Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
For ZDNET’s Jack Wallen, five Firefox features gradually made the browser feel worth returning to: a refreshed theming engine, vertical tabs, Multi-Account Containers, a built-in VPN in limited testing, and new AI features. His experience is a personal account—not a controlled comparison of browser speed, security, or performance—and availability varies by Firefox version and rollout.
What brought Wallen back to Firefox?
Wallen described the shift as cumulative: Firefox changed over time until it better matched the browser he wanted to use. In his August 24, 2026 account, he wrote, “However, during the past year, Firefox has slowly started to morph into the exact browser I want and need.” That is his assessment, not a finding that Firefox will suit every user.
The five features he singled out address different needs: personalizing the interface, organizing tabs, keeping account sessions separate, accessing a VPN feature, and using AI tools. The first three speak to everyday browser organization; the last two require more attention to availability and settings.
1. A broader theming engine
Wallen said the Nightly version he used extended theme styling beyond toolbars to menus and messages. He found the available choices subtle and quick to apply. That describes his experience with a development-channel version, rather than a guarantee that the same controls or themes are available in every Firefox release.
#1 Best Overall
Mozilla’s September 29, 2026 design announcement separately describes a visual refresh beginning to roll out across desktop and mobile. The announcement supports the broader redesign context, but does not independently confirm every detail Wallen reported about the Nightly theme engine. Mozilla’s design announcement
2. Vertical tabs for a different way to scan
Wallen prefers vertical tabs because he finds it easier to scan and arrange open pages in that layout. This is a workflow preference, not a measured productivity improvement. Mozilla’s redesign announcement says vertical tabs are among the features becoming easier to access as the refreshed design rolls out. Whether the option has reached a particular device or release depends on rollout timing.
3. Multi-Account Containers for separate sessions
Firefox Multi-Account Containers let you separate cookies into different containers, which can be useful when you want to keep accounts or browsing contexts apart—for example, opening work and personal accounts in distinct containers. Mozilla Support explains the cookie separation and multiple-account use case in its privacy and security features guide.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Containers are an organizational and session-separation feature, not a promise of anonymity or complete protection from tracking. They do not, by themselves, make a user anonymous.
4. A built-in VPN, but availability was limited
In the August 24 article, Wallen described Firefox’s built-in VPN as a beta feature that was being rolled out gradually to Nightly and Beta users; he also noted account sign-in. That is the availability picture he reported at that time, not confirmation of general availability today. Access may depend on release channel and rollout, and the browser feature should not be confused with a separate paid VPN service.
5. AI features—with important distinctions
Wallen discussed Smart Window, locally hosted models, chat history called Moments, and the choice of chatbot provider in the sidebar. His Smart Window observations came from pre-alpha testing and his own setup, so they should not be treated as a description of a feature available to all Firefox users. Nor does his account establish that every named model or provider remains available.
Mozilla’s September 2026 design announcement says users can turn AI features off. Mozilla’s privacy notice also says some Firefox features use small language models downloaded to the device. Those facts do not mean that every AI feature works locally or that all AI-related processing happens on-device. For details about what data Firefox handles, see Mozilla’s Firefox Privacy Notice, effective May 4, 2026.
How to decide whether these changes matter to you
The useful question is not whether these features make Firefox universally better, but whether they address a problem in your own browser routine. Consider the following before switching back:
- Tabs: If you regularly juggle many open pages, try a vertical layout and see whether it is easier for you to scan.
- Multiple accounts: If you need separate sessions in one browser, check whether Containers fit that workflow.
- Customization: If interface appearance matters to you, check which theme and redesign options are available in your installed release.
- VPN: Confirm whether the browser feature is available to your account and release channel rather than assuming the beta rollout has reached everyone.
- AI: Review the controls and privacy information, and decide whether you want the features enabled.
If you use Firefox on more than one device, Mozilla says Firefox Sync can make bookmarks, passwords, open tabs, and other information available across devices. The Firefox features page describes Sync and other browser capabilities.
Mozilla’s privacy notice also says Firefox collects certain technical and settings data for core functionality. That makes it more accurate to assess the specific privacy controls and data practices than to assume the browser collects no data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the five features do—and don’t—show
Together, these features explain why Firefox became a better fit for Wallen: they match his preferences for interface customization, tab organization, separate account contexts, and access to emerging VPN and AI tools. They do not establish that Firefox is faster, more secure, or more private than another browser. For an individual reader, the practical test is whether the features are available in their version and solve a real workflow need.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
