Firefox is working on a rounded redesign with easy-to-find controls for privacy and AI

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FollowSee All WebFirefox is working on a rounded redesign with easy-to-find controls for privacy and AIThe design overhaul coming later this year will also bring back compact mode and add more customization options. The design overhaul coming later this year will also bring back compact mode and add more customization options. by Stevie Bonifield Stevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

Technical Details

FollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldMay 21, 2026, 8:05 PM UTC Image: Mozilla Stevie Bonifield Stevie BonifieldPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. FollowSee All by 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 is getting a drastic visual overhaul with a redesigned Settings section that will make it easier to find and use privacy settings, including the switch for turning off all present and future AI features. Mozilla calls the redesign “Project Nova” and plans to begin rolling it out later this year. It features rounded UI elements throughout, including bubble-like tabs, along with a refreshed, fire-inspired color palette.

Mozilla says it’s also updating icons so they’re more visually consistent across light and dark themes. 1 / 2The Project Nova redesign will make the toolbar and tabs more rounded. Firefox’s AI features and models aren’t downloaded to your computer unless you choose to use them, even if you haven’t turned on the complete block in the settings.

Industry Implications

But if you do have any installed, it’s already easier to see which ones, and how much space they’re taking up, compared to Google Chrome’s contentious 4GB download. While the redesign isn’t coming until later this year, Mozilla also announced a new feature on Thursday that’s available now: support for the Web Serial API. As Mozilla notes: “For example, websites can control devices or deliver firmware without requiring native applications or installers.

” The new API is part of Firefox 151, which was released this week and also includes an updated design for the Firefox Home page, new wallpapers, and the option to merge multiple PDFs together in the browser’s PDF viewer. Image: MozillaOn the productivity side, the new design will bring back Firefox’s compact mode, which condenses browser controls like the forward and backward buttons. The redesign will also make it easier to access tab groups, split view, and vertical tabs.

Project Nova will also include more customization, starting with new wallpapers and themes.

This advance offers important signals about the future of the sector, and the tech world is watching closely.