Firefox just got a redesign with round tabs, new themes, and Compact Mode

Mozilla has begun rolling out a redesigned Firefox to all desktop and mobile users, the company said. The update, which follows beta testing earlier this year, gives the browser a more rounded appearance and introduces new customization options. The overhaul is meant to modernize Firefox with bubble-like tabs, a rounded address bar, and refreshed colors, icons, and themes. Firefox 157 also marks the return of Compact Mode.

The redesign reaches both desktop and mobile versions of the browser, which will now share the same design language. According to Mozilla, the changes will have no cost to browser performance. The new look gives Firefox visual similarities to Chrome, which already uses rounded interface elements.

Mozilla described the overhaul as a renewal for Firefox, following a series of major updates over the past year. Those updates include homepage widgets, Split View, a built-in VPN, and controls for disabling the browser's AI features. Firefox has not avoided AI, however. Mozilla also launched its Smart Window AI mode earlier this year, which could help it compete with AI browser features offered by rivals such as Chrome.

The design revamp adds more themes and wallpapers for users to choose from. Mozilla offered a preview of some updated theme options in May, including a dozen different colors, each with a light and dark mode. The company said the redesign is available to all users starting today.

Compact Mode, returning in Firefox 157, is a condensed version of the browser that reduces the size of tabs and the toolbar to give more of the screen to the web. It includes an auto-compact option for smaller screens. Mozilla said the feature is back after users requested it.

Firefox's redesign arrives as Mozilla continues to position the browser against competitors. The company has spent the past year adding features beyond the core browsing experience, including the VPN and AI controls, while also introducing the Smart Window AI mode. The visual refresh and the revived Compact Mode round out the update rolling out now.

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