Start Firefox, go to about:config and confirm user.js was recognized. Be sure to check the last line as well, in case processing was stopped in the middle due to some error.
*If you delete user.js from your profile directory, the applied settings will remain until you or the application changes them. If you don't delete the file, all settings in the file will be reapplied on each Firefox start.
*If no settings from user.js are applied, follow the Non-Rooted method below.

[ohhai]

This doesn't work for now:
Services.prefs.setIntPref(pref, val);

Tried to prepend it with
const Services = require("Services");
or
const { Services } = Components.utils.import("resource://gre/modules/Services.jsm");
but these statements throw errors as well.

Is there any way to read/write FF preferences in remote debugging console?

[rusty-snake]

Did you saw #1147?

[ohhai]

No, thanks a lot!

For google: I was able to get and set preferences for Firefox 90.0.3 @ Android staying on about:support page. Related: #1147 (comment)
Used remote JS console inside about:debugging on desktop PC. Don't forget to turn off remote debugging in both FF and Android settings after all.

So, no need to live with Firefox Nightly on Android just because of about:config availability.