After using Firefox as my primary browser for 3 years, I've settled on a minimal set of extensions that actually improve my workflow. Here's what I keep installed and why.
The Core Problem With Extension Overload
Firefox has thousands of extensions. Most productivity-focused users end up with too many: a bookmark manager, a tab counter, a clipboard tool, a calendar, a timer, a screenshot tool, a password manager, a note app, a reading list, a focus timer...
Each extension adds UI, potentially slows your browser, and needs to be updated. At some point, the management overhead exceeds the productivity gain.
My current approach: extensions that work in the background without demanding attention, and a new tab page that surfaces ambient information.
The Stack
uBlock Origin — Essential. Blocks ads and trackers across every site. Zero configuration needed after installation, but it's configurable if you want more control. This one I'd install first on any browser.
Multi-Account Containers — Mozilla's own extension. Isolates sessions per container: work, personal, shopping, social. Prevents cross-site tracking across categories of sites. I use it mainly for work/personal separation; it's also useful if you have multiple Google accounts.
Weather & Clock Dashboard — Takes over the new tab page to show current weather, 3-day forecast, and world clocks. I glance at it every time I open a new tab. The world clocks are specifically useful for async work across time zones.
Bitwarden — Password manager. The free tier covers everything most users need. Cross-device sync works without paying. I use this over Firefox's built-in password manager mainly because it's portable across browsers if I ever need to switch.
Tree Style Tab — Vertical tabs with nesting. Takes some getting used to, but once you're accustomed to it, the horizontal tab strip feels limited. I use this for research sessions where tabs branch off each other (you open a link, then links from that, etc.).
What I Don't Install (and Why)
A note-taking extension — I use a standalone notes app. Browser-based notes are convenient until they're not (browser update wipes data, notes locked in extension format, can't access from other devices without syncing through the extension). Standalone apps are more reliable.
A reading list extension — Pocket works, but it's a subscription service with its own privacy tradeoffs. I save articles as browser bookmarks to a "To Read" folder. Less elegant, but no dependency on a third-party service.
A tab manager extension — Tree Style Tab replaces most of what tab manager extensions do. The ones I tried added more UI than they removed confusion.
A focus / distraction blocker — These are useful during setup but I've found they don't change habits long-term. I stopped installing them.
The New Tab Page Is Key
Out of this list, the new tab extension has had the most consistent effect on my day. I see it dozens of times daily. Each glance takes a second: check weather, check world clocks, go.
There are fancier new tab extensions (more features, more customization). I prefer the minimal version — weather and time is exactly the information I need, without tabs of bookmarks, news feeds, todo lists, or productivity quotes adding visual weight.
If you're trimming your Firefox extension stack, start by identifying which ones you check actively (you have to open them) vs. which ones work passively. Passive extensions are worth keeping; active ones need to prove they're worth the tab.
Weather & Clock Dashboard: addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/weather-clock-dashboard/
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