Firefox 136.0 stable version released with improvements and updates, including Vertical Tabs, improved sidebar, hardware video decoding for AMD GPUs enabled by default on Linux, and much more. Mozilla has published installers and binary files for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
What's new in Firefox 136
HTTPS-First
Enabled HTTPS-First behavior by default to upgrade page loading to HTTPS. It replaces "http://" requests with "https://" when the browser opens a link or a URL in the address box, or when it is loading embedded images, scripts, and CSS.
SmartBlock for Enhanced Tracking Protection
Smartblock selectively unblocks certain social networks blocked in ETP Strict and Private Browsing modes. E.g. it allows you to use Facebook, but doesn't allow Facebook to track you.
New vertical tab layout
Instead of a tab bar above the address bar, tabs can now be displayed as a list in the sidebar. Vertical tabs allow you to free up additional screen space for viewing site content on widescreens. Tip: If you don't see Vertical Tabs right away, here's how to enable them.
In addition, with vertical placement, you can more comfortably work with a large number of tabs. When placed horizontally, the tab row requires scrolling. The vertical tab row fits more tabs on modern wide screens.
Updated sidebar
Firefox 136 adds a new implementation of the sidebar. It can now appear to the left or right of the main page. When vertical tabs are enabled, the panel appears expanded and shows tab titles.
When collapsed, the sidebar only shows action buttons for calling the AI assistant, viewing navigation history, opening bookmarks, and displaying tabs from other devices.
To manage sidebar, there is a new option in Settings / General / Browser Layout.
Privacy
The unified dialog for clearing user data (the Clear Data button in privacy settings) now allows for separate deletion of data saved for autofilling forms. Previously, such data could only be deleted along with the navigation history.
Other changes
- When copying images from Firefox, the PNG format is used by default to preserve transparency data.
- The "Firefox data collection and use" section in the "Privacy & Security" settings has been renamed.
- macOS users now have support for hardware acceleration of HEVC video content playback.
- Android users can now report issues with websites using the Website Compatibility Reporting tool
- The "Save to Pocket" button has been removed from the new tab opening page. You can now use the corresponding element in the context menu.
- The weather forecast widget on the new tab page is available to more users. It is now visible to users from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
- For UK users, the autocomplete address feature has been enabled in web forms.
Download Firefox 136
To get the newest version of Firefox on Windows, navigate to the browser's menu and select the 'About Firefox' option.
Alternatively, you can download the installers here: https://releases.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/136.0/. Choose the browser compatible with your OS, language, and platform from there. The files are sorted into subdirectories by platform and UI language, and they include complete (offline) installer packages.
Linux users should use the OS' package manager to get the latest version available for the distro. E.g. in Ubuntu/Mint with the official mozillateam PPA connected, you can run the apt update && apt install firefox command in a root terminal.
The official release notes are here: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/136.0/releasenotes/.
The previous update, Firefox 135, was released in early February of this year.
Earlier, Mozilla announced that the Firefox browser would now be subject to Terms of Use in addition to the open MPL license. They will set requirements to share some data. that the user must agree to in order to work. Mozilla decided to add it due to the changing technological landscape.
Also, Mozilla has removed the following from its Terms of Use :
"Does Firefox sell your personal data?"
"Nope. Never have, and never will. And we protect you from the many advertisers who do. Firefox products are designed to protect your privacy. That's a promise."
Starting in March, the request to confirm the terms of use will be shown to new users, and later it will be implemented for existing ones.
Support us
Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options: