Firefox 157 arrives with major UI redesign, compact mode, and hardware AV1 video decoding

Mozilla has officially rolled out Firefox 157, marking the first widespread deployment of the browser's comprehensive interface overhaul. The update brings a refreshed visual identity across both desktop and mobile platforms, featuring updated colors, icons, and themes designed to make Firefox feel “current, but not generic” while preserving its distinctive personality. According to Mozilla's official announcement, the redesign maintains all existing functionality without any performance impact, representing a significant visual milestone for the browser that many users have been testing in Nightly builds over the past few months.

Beyond aesthetics, Firefox 157 introduces several user-requested features centered around customization and control. The highly anticipated compact mode has returned, allowing users to reduce tab and toolbar sizes for more screen real estate, a feature particularly useful for smaller displays. Users can now explore different visual appearances through a new theme picker, offering expanded choices for Firefox's look and feel. Additionally, the New Tab page receives enhanced flexibility, enabling users to customize their homepage layout and pin frequently-used shortcuts for quick access. In terms of technical improvements, WebRTC video calls can now leverage hardware AV1 decoding on compatible devices, reducing processing overhead compared to software-only decoding and potentially improving call quality and battery life. Firefox Suggest also expands significantly, now offering address bar suggestions in 15 European countries, with full user control available through Firefox Suggest settings.

Security-conscious users will notice an important addition in Firefox 157: the browser now displays prominent warnings in both the site information panel and settings when encryption key recording has been configured. This feature alerts users when other software on their computer could potentially read encrypted web traffic, enhancing transparency around surveillance-capable configurations. Throughout all these changes, Mozilla emphasizes that Firefox's foundational principles remain intact: independence, open-source development, and built-in privacy protections continue to define the browsing experience. The rollout represents the culmination of Firefox's design evolution over the past year, transitioning from concept to full release. For long-time Firefox users, the update balances familiar elements with modern refinements, aiming to appeal to both existing communities and new audiences seeking a contemporary browsing experience.