ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Firefox is about to undergo a redesign.
- Nova will be released by the end of September.
- You can enable Nova now if you want to get a peek.
In March, the developers of Firefox started working on a redesign of the browser UI. The new design, called Nova, focuses on more rounded elements, floating toolbars, web content that is framed so it is no longer edge-to-edge within the browser window, and pastel gradient options.
I’ve been testing Nova in Firefox Nightly, and I have to say that it’s pretty stunning. Now, you don’t have to use Nightly to achieve the Nova look, as you can enable it in the stable release (more on that in a bit).
Also: Why I’m sticking with Firefox as my browser – after years of using Chrome, Edge, and Safari
For me, what the redesign does is give Firefox a more modern look. With the addition of vertical tabs and options for window density, Firefox has become one of the best-looking browsers on the market. I will say, however, that Firefox Nightly and Firefox Standard (with Nova enabled) do not look quite the same. With Nightly, you can achieve a more compact UI, but Standard gives you more of the Nova appearance.
On the Mozilla Distilled blog, the developers say this about the redesign:
When it came to design, we wanted Firefox to feel current, but not generic. Warm, but still precise. More expressive, but never louder than the web itself.
As far as the official changes are concerned, they include tabs with a softer shape and a subtle gradient; more rounded components; cleaner, more balanced icons across light and dark themes; rebalanced spacing; and a refreshed color palette (inspired by the feeling of fire).
In my opinion, what all of this does is make Firefox more personable, adaptable, and friendly. Some might say that’s going a bit too far and that a web browser is just a tool to access content. To that, I would say that a tool users spend the vast majority of their time in should not only reflect their taste but also make them feel more at home and comfortable. Personally, when I use a cold and soulless browser like Chrome, it feels off-putting.
Firefox Nova is none of that.
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As far as customizability is concerned, Firefox allows you to change the theme, window density (automatic, standard, compact, or touch), and tabs (from horizontal to vertical), as well as enable a sidebar, which is automatically enabled with vertical tabs.
When you combine all of this with the new Firefox Smart Window, you get a browser that is as much about the future as it is about now.
How to get Nova now
Instead of waiting until the end of September (when Nova is predicted to be officially released), you can have it now. If you’re using Firefox version 154 or newer, here’s how you can enable Nova.
- Open Firefox.
- Type about:config in the address bar.
- Hit Enter on your keyboard.
- Accept the warning.
- Search for nova.
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Click the right- and left-pointing arrows associated with browser.nova.enabled until the flag changes from false to true.
Jack Wallen/ZDNETThat’s it. You’re now using Nova. To change the theme, go to Extensions & Themes (from the Menu button) and select the gradient you want to use from the Firefox Themes block. One thing to keep in mind is that I’ve found that the Firefox Themes block is currently available only in Nightly.
Jack Wallen/ZDNETAfter enabling Nova in version 154, the Firefox Themes block is nowhere to be found. You do get the System Theme, which follows the operating system setting for buttons, menus, and windows, but I find the Firefox Themes block to be much more flexible.
It’s not just a pretty face
The intent of Nova isn’t just to give the browser a fresh coat of paint but also to speed up workflows by giving you easier access to tab groups, a split view, and tabs. By bringing back compact mode, you get a more condensed UI, so more space is available for the content you view.
Also: Firefox just made it easier to separate your work and personal browsing — here’s how
Firefox Nova also feels a smidge faster than previous iterations and UIs. This could simply be a matter of Firefox being a bit easier to navigate (especially with vertical tabs), but it could also be that the new design has given the browser a bit more speed.
In the end, I find Firefox Nova to be my favorite redesign of the open-source web browser to date. It’s elegant, sleek, simple, and as modern as any browser on the market. It is my hope that Nova will help Firefox return to the greatness it once enjoyed.
