Three Firefox Add-ons that will Boost Your Productivity

If you’d rather do this in Thunderbird instead, jump over to my Three Thunderbird Add-ons that will Boost Your Productivity article.

First off, I’d like to thank Marcio, AKA Starboy, for suggesting a few of these add-ons, and for suggesting the topic of add-ons, sometimes called extensions, for Firefox and Thunderbird.

If you want Firefox to do a little more for you without a bunch of setup, these three add-ons are worth a look. I’m linking directly to each add-on so you can install it without hunting around.

For each add-on I feature, I’ll link directly to the add-on itself so you can add it to Firefox without needing to search through Firefox add-ons.

PriceBlink

Ever been looking at prices for stuff online and wonder if a coupon code was available or if another site had a lower price? If so, add PriceBlink to Firefox. It can surface coupon codes and price comparisons while you’re shopping online.

Here’s the direct install link: PriceBlink on Mozilla Add-ons.

Note that for screen reader users, the menu for the add-on may show up near the top of pages depending on the site. When you trigger a coupon option and nothing seems to happen, look for an element just below the description where the code is revealed or copied. This process can be a bit fiddly, but considering you don’t have to manually hunt for coupon codes yourself, it can be worth the hassle.

Also, a quick reality check: shopping add-ons often require broad permissions to read the pages you’re on. If that makes you uncomfortable, skip it. Your comfort level matters more than saving a couple of bucks on a toaster.

Spotify Hotkeys

This extension adds configurable keyboard shortcuts and notifications for the Spotify web player.

Direct install link: Spotify Hotkeys on Mozilla Add-ons.

Here are the defaults I like to start with:

Play or pause, Alt Shift P

Next track, Alt Shift Right Arrow

Previous track, Alt Shift Left Arrow

Shuffle, Alt Shift F

Repeat, Alt Shift R

Play album, Alt Shift B

If you want Spotify’s built-in shortcut list too, Spotify keeps one here: Spotify keyboard shortcuts.

One more option worth knowing about is Spotify Web Player Hotkeys, which is another add-on focused on custom hotkeys. If one of these doesn’t behave well on your system, try the other.

YouTube layout tweaks that still have a pulse

I used to love the old classic YouTube way of doing things. These days, the truly old layout is basically gone, but you can still tweak the modern site so it feels a little closer to what you remember.

If you want to change YouTube’s layout in Firefox, take a look at YouTube Redux or CustomTube.

The nice thing about these is once you add them to Firefox, you usually don’t have to do much else. The best add-ons are the ones that just work, eh?

Other Firefox extensions?

Like I said before, please let me know in the comments about any other Firefox extensions you use and enjoy. This info will also be great for anyone else who reads this blog.

FAQ

What’s the quickest way to install a Firefox add-on from a link?

Open the add-on page in Firefox, choose the add option, then follow the prompts. After it installs, you can manage it in the Add-ons Manager.

Why do YouTube layout add-ons sometimes break?

Because YouTube changes the site constantly. These add-ons are basically trying to restyle a moving target. If the layout changes, the add-on may need an update or it may stop working.

Are shopping add-ons safe to use?

They can be, but always read the permissions before installing. If an add-on needs access to every page you visit and that feels too broad, skip it.

Thanks and Qapla!