Zen Browser 1.16b brings enhanced URL bar, command bar actions & updated Firefox 143 base

Zen Browser 1.16b brings several enhancements for users seeking a highly customizable, Firefox-based web experience. This release notably upgrades the URL bar, now letting users open extensions and switch between spaces simply by typing their names. The redesigned results interface offers clearer and more detailed feedback.

Building on these workflow improvements, Zen Browser introduces command bar actions. Users can now toggle features such as Compact Mode directly from the command bar, with the development team planning to add more commands in future updates. As a foundation, this version transitions to the Firefox 143 codebase, which provides up-to-date security patches and compatibility improvements for web standards.

Following the user interface refinements, Compact Mode now features smoother background transitions when switching spaces, and the process for creating split views is more accessible, featuring both a new shortcut and a redesigned interface. Reliability receives attention, with fixes ensuring pinned tabs are correctly saved and restored, and an update resolving issues that prevented tabs from being restored across different browser spaces. Performance also sees gains, with optimizations for the Glance interface resulting in smoother scrolling. This version includes additional enhancements and bug fixes to support overall browser stability and usability.