The new Firefox design lands in today. This is what you can expect

[AshleyT]

Firefox has evolved significantly over the past year and now, its look has evolved too. 

The design begins rolling out today, with Firefox 157, bringing a cleaner, more cohesive , and more adaptable experience. It is still the Firefox you know and trust, with the same commitment to independence, privacy, customization, and user control. 

The Mozilla Connect community has helped shape this work from the beginning by sharing feedback on the early designs, tested the experience in Nightly starting in July, filed bugs, and shared with us what worked and what didn’t.

Here’s what landed today.

A cleaner, more cohesive design

• Softer tab shapes
• Redrawn icons that hold up better across light and dark themes
• Rebalanced spacing throughout the interface
• A refreshed color palette featuring the glow of the active tab, deeper purples, and warmer light tones

The updated design brought bolder color choices to Firefox — and your feedback made clear that opinions on browser color run the full spectrum. In response, we created additional themes, accessible through add-ons and a new theme picker off Firefox Home, so you have greater control over how Firefox looks. 

More ways to make Firefox yours

Firefox is becoming more customizable, giving you more ways to shape the browser around how you browse. These options include:

• A new theme picker in the customization panel on the Firefox Home page. Additional community themes remain available through about:addons.
• New Firefox themes and wallpapers
• A dedicated space to pin and organize shortcuts so sites you use all the time stay put.
• Compact Mode for a denser browsing experience

Compact mode now officially supported!

Compact Mode is now available as its own dedicated setting. It will also switch on automatically on smaller screens, reducing the space between interface elements so more fits on the screen.

This is one of the clearest examples of how community feedback shaped Nova. Many of you told us that maintaining a denser interface was important, and we listened.

Faster performance

The refreshed experience also includes improvements to Firefox’s startup, page-loading, and scrolling speeds.

Frequently asked questions

Will my existing themes and add-ons continue to work?

Themes and add-ons should continue to work. Nova is built on the same Firefox foundation, and the extension and theming architecture has not changed.

Will my userChrome.css customizations continue to work?

Some customizations may require minor adjustments, depending on how closely they rely on element names or layout structures from the previous interface. 

But keep in mind that Mozilla does not officially support customizations made through userChrome.css. They can cause unexpected behavior or even break Firefox, and future updates may affect them as Firefox continues to evolve. If you choose to use userChrome.css, please proceed carefully.

You can learn more in Firefox advanced customization and configuration options.

Can I opt out of the update?

The new Firefox design becomes the default experience starting with Firefox 157. However, you have several ways to adjust how Firefox looks and feels, including Compact Mode, themes, wallpapers, and New Tab customization. 

Keep shaping Firefox with us

Nova may be shipping today, but the work doesn’t stop here. Many of these updates grew directly from the bugs you filed and the conversations you started while the design was being developed.

Update to Firefox 157 to try the refreshed experience, then let us know what works well and what could still be improved. Your feedback will continue to help shape what comes next.

[p_n]

Someone just hacked the Mozilla Foundation, but to distract from the real damage, they also changed the browser's appearance to piss people off.
WTF is this? 

[p_n]

Some sort of solution
about:config -> browser.nova.enabled = false

But this should be accessible from the user interface, a configuration accessible to everyone. Enabling these roundings and other (**bleep** questionable and useless) "improvements" should be optional. After updating the browser, users should be asked whether they want the old look or the new (screwed-up) one.

[Justaminute]

The new design is NOT clearer, the rounded corners interfere with the square or rectangular edges of most boxes and images — it only adds 'noise' to the screen!!

A clear design is one that passes unnoticed and uses familiar Icons — instead of 'novelty' for the sake of 'novelty' which only creates distraction!!

[Justaminute]

I found a way to revert to a NORMAL, 'square', and unintrusive browser that lets you concentrate on whatever you are doing — instead of wanting to make its presence known.

Go to about:config and toggle browser.nova.enabled, pdfjs.enableNova, and sidebar.revamp to 'false' and you'll get your familiar Firefox browser back to what it should look like!!!

[AnonymousGoblin]

Thank you for pointing out the sidebar.revamp flag! I'd already disabled all flags containing "nova", but didn't think to filter for "revamp". My history window looks and feels so much better already now that it's back to normal.

[Cheek]

Aha, this fixed it - thanks!

[Justaminute]

My last post about this subject (for now) :

The reason I use Firefox is because it is customisable! If you insist in imposing your aestetics or whatever ideas you have about 'changing our lives' on us, Firefox becomes like any other browser and LOSES its interest! 

Think about that.

[xA_Ax]

I love this new redesign

[dftf]

Hmm... third "I love this" comment I've seen in the past hour.

I wonder if someone has linked this discussion post on Reddit and said "anyone who likes it, get over there and post that you like it" 🤔.  Not sure that action will change much though: 👍🏻 9 to 💬 527 currently on this post, which is what the kids like to call "getting totally ratioed" 😂

[Eleonorrai]

I truly love the new look!😍

[dftf]

Is this a Firefox staff-member posting from their personal account? 😜

[J35VKRYZPO]

Es curioso, porque es una cuenta nueva. Muchos de los aquí presentes creando sus cuentas porque les molestaba el nuevo diseño. A "ella", vino porque le gusta. Eso tiene menos explicación y más sospecha de que "alguien" intenta inflar el apoyo de forma artificial.

La gente quiere un navegador funcional neutro y con la capacidad de personalizarlo. No que impongan un diseño desalineado con los gustos personales de la mayoría de sus usuario.

---

It's curious, considering it's a new account. Most people here created their accounts because the new design annoyed them. "She", on the other hand, came here because she likes it. That has less of an explanation and more of a suspicion that "someone" is trying to artificially inflate support.

People want a functional, neutral browser with the ability to customize it. Not an imposed design that is completely out of touch with the personal tastes of the majority of its users.

[jonblazeson]

This is the worst UI update I've ever seen. You went from a thoughtfully crafted and near perfect UI, to a "hey, I think this is fun" piece of garbage. Seriously terrible! It's so bad that when you remove the configuration to disable it, I will leave 20+ years of Firefox configs, accounts, and usage.

[dftf]

Two longer-term options:
1. Firefox business version: https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html 
2. Firefox "forks", such as: Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[User-82849]

Dear Mozilla team, I can only suggest as a user, that:
1. Give people possibilities to customise the design - and each user to fit their own needs -
By that I example: A slider to chose the border-radius of nova design - from 0px to cap. at 100px; and  a switch button - between "px" and "%", to chose the INT number system for the roundness input.
- That way users will unable to dislike any change - if they can fit themselves.

2. Your new pilled/fully circled version of buttons - does not fit everywhere - some elements seems weird to look at, like so: popup elements f.e. "Extensions" - have too curved edges - it does not fit well with the hovered button at highest or lowest inside it.
Each element should have its own designated style to calc() the curve of element.
You cannot just slap the same static border-radius to every element - you have to at least make a system for it.

3. In French version of settings - the text changing to bold (active tab of settings list) - breaks text to next line - literally moving everything, that exists on screen - some type of styling should be definitely computed here, in order to prevent text breaking on action. You can use HTML tag <pre></pre> - then even by changing text to bold - its size should not change.

4. Additional (different topic than Nova) - could we get ability to move the main input/address bar?
And would that be possible for you to make the window buttons (close, minimise etc.) to be contained as element - movable in toolbar editor, as well?

Thank you for your most needed work.

[TnF]

COMPLETE TRASH. IF NOTHING IS BROKEN, THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. RETARDED DEVS STOP COPYING APPLE MOTHER**bleep**ERS. WHOEVER APPROVED THIS NEEDS TO GET CANCER ASAP. 

[rw335i]

It looks like you are trying to optimize Firefox for the cell phone model. But it makes it a garbage mess for PC users. I suspect there are more PC users than cell users, and some may be using it for business purposes. Do you really want to alienate and potentially lose all those people?

[dftf]

Firefox makes-up around 0.7% marketshare of browsers on cellphones:
https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/mobile/worldwide 

To undo the new UI, do one of the following:
1. Look into the business Firefox version: https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html 
2. Consider a Firefox "fork", such as one of: Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[user38438575]

This is the worst update ever I finished making this account to tell you this. I HATE IT. I HATE IT. I can repeat that over and over and over again is how much i hate it. i fixed it with about:config for now but its like holy **bleep** what is going on is there too much free time over there dont know what else to do? need to justify hiring everyone? like whats going on why make **bleep** worse? absolutely pointless update pushed by absolutely pointless employees I really might switch browsers over this and thats insane ive preferred firefox my whole life

[dftf]

You can switch to Firefox business 'ESR' version to undo the change for about 12-15 months:
https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html

Longer-term though, look into the "forks" of Firefox, as they may commit to a UI you'd prefer.
Examples: Basilisk; Floorp; Librewolf; Pale Moon; Waterfox

[bwolf384]

Nope, nope, nope, nope, NOPE. Smaller rounded tabs look terrible and are an insulting waste of space. Changes like this cannot possibly have been supported by good-faith human UX testing. I appreciate the time and effort that developers must have put into the project, but PLEASE put your pride aside on this one and read the room!

[dftf]

They will not reverse-course, so you can choose from:
1. Firefox business version: https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html 
2. A "fork" of Firefox, like: Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[Moe2]

I hope you add an option to get rid of the rounded tabs. The spacing is of, and it doesn't fit to the overall style of my OS. PLEASE MAKE IT AN OPTION!!!

[dftf]

To change it immediately, which will work for about two months:
URL bar -> about:config -> ENTER -> search nova -> set "browser.nova.enabled" to "false"

Longer-term, move to the business version of Firefox to avoid the new look for about a year:
https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html 

Even-longer, look into the various Firefox "forks" and see if any of those would suit you:
Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[Rajan_404]

This has got to be on of, if not THE WORST UI changes ever, NO ONE asked for more rounded corners or moving the search box up for Widgets. I made this account just to say how awful this looks.

[dftf]

Move to the business "ESR" version to undo the UI change for around a year from now:
https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html 

Or look into a Firefox "fork" and what UI they offer, such as these examples:
Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[discopunkt]

What are you waiting, make UI Design back !!!

[dftf]

Mozilla won't reverse-course on the new UI.  Use about:config to undo it for a couple of months.

Longer-term, look into the business "ESR" version that doesn't have Nova
( https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html )
or look into "forks" of Firefox, and see which commit to a UI you'd prefer
Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[JackNotParrot]

They should to if they care about the market share.

[HoratioFellatio]

This is my first time interacting with this community, I created an account just to post: This UI redesign is atrocious, it's so ugly.

• So much wasted space
• Why is everything rounded?
• Why are there gradients? what is this, 2004?

I have disabled nova immediately, I will continue to never use nova again.

[dftf]

You can disable it in about:config for about two months, then they will ignore that setting.
Longer-term you have two options.

1. Look into the business "ESR" version to avoid the new UI for around a year from now:
https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html 

2. Move to a "fork" of Firefox where it's the same Firefox engine, but different people control it:
Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[MotoMoto]

A mí me encanta el diseño Nova. De hecho, me costó menos acostumbrarme a él que al diseño Proton. Lo único que no me gustaron fueron los gradientes de color, ya que me parecieron demasiado vistosos y terminaron distrayéndome. Por suerte, pude solucionar esto gracias a que Mozilla mantiene el tema Proton como extensión. Sin embargo, me gustaría que el tema Proton estuviese disponible como opción en Firefox, ya que entiendo que a otras personas sí pueden gustarles los colores gradientes de Nova.

[dftf]

You can also check out all the other themes officially made by Mozilla here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/search/?promoted=line&type=statictheme 

[newredesigsucks]

new design sucks so bad that i created new account on just to **bleep** post.

[dftf]

You can install the ESR business Firefox version to undo Nova for about 12-15 months:
https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html

Or look into one of the Firefox "forks", such as:
Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[kutukvpavel]

I just got my tabs rounded with a ridiculous corner radius! You may call excessive rounding "a clearer interface", but I call it nonsense.

Please, STOP CHANGING MY UI EVERY YEAR! It's unnecessary, it's annoying and it breaks my muscle memory. And I get really, really pissed off when someone breaks my muscle memory.

Oh, and also... STOP ROUNDING EVERY CORNER! My screen is not your designer's free real estate.

For now I'll use about:config to revert this nonsensical nova theme. BUT. If you decide to continue to push rounded corners on me, then bye-bye, I'm switching browsers.

[dftf]

Longer-term, consider a move to "Firefox ESR" to undo the Nova change for about a year:
https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html

 And look into these "forks" of Firefox and see if any commit to using a UI you'd prefer:
Basilisk • Floorp • Librewolf • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[Menaan]

How did such a terrible change make it all the way to production?

This has got to be one of the worse UI changes I've seen since Windows 8 start menu.

This seriously needs to be an optional thing to enable, at least on updates. Turning it off definitely should not be buried in an about:config, it should be a prominent option in settings.

I'm sorry to whoever spent time on this and actually thought this was a good looking change. But you really need to better understand your user base and design the UI to fit it's usage and not simply trying to make a big change for the sake of change.

Firefox is officially no longer my primary browser now. Even though I can disable this, this just makes too many times in recent updates that very poor decisions have been made like this. I can no longer rely on firefox be a simple, straightforward, and good browser.

[dftf]

I understand you can move to something called "ESR Firefox" to undo Nova for about a year:
https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html 

[BruceLeeroy]

What the heck is going on?? Why was I forced into this repulsively ugly gui? I just searched settings, and I cannot find any option to revert to the original. I know Firefox has been slowly going downhill; but now it seems they've officially taken the plunge into "F*** all of you, we're treating you like children" territory. I don't get it. And why can't I turn off updates? I don't want to "download but not install." I don't want to auto-update. I just want a stable system that works well without jumping through a ton of hoops or becoming a tech support specialist to modify the system. We haven't had that with Firefox for a good 5-7 years now.

Yesterday I spent FIVE HOURS with MS tech support because their forced Windows update broke my system, and they could fix nothing. They are totally useless. I've grown to expect that kind of thing from MS; we know that they have a seeming disdain for their actual users. But Firefox too? This is depressing.

And yes, I know that this is partially subjective, but it's an objective fact that a gray-orange-red gradient background is more distracting than a solid color background. And a brightly colored gradient circle outlining the title is more distracting that just a regular tab. AND there's no longer anything geometrically connecting the circle to the tab I'm on, so it's actually harder to tell what tab I'm using at a glance. I rarely have fewer than 20 tabs open, so now there's often no way at all for me to know what tab I'm on unless I scroll and search. AND the stupid circle hides text in the title, which makes it harder to read.

The only good news I can think of is that this forced me to get a Mozilla account so I can complain. It's my first time on a forum yay!

If someone can point me to a setting that I can uncheck to restore a GUI that actually makes sense, I'll eat my words, offer a formal apology, and commit Seppuku.