Mozilla has unveiled a major redesign of Firefox, marking the browser’s largest visual overhaul since 2020.
The update, known internally as Project Nova, brings changes to the browser’s appearance, privacy tools, AI controls, and workflow features. The redesign is expected to roll out later this year across desktop and mobile.
The redesign changes several visual elements, including tabs, icons, spacing, colors, and settings. Firefox tabs are becoming softer and more rounded. The active tab will also get a gradient effect to make it stand out more clearly.
Mozilla is also updating menus, panels, and controls to create a more consistent look across the browser. For colors, Mozilla took inspiration from fire. The new design moves away from flatter colors and uses a mix of deep smoky purples and warmer, lighter shades.
Mozilla is also redesigning the Settings menu to make privacy controls easier to locate and understand. Built-in VPN access and private browsing options will become more visible inside the interface.
Firefox will also include a dedicated kill switch that allows users to turn off all AI-related features.
Mozilla is simplifying the language used for Enhanced Tracking Protection, making it easier for users to understand the balance between privacy and website compatibility.
Mozilla said blocking third-party trackers has helped reduce load times for key page content by 9% over the past 12 months.
The company said fewer external scripts mean pages have less code to process, which can improve performance.
Firefox will also make workflow tools easier to access. Features such as tab groups, vertical tabs, and split view will be surfaced more prominently.
Mozilla is also bringing back Compact mode, a denser layout option that was removed several years ago. The feature had remained a common request among users who prefer tighter browser layouts.
Mozilla is also updating Firefox on mobile. The phone and desktop versions will share a common set of colors, icons, and design components.
New themes and wallpapers are also planned. Mozilla said it wants to give users more control over individual interface elements, including tab shapes, in future updates.
The redesign arrives as Firefox continues to hold a small share of the browser market. At the same time, companies including Google, OpenAI, and Perplexity are racing to build AI-powered browsers. That has raised new questions about privacy and security.
Mozilla is positioning Firefox’s optional AI features, including the ability to turn them off entirely, as an alternative to more AI-heavy browser experiences.
Users who want to test the new design can already try it through Firefox’s experimental Nightly channel.
According to Neowin , users need to open about:config, create a new boolean entry called browser.nova.enabled, set it to true, and restart the browser. However, Nightly is a pre-release version of Firefox, so users may experience instability.
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