Overview

Mozilla has quietly rolled out a server location selector for its built-in VPN in Firefox, addressing one of the few missing features that users had been requesting since the free VPN launched. Originally, the VPN automatically connected you to the nearest proxy server—good for speed, but not ideal if you needed to appear in a different country. Now, with the latest updates, you can manually pick from a list of available countries. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to take advantage of this new option.

The Mozilla VPN—powered by Fastly’s secure proxy infrastructure—comes with a generous 50 GB monthly data allowance, making it one of the most attractive free privacy tools for Firefox users. As of Firefox 149 on Windows, macOS, and Linux, the VPN is available in the UK, USA, France, and Germany. Canada joined the list with Firefox 150. Server location choice is being added gradually, so you’ll need to ensure you’re running the right version and meet the prerequisites.

Prerequisites

Supported Firefox Version

You must have Firefox 149 or later installed on your Windows, macOS, or Linux machine. The VPN integration and server selection feature are not available on mobile versions at this time.

Supported Region

Your IP address must originate from one of the currently supported countries: United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, or Canada. If you are outside these regions, the VPN menu may not appear in Firefox settings.

Mozilla Account

You need a free Mozilla account. If you don’t have one, you can create it directly from the Firefox browser (Settings > Sync & Mozilla account).

Active Internet Connection

A stable internet connection is required to download the VPN module the first time you enable it.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enable the Built-In VPN

Open Firefox and navigate to the settings menu. Click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the upper‑right corner, then select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the Mozilla VPN section. Toggle the switch to On. Firefox will prompt you to sign in with your Mozilla account if you haven’t already.

Once enabled, you’ll see a small shield icon in the address bar. Click it to see your VPN status.

2. Connect to the VPN

Click the shield icon and then click Connect. The first connection may take a few seconds as Firefox downloads the proxy configuration from Fastly. When connected, the shield icon turns purple and a green dot indicates activity.

3. Change the Server Location

With the VPN active, click the shield icon again. You will now see a Server location dropdown listing the available countries (e.g., USA, UK, France, Germany, Canada).

Select any country from the list. Firefox will automatically reconnect through the chosen proxy. You can verify the new location by visiting a service like whatismyip.com.

4. Monitor Your Data Usage

At the bottom of the VPN panel, you’ll see a Data used counter. This resets every month and counts toward your 50 GB limit. If you approach the limit, consider switching server locations to balance load—though the data cap is shared across all locations.

5. Disconnect or Change Settings

To turn off the VPN, click the shield icon and click Disconnect. You can also return to Settings > Privacy & Security > Mozilla VPN to configure auto‑connect options (e.g., connect automatically on untrusted networks).

Common Mistakes

VPN Option Not Visible

If you don’t see the Mozilla VPN section in Settings, you are likely in an unsupported region or running an older Firefox version. Double‑check that you have Firefox 149+ and that your IP is in one of the five supported countries. Using a proxy or VPN to appear in a supported region will not work—Mozilla detects the actual IP.

Server Location Dropdown Missing

Even after connecting, the “Server location” dropdown may be absent if the feature hasn’t fully rolled out to your browser. This is a staged deployment. Check for Firefox updates (Help > About Firefox) and restart the browser. If it still doesn’t appear, wait a few days.

Connection Fails or Slow

Sometimes the VPN fails to connect on the first attempt. Disconnect, wait 10 seconds, and reconnect. If the problem persists, check your network firewall settings—port 443 (HTTPS) must be open for Fastly’s servers. Also, some corporate or school networks block VPNs.

Data Cap Misunderstanding

The 50 GB limit is per month, per account, not per device or per location. Switching servers does not give you extra data. You can track your usage in the shield panel.

Summary

Mozilla’s Firefox VPN just became more flexible with the addition of server location selection. Now you can choose from five countries—USA, UK, France, Germany, and Canada—to mask your IP as desired. The feature is rolling out gradually in Firefox 149+ on desktop, requires a Mozilla account and a supported region, and remains free with a 50 GB monthly data cap. By following the steps above, you can enable the VPN, connect, and select your preferred server location. Keep an eye on Firefox updates for future country additions and mobile support.