How to remove firefox completely from Linux Mint 19.3

I have been having problems recently with Firefox 77.01 on Linux Mint 19.3 cinnamon. It takes quite a while to start up, when other browsers I use start almost immediately. I tried all the advice about starting with add-on’s disabled, and other hints, but no luck. I have also followed every bit of advice I have found on the internet to remove it so that I can reinstall, but no matter what I do, and firefox is said no longer to exist, it pops up again when I type firefox in the terminal. Can someone please advise as to what I am missing out?

sudo apt purge firefox*
which firefox
sudo find / -iname "firefox*"
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Akito, thanks. I have typed in separately each line of your reply, and then re-booted. The firefox icon is still on my desktop and clicking it returns me to my installed firefox version 77.0.1 (64 bit). I have followed detailed instructions of a good many sites that I have discovered, and nothing works. I must be missing something elementary. Any suggestions?

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What were the outputs of the commands? That’s the important part.

Additionally, open the desktop icon with a text editor and post its content here.

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This is what I get with the first two commands:

sudo apt purge firefox*
[sudo] password
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
E: Unable to locate package firefox_dl_n_install.sh
E: Couldn’t find any package by glob ‘firefox_dl_n_install.sh’
E: Couldn’t find any package by regex ‘firefox_dl_n_install.sh’

which firefox
/snap/bin/firefox

The third command brings up pages of information, such as the following:
etc/firefox
/etc/apport/native-origins.d/firefox
/etc/apport/blacklist.d/firefox
/etc/apparmor.d/abstractions/ubuntu-browsers.d/firefox
/run/snapd/ns/firefox.mnt
/run/snapd/lock/firefox.lock
find: ‘/run/user/1000/doc’: Permission denied
find: ‘/run/user/1000/gvfs’: Permission denied
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/etc/firefox
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/etc/apport/native-origins.d/firefox
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/etc/apport/blacklist.d/firefox
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/etc/apparmor.d/abstractions/ubuntu-browsers.d/firefox
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/lib/firefox
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/lib/firefox-addons
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/32/firefox.png
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/32/firefox-4.0.png
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/32/firefox-original.png
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/32/firefox-3.5.png
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/32/firefox-3.0.png
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/48/firefox.png
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/48/firefox-4.0.png
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/48/firefox-original.png
/timeshift/snapshots/2020-06-27_11-00-01/localhost/usr/share/icons/Mint-X/apps/48/firefox-3.5.png
/timeshif

Should I send all that, as it seems quite a lot?

Finally, this is the information using the text editor to open the firefox deaktop icon:
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=Firefox Web Browser
Name[ar]=متصفح الويب فَيَرفُكْس
Name[ast]=Restolador web Firefox
Name[bn]=ফায়ারফক্স ওয়েব ব্রাউজার
Name[ca]=Navegador web Firefox
Name[cs]=Firefox Webový prohlížeč
Name[da]=Firefox - internetbrowser
Name[el]=Περιηγητής Firefox
Name[es]=Navegador web Firefox
Name[et]=Firefoxi veebibrauser
Name[fa]=مرورگر اینترنتی Firefox
Name[fi]=Firefox-selain
Name[fr]=Navigateur Web Firefox
Name[gl]=Navegador web Firefox
Name[he]=דפדפן האינטרנט Firefox
Name[hr]=Firefox web preglednik
Name[hu]=Firefox webböngésző
Name[it]=Firefox Browser Web
Name[ja]=Firefox ウェブ・ブラウザ
Name[ko]=Firefox 웹 브라우저
Name[ku]=Geroka torê Firefox
Name[lt]=Firefox interneto naršyklė
Name[nb]=Firefox Nettleser
Name[nl]=Firefox webbrowser

Name[nn]=Firefox Nettlesar
Name[no]=Firefox Nettleser
Name[pl]=Przeglądarka WWW Firefox
Name[pt]=Firefox Navegador Web
Name[pt_BR]=Navegador Web Firefox
Name[ro]=Firefox – Navigator Internet
Name[ru]=Веб-браузер Firefox
Name[sk]=Firefox - internetový prehliadač
Name[sl]=Firefox spletni brskalnik
Name[sv]=Firefox webbläsare
Name[tr]=Firefox Web Tarayıcısı
Name[ug]=Firefox توركۆرگۈ
Name[uk]=Веб-браузер Firefox
Name[vi]=Trình duyệt web Firefox
Name[zh_CN]=Firefox 网络浏览器
Name[zh_TW]=Firefox 網路瀏覽器
Comment=Browse the World Wide Web
Comment[ar]=تصفح الشبكة العنكبوتية العالمية
Comment[ast]=Restola pela Rede
Comment[bn]=ইন্টারনেট ব্রাউজ করুন

Comment[ca]=Navegueu per la web
Comment[cs]=Prohlížení stránek World Wide Webu
Comment[da]=Surf på internettet
Comment[de]=Im Internet surfen
Comment[el]=Μπορείτε να περιηγηθείτε στο διαδίκτυο (Web)
Comment[es]=Navegue por la web
Comment[et]=Lehitse veebi
Comment[fa]=صفحات شبکه جهانی اینترنت را مرور نمایید
Comment[fi]=Selaa Internetin WWW-sivuja
Comment[fr]=Naviguer sur le Web
Comment[gl]=Navegar pola rede
Comment[he]=גלישה ברחבי האינטרנט
Comment[hr]=Pretražite web
Comment[hu]=A világháló böngészése
Comment[it]=Esplora il web
Comment[ja]=ウェブを閲覧します
Comment[ko]=웹을 돌아 다닙니다
Comment[ku]=Li torê bigere
Comment[lt]=Naršykite internete
Comment[nb]=Surf på nettet
Comment[nl]=Verken het internet
Comment[nn]=Surf på nettet
Comment[no]=Surf på nettet
Comment[pl]=Przeglądanie stron WWW
Comment[pt]=Navegue na Internet
Comment[pt_BR]=Navegue na Internet
Comment[ro]=Navigați pe Internet
Comment[ru]=Доступ в Интернет
Comment[sk]=Prehliadanie internetu
Comment[sl]=Brskajte po spletu
Comment[sv]=Surfa på webben
Comment[tr]=İnternet’te Gezinin
Comment[ug]=دۇنيادىكى توربەتلەرنى كۆرگىلى بولىدۇ
Comment[uk]=Перегляд сторінок Інтернету
Comment[vi]=Để duyệt các trang web
Comment[zh_CN]=浏览互联网
Comment[zh_TW]=瀏覽網際網路
GenericName=Web Browser
GenericName[ar]=متصفح ويب
GenericName[ast]=Restolador Web
GenericName[bn]=ওয়েব ব্রাউজার
GenericName[ca]=Navegador web
GenericName[cs]=Webový prohlížeč
GenericName[da]=Webbrowser
GenericName[el]=Περιηγητής διαδικτύου
GenericName[es]=Navegador web
GenericName[et]=Veebibrauser
GenericName[fa]=مرورگر اینترنتی
GenericName[fi]=WWW-selain
GenericName[fr]=Navigateur Web
GenericName[gl]=Navegador Web
GenericName[he]=דפדפן אינטרנט
GenericName[hr]=Web preglednik
GenericName[hu]=Webböngésző
GenericName[it]=Browser web
GenericName[ja]=ウェブ・ブラウザ
GenericName[ko]=웹 브라우저
GenericName[ku]=Geroka torê
GenericName[lt]=Interneto naršyklė
GenericName[nb]=Nettleser
GenericName[nl]=Webbrowser
GenericName[nn]=Nettlesar
GenericName[no]=Nettleser
GenericName[pl]=Przeglądarka WWW
GenericName[pt]=Navegador Web
GenericName[pt_BR]=Navegador Web
GenericName[ro]=Navigator Internet
GenericName[ru]=Веб-браузер
GenericName[sk]=Internetový prehliadač
GenericName[sl]=Spletni brskalnik
GenericName[sv]=Webbläsare
GenericName[tr]=Web Tarayıcı
GenericName[ug]=توركۆرگۈ
GenericName[uk]=Веб-браузер
GenericName[vi]=Trình duyệt Web
GenericName[zh_CN]=网络浏览器
GenericName[zh_TW]=網路瀏覽器
Keywords=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer
Keywords[ar]=انترنت;إنترنت;متصفح;ويب;وب
Keywords[ast]=Internet;WWW;Restolador;Web;Esplorador
Keywords[ca]=Internet;WWW;Navegador;Web;Explorador;Explorer
Keywords[cs]=Internet;WWW;Prohlížeč;Web;Explorer
Keywords[da]=Internet;Internettet;WWW;Browser;Browse;Web;Surf;Nettet
Keywords[de]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Webseite;Site;surfen;online;browsen
Keywords[el]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Διαδίκτυο;Περιηγητής;Firefox;Φιρεφοχ;Ιντερνετ
Keywords[es]=Explorador;Internet;WWW
Keywords[fi]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;selain;Internet-selain;internetselain;verkkoselain;netti;surffaa
Keywords[fr]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Fureteur;Surfer;Navigateur
Keywords[he]=דפדפן;אינטרנט;רשת;אתרים;אתר;פיירפוקס;מוזילה;
Keywords[hr]=Internet;WWW;preglednik;Web
Keywords[hu]=Internet;WWW;Böngésző;Web;Háló;Net;Explorer
Keywords[it]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Navigatore
Keywords[is]=Internet;WWW;Vafri;Vefur;Netvafri;Flakk
Keywords[ja]=Internet;WWW;Web;インターネット;ブラウザ;ウェブ;エクスプローラ
Keywords[nb]=Internett;WWW;Nettleser;Explorer;Web;Browser;Nettside
Keywords[nl]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Verkenner;Website;Surfen;Online
Keywords[pt]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorador;Navegador
Keywords[pt_BR]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorador;Navegador
Keywords[ru]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;интернет;браузер;веб;файрфокс;огнелис
Keywords[sk]=Internet;WWW;Prehliadač;Web;Explorer
Keywords[sl]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Brskalnik;Splet
Keywords[tr]=İnternet;WWW;Tarayıcı;Web;Gezgin;Web sitesi;Site;sörf;çevrimiçi;tara
Keywords[uk]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Інтернет;мережа;переглядач;оглядач;браузер;веб;файрфокс;вогнелис;перегляд
Keywords[vi]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Trình duyệt;Trang web
Keywords[zh_CN]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;网页;浏览;上网;火狐;Firefox;ff;互联网;网站;
Keywords[zh_TW]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;網際網路;網路;瀏覽器;上網;網頁;火狐
Exec=firefox %u
Terminal=false
X-MultipleArgs=false
Type=Application
Icon=firefox
Categories=GNOME;GTK;Network;WebBrowser;
MimeType=text/html;text/xml;application/xhtml+xml;application/xml;application/rss+xml;application/rdf+xml;image/gif;image/jpeg;image/png;x-scheme-handler/http;x-scheme-handler/https;x-scheme-handler/ftp;x-scheme-handler/chrome;video/webm;application/x-xpinstall;
StartupNotify=true
Actions=new-window;new-private-window;

[Desktop Action new-window]
Name=Open a New Window
Name[ar]=افتح نافذة جديدة
Name[ast]=Abrir una ventana nueva
Name[bn]=Abrir una ventana nueva
Name[ca]=Obre una finestra nova
Name[cs]=Otevřít nové okno
Name[da]=Åbn et nyt vindue
Name[de]=Ein neues Fenster öffnen
Name[el]=Νέο παράθυρο
Name[es]=Abrir una ventana nueva
Name[fi]=Avaa uusi ikkuna
Name[fr]=Ouvrir une nouvelle fenêtre
Name[gl]=Abrir unha nova xanela
Name[he]=פתיחת חלון חדש
Name[hr]=Otvori novi prozor
Name[hu]=Új ablak nyitása
Name[it]=Apri una nuova finestra
Name[ja]=新しいウィンドウを開く
Name[ko]=새 창 열기
Name[ku]=Paceyeke nû veke
Name[lt]=Atverti naują langą
Name[nb]=Åpne et nytt vindu
Name[nl]=Nieuw venster openen
Name[pt]=Abrir nova janela
Name[pt_BR]=Abrir nova janela
Name[ro]=Deschide o fereastră nouă
Name[ru]=Новое окно
Name[sk]=Otvoriť nové okno
Name[sl]=Odpri novo okno
Name[sv]=Öppna ett nytt fönster
Name[tr]=Yeni pencere aç
Name[ug]=يېڭى كۆزنەك ئېچىش
Name[uk]=Відкрити нове вікно
Name[vi]=Mở cửa sổ mới
Name[zh_CN]=新建窗口
Name[zh_TW]=開啟新視窗
Exec=firefox -new-window

[Desktop Action new-private-window]
Name=Open a New Private Window
Name[ar]=افتح نافذة جديدة للتصفح الخاص
Name[ca]=Obre una finestra nova en mode d’incògnit
Name[cs]=Otevřít nové anonymní okno
Name[de]=Ein neues privates Fenster öffnen
Name[el]=Νέο ιδιωτικό παράθυρο
Name[es]=Abrir una ventana privada nueva
Name[fi]=Avaa uusi yksityinen ikkuna
Name[fr]=Ouvrir une nouvelle fenêtre de navigation privée
Name[he]=פתיחת חלון גלישה פרטית חדש
Name[hu]=Új privát ablak nyitása
Name[it]=Apri una nuova finestra anonima
Name[nb]=Åpne et nytt privat vindu
Name[ru]=Новое приватное окно
Name[sl]=Odpri novo okno zasebnega brskanja
Name[sv]=Öppna ett nytt privat fönster
Name[tr]=Yeni gizli pencere aç
Name[uk]=Відкрити нове вікно у потайливому режимі
Name[zh_TW]=開啟新隱私瀏覽視窗
Exec=firefox -private-window

looks like it’s @Akito’s which for the win.

it’s probably a good idea to run snap list to make sure the name of the package is just firefox. then you should be able to remove it with sudo snap remove <packagename>.

my understanding is that mint 20 won’t have snaps, but here are a couple of pages on dealing with snaps in case something similar comes up in the future with your 19 install (or you are just interested):

https://www.howtogeek.com/660193/how-to-work-with-snap-packages-on-linux/

3 Likes

This site is life-saving. I especially appreciate the help of Akito, not for the first time, and 01101111. It was all so simple when I was made aware of the snap installation and how to deal with it. Snap seems to have advantages, so I wonder why it is not going to be used in Mint 20. I think I’ll wait now, since that should be available soon, and start from scratch.
Thanks again.

3 Likes

One of the many reasons I don’t use snap.

3 Likes

the very reason you gave (slow start) for wanting to uninstall firefox is the most common reason i read people have issues with snaps. here is an article about mint’s lead developer’s issues with snaps and why they won’t be included in 20.

2 Likes

thank you for that example. find is one i haven’t used enough to be very adept at so that was helpful to learn.

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Great article. I pretty much entirely agree with Clem’s perspective. He explained the problems with a system like snap, pretty well.

Additionally, this became a major reason to actually use Mint rather than its origin, Ubuntu.

4 Likes

also agreed. while i get the idea and possible benefits behind the self-contained packages like snap, flatpak (which i believe mint does use) and appimage, it seems like the implementation isn’t there yet to make them work as smoothly and seamlessly as the standard package manager setup as it exists at present.

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