Firefox just got a redesign with round tabs, new themes, and Compact Mode
Summary
Firefox has received a design overhaul with round tabs, new themes, and the reintroduction of Compact Mode, modernizing its user interface for desktop and mobile users.
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<img alt="A promotional image for Firefox’s Project Nova redesign" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Mozilla" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/firefox-project-nova-redesign-promo.webp?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Firefox will look a little different the next time you launch it - more bubbly, with some new pops of color. The browser's <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/new-firefox-design-is-here/">latest update</a> brings <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/935631/firefox-project-nova-redesign">a design overhaul</a> to all desktop and mobile users, aimed at modernizing Firefox with bubble-like tabs, a rounded address bar, and refreshed colors, icons, and themes. The desktop and mobile versions of the browser will also now share the same design language. According to Mozilla, the design changes will have "no cost to your browser performance."</p>
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<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/firefox-project-nova-redesign-tab-toolbar.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=7.8206724782067,0,84.358655043587,100" alt="A screenshot of the Firefox toolbar with the new Project Nova design" title="A screenshot of the Firefox toolbar with the new Project Nova design" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="<em>Firefox's new look has more rounded UI elements. </em> | Image: Mozilla" data-portal-copyright="Image: Mozilla">
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/firefox-redesign-new-theme-picker-screenshot.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=2.8571428571429,0,94.285714285714,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="<em>New theme options will include light and dark modes. </em> | Image: Mozilla" data-portal-copyright="Image: Mozilla">
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/firefox-157-redesign-compact-mode.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=7.8125,0,84.375,100" alt="A promotional image for Compact Mode in Firefox 157" title="A promotional image for Compact Mode in Firefox 157" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="<em>The new design also brings back Firefox's Compact Mode. </em> | Image: Mozilla" data-portal-copyright="Image: Mozilla">
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Mozilla says the overhauled design is a "renewal" for Firefox, following major updates over the last year, like <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/952354/firefox-home-page-widgets">homepage widgets</a>, Split Vie …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1001867/mozilla-firefox-157-redesign-compact-mode">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
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Cached at: 09/29/26, 01:48 PM
# Firefox just got a redesign with round tabs, new themes, and Compact Mode
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/1001867/mozilla-firefox-157-redesign-compact-mode](https://www.theverge.com/tech/1001867/mozilla-firefox-157-redesign-compact-mode)
[](https://www.theverge.com/authors/stevie-bonifield)
Stevie Bonifield
is a news writer covering all things consumer tech\. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI\.
Firefox will look a little different the next time you launch it — more bubbly, with some new pops of color\. The browser’s[latest update](https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/new-firefox-design-is-here/)brings[a design overhaul](https://www.theverge.com/tech/935631/firefox-project-nova-redesign)to all desktop and mobile users, aimed at modernizing Firefox with bubble\-like tabs, a rounded address bar, and refreshed colors, icons, and themes\. The desktop and mobile versions of the browser will also now share the same design language\. According to Mozilla, the design changes will have “no cost to your browser performance\.”
**1/3**
*Firefox’s new look has more rounded UI elements\.*Image: Mozilla
Mozilla says the overhauled design is a “renewal” for Firefox, following major updates over the last year, like[homepage widgets](https://www.theverge.com/tech/952354/firefox-home-page-widgets), Split View, a built\-in VPN, and[controls](https://www.theverge.com/news/872489/mozilla-firefox-ai-features-off-button)for disabling the browser’s AI features\. Firefox isn’t avoiding AI, though — it also launched its[Smart Window](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/981283/mozilla-firefox-smart-window-ai-features)AI mode earlier this year, which could help it compete with rivals’ AI browser features,[like those in Chrome](https://www.theverge.com/tech/913109/google-ai-mode-tabs-sources)\. With its rounded UI elements, Firefox now visually resembles Chrome a bit more, too\.
The design revamp also introduces more customization options, including more themes and wallpapers to choose from\. Mozilla shared a peek at some of the updated theme options in May, including a dozen different colors to choose from, each with a light and dark mode\. Along with the design overhaul, Firefox 157 brings the return of an old feature: Compact Mode, back after user requests\. This condensed version of Firefox “reduces the size of your tabs and toolbar to give more of your screen to the web, with an auto\-compact option for smaller screens\.”
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- Stevie Bonifield
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