If you thought Firefox was slowing down, think again. Mozilla has rolled out Firefox 146, a feature-packed update designed to improve performance, stability, and everyday usability across all major operating systems. Whether you’re on Windows 10, macOS, or Linux with Wayland, this new release introduces meaningful enhancements that make browsing faster, safer, and more reliable.

From automatic local backups on Windows to a dedicated GPU process on Macs and native fractional scaling for Linux, Firefox 146 brings improvements that directly impact real-world use. Here’s a complete breakdown of everything new in this update.

Automatic Local Backups for Windows 10

Firefox 146 introduces a long-requested feature for Windows 10 users: automatic encrypted local backups, separate from Firefox Sync.

Unlike Sync—which stores data in the cloud for multi-device usage—this new backup feature generates a daily local file containing:

• Passwords
• Bookmarks
• Browsing history
• Personal settings and preferences

You can store this encrypted backup anywhere you want, including:

• An external hard drive
• A USB flash drive
• OneDrive (Mozilla’s recommended option for easy migration)

When reinstalling Firefox, upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11, or moving to a new PC, you can instantly restore your previous setup using this local file.

For now, the feature is exclusive to Windows 10, but Mozilla has already confirmed plans to bring it to other platforms—though without specifying a timeline.

macOS Gets a Dedicated GPU Process to Prevent Crashes

Mac users receive a big reliability boost in Firefox 146, thanks to the introduction of a separate GPU process. This isolates all graphics-related tasks from the main browser operations.

Components now running inside their own GPU process include:

• WebGPU
• WebGL
• WebRender (Firefox’s rendering engine)

If a graphics error occurs, Firefox no longer crashes entirely. Instead, it simply restarts the GPU process quietly in the background—your tabs and browsing session remain fully intact.

Other platforms have supported this architecture for a while, so this update finally brings macOS up to speed.

Firefox Labs Now Accessible to Everyone—Without Telemetry

In previous versions, experimenting with new Firefox features required enabling telemetry or participating in Mozilla’s studies program. That’s no longer the case.

With Firefox 146, Firefox Labs is open to all users, with no data-sharing requirements.

You can access it via:

• Settings > Firefox Labs, or
• Typing about:preferences#experimental in the address bar.

Current experimental features include:

• IME composition results displayed directly in the address bar
• Automatic Picture-in-Picture activation when switching tabs
• Built-in to-do lists and timers on the Firefox home page

Real-Time Search Results Directly in the Address Bar

One of the most noticeable improvements in Firefox 146 is the addition of live search results displayed instantly in the address bar as you type.

Instead of waiting for a full search results page to load, Firefox now provides:

• Instant search suggestions
• Immediate links relevant to your query
• Faster access to top results

This feature is rolling out progressively, so not all users will see it immediately.

English-language Firefox users in France, Germany, and Italy will also receive smart suggestions related to holidays and observances, aligning Firefox with features offered by other modern browsers.

Native Fractional Scaling Support for Linux (Wayland)

Linux users running Wayland get a long-awaited display improvement: native fractional scaling support.

Firefox now properly renders content on screens set to non-integer scaling values like 125% or 150%, without hacks or environment tweaks.

Benefits include:

• Sharper UI rendering
• More accurate scaling on HiDPI displays
• Improved visual consistency across applications

This update eliminates the need for manual configuration or workarounds that many Linux users previously relied on.

Updated Weather Experience on New Tabs (EU Users)

Firefox 146 introduces a new consent-based weather setup for users in the European Union and select additional regions.

When opening a new tab, Firefox now asks whether you want:

• Automatic location detection, or
• Manual location search

This change ensures compliance with EU privacy laws requiring explicit user approval before using geolocation data.

Firefox 146: Available Now

Firefox 146 officially launched on December 9, 2025, and is rolling out automatically through the browser’s built-in update system. Users can also download the new version manually via Mozilla’s official distribution servers.

Conclusion

Firefox 146 shows that Mozilla is still committed to delivering a powerful, privacy-focused browser that adapts to user needs across every platform. This update strengthens reliability, improves cross-platform performance, and introduces features that genuinely enhance the browsing experience. Whether you’re a Windows power user, a Mac creator, or a Linux enthusiast, Firefox 146 brings meaningful upgrades worth trying today.