How to Use Browser Extensions on Mobile (Android & iOS)

Most people don't realize you can run browser extensions on your phone. The default browsers — Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS — either hide this feature or don't support it at all. But with the right browser, you can install the same extensions you use on desktop.

This guide walks through the three best options using Imp Translate as an example — a bilingual page translation extension that works across all platforms.

Android: Kiwi Browser

Kiwi Browser is a Chromium-based browser that supports Chrome Web Store extensions directly. If you already use Chrome extensions on desktop, this is the easiest path.

1. Install Kiwi Browser

Download Kiwi Browser from Google Play Store.

2. Install the extension

Open the Imp Translate Chrome Web Store page in Kiwi and tap Add to Chrome. Kiwi handles the installation the same way desktop Chrome does.

3. Try it out

Open any foreign-language page and tap the extension icon. The translation appears below each paragraph — the original text stays visible.

Android: Firefox

Firefox for Android supports a curated set of extensions from the Firefox Add-ons store. The selection is more limited than desktop, but includes all popular categories.

1. Install Firefox

Download Firefox from Google Play Store.

2. Install the extension

Open the Imp Translate Firefox Add-ons page and tap Add to Firefox.

3. Try it out

Navigate to a foreign-language page, tap the Imp Translate icon in the toolbar, and the bilingual translation appears inline.

iOS: Safari

Safari is the only browser engine allowed on iOS, so Safari extensions are the way to go. Extensions are distributed through the App Store, not a web store.

Here's the full process — from App Store installation to translating a page:

1. Install the extension app

Install Imp Translate from the App Store. Safari extensions are packaged as iOS apps.

2. Enable the extension in Safari

Open Safari and tap the Aa button in the address bar, then tap Manage Extensions. Find Imp Translate and toggle it on, then tap Done. Back on the previous page, the extension appears grayed out — tap it to activate for the first time and approve the two network permission prompts.

3. Try it out

Navigate to any foreign-language page and tap Imp Translate from the Aa menu. The bilingual translation appears below the original text.

Which option should I choose?

Android users: Kiwi gives you access to the full Chrome Web Store, making it the most flexible option. Firefox is a solid alternative if you prefer Mozilla's ecosystem or already use Firefox Sync.

iOS users: Safari is your only real option. The good news is that more extensions are being published to the App Store as Safari extension support matures.

Get started

Pick the browser that fits your platform, install it, and try Imp Translate to see how it works. The whole process takes under two minutes. Once you're set up, you can install any other extension the same way — including Twitter Filter, Twitter Exporter, and more.