{"id":3305,"date":"2008-07-09T20:31:11","date_gmt":"2008-07-09T15:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=3305"},"modified":"2026-10-15T13:30:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:00:12","slug":"robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/","title":{"rendered":"about:robots: The Firefox Easter Egg Where Robots Welcome Humans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Type <strong>about:robots<\/strong> into the Firefox address bar and the browser shows a hidden page where robots welcome humans. I first found this Firefox easter egg in Firefox 3 back in 2008. This article explains what the page shows, where its jokes come from, and a few other hidden Firefox pages to try.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> about:robots is a hidden Firefox page added in Firefox 3. Its tab title reads &#8220;Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!&#8221; and the page greets you with &#8220;Welcome Humans!&#8221; plus a list of robot jokes from science fiction. It is still part of Firefox&#8217;s code today, so you can open it by typing about:robots in the address bar.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ada8d023710a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ada8d023710a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#What_the_about_robots_page_shows\" >What the about:robots page shows<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#The_movie_and_book_references_in_about_robots\" >The movie and book references in about:robots<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#How_to_open_about_robots_in_Firefox\" >How to open about:robots in Firefox<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#More_Firefox_easter_eggs_and_hidden_pages\" >More Firefox easter eggs and hidden pages<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#Does_about_robots_still_work_in_Firefox\" >Does about:robots still work in Firefox?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#Does_about_robots_work_in_Chrome\" >Does about:robots work in Chrome?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#What_does_Klaatu_barada_nikto_mean\" >What does Klaatu barada nikto mean?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/07\/robots-welcome-humans-in-firefox-3\/#When_was_about_robots_added_to_Firefox\" >When was about:robots added to Firefox?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_about_robots_page_shows\"><\/span>What the about:robots page shows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3306\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/firefox-robots.gif\" alt=\"Firefox about:robots easter egg page saying Welcome Humans\" width=\"468\" height=\"231\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The page looks like a Firefox error page, but with a robot twist. It says &#8220;Welcome Humans!&#8221; and that the robots have come in peace and with goodwill. Below that is a short list of robot facts, each a nod to famous science fiction, followed by &#8220;And they have a plan.&#8221; There is even a &#8220;Try Again&#8221; button that asks you not to press it again.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_movie_and_book_references_in_about_robots\"><\/span>The movie and book references in about:robots<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>&#8220;Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!&#8221;<\/strong>: the page title. In the 1951 film <em>The Day the Earth Stood Still<\/em>, the phrase <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Klaatu_barada_nikto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Klaatu barada nikto<\/a> stops the robot Gort from destroying the Earth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Robots may not injure a human being<\/strong>: Isaac Asimov&#8217;s First Law of Robotics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Robots have seen things you people wouldn&#8217;t believe<\/strong>: a nod to Roy Batty&#8217;s speech in <em>Blade Runner<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Your Plastic Pal Who&#8217;s Fun To Be With<\/strong>: the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation slogan from <em>The Hitchhiker&#8217;s Guide to the Galaxy<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shiny metal posteriors which should not be bitten<\/strong>: a joke on Bender&#8217;s catchphrase in <em>Futurama<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>And they have a plan<\/strong>: the tagline of the Cylons in <em>Battlestar Galactica<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When I first saw the title, I wondered what it meant. Google and Wikipedia had the answer, as always.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_open_about_robots_in_Firefox\"><\/span>How to open about:robots in Firefox<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mozilla.org\/firefox\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Firefox<\/a> on your computer.<\/li>\n<li>Click the address bar, type <code>about:robots<\/code> and press Enter.<\/li>\n<li>The robot welcome page opens in the current tab.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>It is a harmless page and changes nothing in your browser.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"More_Firefox_easter_eggs_and_hidden_pages\"><\/span>More Firefox easter eggs and hidden pages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>about:mozilla<\/strong>: shows a verse from the fictional Book of Mozilla.<\/li>\n<li><strong>about:credits<\/strong>: lists people who have contributed to Mozilla projects.<\/li>\n<li><strong>about:config<\/strong>: the advanced settings page. Accept the warning first, and only change settings you understand. Our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2004\/12\/quick-tip-to-speed-up-firefox\/\">speeding up Firefox<\/a> uses a few safe tweaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Also see how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/06\/how-to-move-unlock-firefox-toolbar\/\">customize the Firefox toolbar<\/a>. If you enjoy hidden fun like this, try our list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/10\/google-easter-eggs\/\">Google easter eggs that still work<\/a>. You can also read what <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Easter_egg_(media)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">easter eggs<\/a> are in software and media.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_about_robots_still_work_in_Firefox\"><\/span>Does about:robots still work in Firefox?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. The about:robots page is still in Firefox&#8217;s code, so typing it in the address bar opens the robot welcome page.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_about_robots_work_in_Chrome\"><\/span>Does about:robots work in Chrome?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. It is a Firefox page. Chrome has its own internal pages, which start with chrome:\/\/.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_Klaatu_barada_nikto_mean\"><\/span>What does Klaatu barada nikto mean?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is a made-up phrase from the 1951 film <em>The Day the Earth Stood Still<\/em>, used to stop the robot Gort from destroying the Earth.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_was_about_robots_added_to_Firefox\"><\/span>When was about:robots added to Firefox?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It appeared in Firefox 3, released in 2008.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Type about:robots into the Firefox address bar and the browser shows a hidden page where robots welcome humans. I first&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3305"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67064,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3305\/revisions\/67064"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}