How to Download and Set Up GeckoDriver In Selenium (Step-by-Step Guide)

Are you looking to automate Firefox with Selenium WebDriver? You need GeckoDriver.

But many beginners struggle with setting it up correctly.

If that’s you, don’t worry. 

Let's see how to download and use geckodriver in selenium test step by step.

What is GeckoDriver? (And Why Do You Need It?)

Simply put, GeckoDriver acts as a bridge between Selenium and Firefox. Without it, your automation test scripts will not work in the Firefox browser.

That is the reason you need to install it before running Selenium WebDriver with Java.

Now, let’s get started.

Step 1: Download GeckoDriver

This is the easy part.

Just follow these steps:

• Go to the official GeckoDriver download page.
• Download the latest version based on your operating system:
• Windows: geckodriver-vx.x.x-win-aarch64.zip
• Mac: geckodriver-vX.X.X-macos.tar.gz
• Linux: geckodriver-vx.x.x-linux64.tar.gz
• Extract the file to a known location on your system.
• You will get geckodriver.exe file in the extracted folder.

Are you looking to run Selenium tests in Chrome browser? You can find a guide on how to download ChromeDriver for Selenium.

Done? Great! Now, let’s move on.

Step 2: Add GeckoDriver to System Path (Optional, But Recommended)

This step is optional, but it will help you avoid a lot of headaches later.

Why?

Because adding GeckoDriver to your system path means you won’t have to specify its location in every script.

• Move geckodriver.exe to D:\geckodriver\ folder.
• Add D:\geckodriver\ to System Environment Variables:
• Search for "Environment Variables" in the Start menu.
• Click Edit the system environment variables.
• Under System Variables, find Path and click Edit.
• Click New and add D:\geckodriver\
• Click OK to save.

Do you know which other browsers and languages are supported by Selenium? Here is a list of browsers and programming languages supported by Selenium WebDriver.

Step 3: Write Java Code to Launch Firefox

Let’s put GeckoDriver to the test.

Here’s a simple Java program to launch Firefox with Selenium:

        WebDriver driver = new FirefoxDriver();
        driver.get("https://only-testing-blog.blogspot.com/");        
    driver.close();

Troubleshooting: Fixing Common Errors

Still running into issues? Let’s fix them.

Error: ‘geckodriver’ is not recognized as an internal or external command.

Fix: Make sure GeckoDriver is added to your system’s PATH.

Error: WebDriverException: Message: geckodriver executable needs to be in PATH

Fix: Double-check that GeckoDriver is accessible from your terminal.

Error: SessionNotCreatedException: This version of Firefox is not supported

Fix: Update both GeckoDriver and Firefox to the latest versions.

You did it!

By following this guide, you’ve successfully:

• Downloaded GeckoDriver
• Configured it for Java and Selenium.
• Written and executed a Selenium script for Firefox.

Now, you’re all set to automate selenium tests in Firefox browser.