What Version of Firefox Is Just A Basic Web-Broswer Without All The Bloat?

[NoF---ningWay]

I use Firefox ESR 140 something, but the latest 153 version messed up my browser so much (the dumb profile bad idea deleted all of my bookmarks and/ or settings, had to redo everything) that I had to revert to my old version and now spend time looking for a new one.

That's why I created a quick account here to ask,

What is the simplest form of browser based on Firefox that I can use that's just the basic web-browser that only gets security updates?

Like, I wouldn't care if this Firefox 140 version never (and I do mean never) had a change to the design ever again. I just would like security updates.

I don't want some arbitrary change with some settings menu that hides something so Mozilla can get a brand deal with whoever.

I use my web-browser only for searching (no auto spell, search and' or suggestions). I have all cookies for all websites disabled, and I manually add the cookies that I want to work on my browser by hand (not joking). 

​When a site fails to load, I just add the cookie by hand in the list.

I got Firefox ESR because I thought I would only get the basic updates, but the last one seems just like the Firefox slop I remember, just doing things I never asked for.

I tried Zen, and LibraWolf, but if there's any other browsers based on Firefox, please share. I just use my web-browser to search for things, no scripts needed for any special options and/ or gimmick/s.

I might have found a Firefox fork I like called floorP. LibraWolf I guess doesn't seem to allow the ability to disable all cookies, and Zen just sucks ass.

[dftf]

You can move to the current 153.5.0 'ESR' release of Firefox, which is supported for around a year.
It doesn't have the recent "Nova" new UI.
Download link here: https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html 

Or other "forks" you've not already mentioned are: Basilisk • Pale Moon • Waterfox

[crws]

You sure about that?

I spent hours reconfiguring FF today after that stealth trash UI ESR 153.5.0 update that "variant -b "false"" didn't hold back.

Had to revert all the way to ESR 140.17.0 and disable all updates to get back to a clean UI without all the media BS emphasized.

[Agentvirtuel]

Bonjour

This discussion thread
https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/home-screen-icons-have-shrunk-again-may-2026/td-p/126494
In the subject Home screen icons have shrunk again May 2026, about, spam bots.
https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/allow-users-to-report-the-spam-bots-clogging-up-this-webs...

[Agentvirtuel]

As for me, i use, DisableAppUpdate https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/firefox-labs/firefox-updates-force-closes-tabs-and-ms-docs-lost-legal...

Clarification : I'm not a fan the Nova Style. I use, css, among others css, i use https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1610048, https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1611680#answer-1855268

[JNavas]

There is a simple Setting to disable automatic updates:

[Agentvirtuel]

You do what you want, to each his own choice.

[JNavas]

> You do what you want, to each his own choice.

Of course. I prefer the simple, supported method. YMMV.
Have a nice day.

[Agentvirtuel]

Je vous souhaite aussi une journée agréable et une agréable journée à tous.

[Agentvirtuel]

(e.g.) about:policies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6N1fKWgxxQ

[dftf]

What UI update are you referring to in the 153.5 ESR version? 🤔

The new "Nova" UI was introduced in 157.0.  153.5 ESR stems from 153.0, so predates it.

Are you saying something did change?

@JNavas , @JNavas2 : can you confirm any UI changes between ESR 153.4 and ESR 153.5?
If so, can undo steps be put on https://tips.navas.us/2026/10/firefox-ui-debacle.html ?

[crws]

https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/
We have several systems that were using FF.
Eearlier when the non-ESR version was under constant change, I converted to ESR.
When my main pc was affected yesterday and downgrade was unsuccessful because it appeared my profile had been upgraded, I pulled the profile from a different system which was still on 140.17.0 and had the clean desktop I prefer.
To that I imported my bookmarks backup file, and pulled my shortcuts from prefs.js > 

user_pref("browser.newtabpage.pinned", >your shortcuts here<
);
I then used the registry hack to block all updates and get rid of the update nag prompt until their approach changes.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/how-to-permanently-disable-firefox-updating/

140.9.1 ESR may not have the new Nova? UI, but I had already burned several hours, so I did not experiment with it.

[Agentvirtuel]

To complement, about DisableAppUpdate, a similar discussion thread https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/upgrade-notification-spam/m-p/64080/highlight/true#M22529

[dftf]

I'm getting confused here what the issue is.

The new "Nova" look was introduced in Firefox 157.0, released September 29th.

Firefox ESR 153.5 should not have the Nova look, at it is based on the 153.0 release,
from July 21st.

Are people saying they are now getting Nova in 153 ESR, or just that it still looks
different from your previous 140 ESR in some areas?  (In which case you can go
back to the 140.17 ESR, then turn-off updates, but that will of-course then leave
you at risk into the future, as security-flaws are found that your PC won't receive).

[crws]

Yes ESR 153.5 was pushed yesterday, 15 October 2026, and borked whatever UI was present from disabling variant -b.
140.17 has proton, with 3 columns of story feed, and large pinned shortcut icons

browser.proton.toolbar.version 3

[dftf]

Yes, because the 140 ESR has reached "end-of-life", so you got moved to 153.5.  ESR versions are supported for around one year from release, then you move to whatever the latest one is at the time.

But what is the issue you're having with 153 versus how 140 used to look or behave?

[crws]

That makes sense.
I did have pick and choose enabled, but my experience is updates force their way through regardless.
I have not gotten a clean install of 153. I tried 150.x, but the same (apparently 153.5 Nova) UI overrode my older profile, so I reverted back to where my other systems reflected the minimalist UI I was familiar with and preferred.
I downloaded 153.0 and will try it later this week.

[JNavas]

> apparently 153.5 Nova

153.5 has the classic Proton UI style, not the new ugly Nova UI.
Be sure to go with the ESR release, not the standard release,
so you will still get security updates while the major version remains frozen.

[dftf]

If you set updates to "Check for updates, but choose when to install" it just means the updates don't automatically complete in the background, or when Firefox isn't running.

It'll ask you, and you get some degree of choice: but you'll still only get offered the update that exists at the time.  Similar to Apple's policy with iOS: a new version comes out, you can say "No thanks, stay on the current iOS" which you can do-so for around a year, then you have to move to a newer version.

You can either decide to stay on 140.17 and disable updates (risky as time goes on), move to the 153 ESR and make adjustments to suit, or look into "forks" of Firefox, such as Basilisk, Floorp, Librewolf, Pale Moon or Waterfox... but remember they have smaller teams behind them, so often lag getting security-fixes the main Firefox puts out first.

[JNavas]

You should fresh install 153.5, not 153.0, because it includes important security updates. 

[crws]

Can you spot the UI change?
If I wanted this I would just use it.
153.5 ESR looks just like it

[JNavas]

153.5 has the same UI as 153.0.
Try fresh installs of both, synced and configured.

[dftf]

@crws : so I've just tested the final 140.17 ESR, and latest 153.5 ESR, and while there's a difference for the Firefox Home screen, it's nothing like on-the-level of the recent "Nova" redesign.

This is a fresh install of 140.17 ESR:

And this is a fresh install of 153.5 ESR:

Some suggestions for the 153.5 release:

-> Hold-down CONTROL and then scroll your mouse-wheel up or down while on that page to change the zoom-level (or click the three-lines, then use zoom in that menu).  Zoom-out to fit more columns of news on-screen (up to 4), or zoom-in to make the shortcut icons bigger.

-> If you click the pencil-in-a-circle icon, then click "More settings" at the bottom it'll take you into the Settings screen and you can also turn-off the Firefox logo, which will move the search bar closer to the top (you can also hide the weather widget).

-> Go to the about:config hidden settings page and search for newtab and then see if there's any settings in there that adjust the size...

-> ...or alternatively, do a web-search for changing the Firefox Home page using the
userChrome.css file and you can likely change the size of the shortcuts, or increase the number of news-story columns, via that.

[JNavas]

The number of Stories is also affected by the browser window width.
At about 1400 width, 153.5 ESR shifts from 2 across to 3 across.

[crws]

I will check that on a pc.

Ty

[JNavas]

On my 1280 wide browser window in Firefox 153.5, zooming out one level (Ctrl -) changes Stories from 2 across to 3 across (as you can see below). Because Firefox remembers zoom per host/URL, that setting stays locked specifically to the New Tab page without shrinking text on regular websites.

The downside is that it makes Shortcuts even smaller (terrible responsive design).

This change likely came from Mozilla "fixing" the responsive design of the New Tab page, emphasizing the "clean" look of large wasted horizontal borders.

[JNavas]

Thank you, sincerely, for all your constructive contributions!

[JNavas]

Mozilla did not "bork" or otherwise change the UI in 153.5.
Your hack just reached its Sell By date. 😉

[crws]

You can see the 4 column "Widgets" section, "Popular Today" section, and a whole down page of other feeds, along with small pinned shortcut icons.
Gone is the low key simple section as in my desktop picture.
I can understand this in non-ESR versions, but they pushed to ESR as well.

>Firefox Home Content
Choose what content you want on your Firefox Home screen.
Web Search
Weather
Today’s forecast at a glance
Shortcuts
Sites you save or visit
Sponsored shortcuts
Recommended stories<

https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/the-new-firefox-design-lands-in-today-this-is-what-you-ca...

[crws]

This Reddit thread summarizes the constant ongoing FF UI issues.
https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1m72j9o/how_to_make_the_shortcuts_normal_size_again_after/

[JNavas]

1. The search bar width is easily adjustable: Menu→More tools→Customize toolbar…
2. I'm personally OK with the standard New Tab layout in 153 ESR, but as always, YMMV.

[crws]

My pinned shortcut icons became half of the size they were in 140.x.

What about your 3 column wide curated stories feed?

Did you disable all of it? It looked to be all or nothing in the settings menu I saw, and if all, you needed to go through every section and refine what you wanted to see.

Why is this bloat in an ESR version? Seriously, it looked just like the sensationalist MS Edge desktop.

Most likely this is revene related as default upon install, but I have no need for that garbage, and it seems a disservice to push it on users that have deliberately moved away from the non-esr browser.

[JNavas]

Different strokes for different folks:

1. I prefer the 153 shortcut size with more shortcuts, but respect that you don't.
2. I don't want curated Stories because algorithms are evil. I prefer select RSS feeds in Feedly and human-curated sources.
3. I only want Weather and Shortcuts, not Stories.

[crws]

The default install of 153.5 is chock full of algos. I was so disappointed to see it.

I may be moving to Brave as my primarily browser. I have avoided chromium based browsers, but at least Brave has stripped out all of Google's tracking. I don't like Brave's close association with crypto, however, and that is why I have rarely used it.

[JNavas]

> The default install of 153.5 is chock full of algos. I was so disappointed to see it.

Virtually all of these features are standard toggles under Settings→Home and startup and Settings→Search that can be disabled in seconds.

[crws]

Why are they in ESR in the first place? Doubtful ESR users asked for them.

While they can be removed from home and new tab, they are still embedded in the code, and most likely will report for revenue purposes.

I would welcome someone to prove me wrong.

[JNavas]

1. Enterprise customers demand stability. Hence the ESR release channel. See Firefox Enterprise — Firefox.Com
2. They don't "report for revenue purposes" especially if you turn them off. (As I'm sure you know, it's impossible to "prove" a negative.)

[crws]

There is a whole new Terms and Conditions mandatory prompt upon install. Did not read-

https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstalling-firefox-for-good-heres-what-im-using-instead/

[JNavas]

> report for revenue purposes

Since you worry about this, you'll want to turn off Stories, which definitely reports for revenue purposes.

[JNavas]

The original issue likely came from installing 153 ESR over an existing Firefox installation.

1. Firefox 153 ESR uses the same Proton UI visual style as Firefox 140 (June 2025). 
2. The Proton UI visual style goes back to Firefox 89 (June 2021).
3. To avoid issues, it's best to fresh install Firefox 153 ESR in a different directory with a new profile, then use Firefox Sync to update bookmarks and other data, and install any extensions that Sync missed.

I've updated my Firefox UI Tip to emphasize this.
When ESR is fresh installed to a new directory, both versions can by used, and either version is easy to uninstall.