Firefox Redesign Adds New Themes And Restores Compact Mode
Mozilla is rolling out a refreshed Firefox design across desktop and mobile, with more customization options and the return of a space-saving Compact Mode.
Mozilla is rolling out a Firefox redesign across desktop and mobile, refreshing the browser’s appearance and bringing back Compact Mode. The update adds a theme picker, wallpapers and more ways to customize the New Tab screen. The Verge says the new look is launching to all users, while Engadget describes the rollout as reaching most users.
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A new look across devices
The redesign gives Firefox rounded tabs and an address bar with softer edges, alongside updated colors, icons and themes, according to The Verge. It also brings the desktop and mobile versions under a shared visual design. Engadget reports that some users have already seen the changes through Firefox’s Nightly version, where they were available for testing over the past few months.
Mozilla frames the visual update as a way to bring Firefox’s appearance up to date with features added recently. The Verge points to homepage widgets, Split View, a built-in VPN and controls for disabling AI features as part of that broader set of changes. It also notes that Mozilla launched a Smart Window AI mode earlier this year. The redesign itself, however, focuses on how people see and customize the browser rather than putting those tools at the center of the interface.
Compact Mode returns
Firefox 157 restores Compact Mode after users asked for its return, according to The Verge. The setting reduces the space taken up by tabs and the toolbar, leaving more room to view websites. The Verge says it also includes an automatic compact option for smaller screens. Engadget notes that Mozilla had previously removed the mode.
Other customization changes include a theme picker with wallpaper options and the ability to organize shortcuts on the New Tab screen, Engadget reports. The Verge says Mozilla previewed some updated themes in May, showing a dozen color choices with light and dark versions. Together, the options give users more control over both the browser’s interface and the page they see when opening a new tab.
Settings and performance
Engadget reports that privacy settings are intended to be easier to find. Mozilla also says features such as tab groups, split view and vertical tabs remain easy to reach without being placed front and center. The company says it considered accessibility when designing the customization options.
Mozilla maintains that the visual changes do not come at the expense of browser performance, a claim reported by both outlets. Neither report provides performance test results, so the company’s assurance remains a claim rather than a measured outcome in the coverage.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.