In the ever-evolving world of web development, browser tools play a crucial role in building, debugging, and optimizing websites. For years, developers have used Chrome DevOps Tools across multiple browsers, including Firefox, through various integrations and extensions. But now, Google has officially removed Chrome DevOps Tools support for Firefox, marking a significant shift in how developers interact with their toolsets. 

In this post, we’ll dive into why this change happened, what it means for developers, and what alternatives you can consider moving forward.

🚨 What Changed?

As of early 2025, Chrome DevOps Tools is no longer supported in the Firefox browser. This means developers can no longer use Chrome’s debugging tools directly in or for Firefox-based applications. This move is part of Google’s ongoing effort to streamline its tools and ensure better compatibility and performance within its own ecosystem.

💡 Why Was Chrome DevOps Tools Support for Firefox Removed?

There are several possible reasons behind this decision:

1. Focus on Chrome Ecosystem

Google is tightening its focus on optimizing tools like DevOps Tools exclusively for Chromium-based browsers. Supporting Firefox, which uses a different rendering engine (Gecko), may have posed ongoing compatibility challenges.

2. Maintenance Overhead

Keeping DevOps Tools running smoothly across different browsers requires considerable engineering resources. Removing support helps Google reduce that burden and focus on improving performance and features where they matter most — inside Chrome.

3. Encouraging Native Tools

Firefox has its own powerful set of developer tools. By removing Chrome DevOps Tools support, it indirectly encourages developers to adopt Firefox’s native tools, which are better optimized for that environment.

🧰 What Should Developers Do Now?

If you were relying on Chrome DevOps Tools for Firefox, here are your best alternatives:

✅ 1. Use Firefox Developer Tools

Firefox comes equipped with a robust and fully-featured DevOps Tools suite. It supports advanced debugging, performance profiling, accessibility audits, and more.

✅ 2. Switch Between Browsers for Testing

Use Chrome DevOps Tools for Chrome-specific testing and Firefox DevOps Tools for Firefox-specific features. While it may involve more switching, it ensures more accurate testing and debugging.

✅ 3. Use Cross-Browser Testing Tools

Consider using tools like:

• BrowserStack

• LambdaTest

• Sauce Labs
  These platforms let you test and debug websites across multiple browsers and devices from one place.

📝 Final Thoughts

The removal of Chrome DevOps Tools support for Firefox marks the end of a convenience, but not the end of effective debugging. Embracing native tools and cross-browser testing platforms ensures your development workflow remains solid and future-proof.