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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The latest version of Firefox for Android now supports tab groups.
- The settings screen is simpler, and you can see any blocked trackers.
- Other features on the way include a VPN and a power-saving mode.
Do you use Firefox on your Android device? If so, you’ll want to grab the latest update for some cool and helpful new features. In a Tuesday blog post, the folks at Mozilla unveiled three new and improved features for the Android version of their browser and revealed what’s in store for future editions.
Tab groups
First on the list is tab groups. Accessible in the desktop flavor of Firefox for the past year, tab groups are now rolling out to the mobile edition via version 152. With this feature, you can organize your related tabbed pages into specific groups to help cut down on the clutter. After assigning a name and color to your group, just close it to save space and reopen it when you need to access all the pages inside. Mozilla promises that this one will reach iOS users later this year.
Also: Why I’m sticking with Firefox as my browser – after years of using Chrome, Edge, and Safari
“Tab Groups add a layer of color-coded organization to your browser, making it easier to keep related tabs together,” Firefox said in a blog post from 2025. “You can create groups for topics, projects or recurring tasks — like the news sites you read daily, ideas for a new woodworking hobby or research for an upcoming trip to Thailand.”
Simpler settings
Next up is a revamp of the Settings screen. With this overhaul, Mozilla is touting a simpler layout, letting you more easily find a specific setting and discover options you might not have known about. Your preferences won’t change, but hopefully they’ll now be better organized.
Also: This AI tool turned my messy browser tabs into something actually manageable
“Over time, some settings pages became crowded, related preferences were spread across different sections, and it wasn’t always obvious where to look for a particular option,” Mozilla said in another blog post. “The new settings feature a cleaner layout, modern visual design, improved labels and descriptions, and updated navigation, bringing related categories together.”
View blocked trackers
Firefox automatically blocks annoying ads and other kinds of trackers to keep your browsing activity and preferences private. But now you’ll be able to see that in action. The new Blocked Tracker Widget will show you how many and what types of trackers the browser has stopped. This type of safeguard is part of Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection
Also: Google Chrome’s vertical tabs are here: How to opt in and use the new Reading Mode
“Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox automatically protects your privacy as you browse. It blocks trackers that follow you around online to collect information about your browsing habits and interests without breaking site functionality,” Mozilla explained in a support article. “It also includes protections against harmful scripts, such as malware that drains your battery.”
Update the browser
To update Firefox on your Android device, open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile image or icon, and select Manage apps & device. You’ll then be prompted to update all your installed apps, including Firefox.
More in store
But wait, there are a host of other features due in future versions of Firefox for Android.
- A free built-in VPN is headed for Firefox on mobile. Naturally, you’ll be able to flip on the VPN anywhere, anytime. But it should prove especially helpful if you’re connecting to public Wi-Fi or other unprotected networks and want to keep your browsing activity private.
- The built-in PDF editor is getting spruced up. In a future version of the browser, you’ll be able to split, merge, and reorganize PDF files directly in Firefox.
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts will let you create and modify your own keyboard shortcuts. You can design ones for everyday tasks as well as for specific accessibility features.
- Currently available as an extension, Multi-Account Containers will be integrated directly into Firefox. With this option, you can separate different browser activities based on where and how you use them. For instance, you might want to create one container for personal tasks and another for work tasks.
- The upcoming Power Saving Mode will help locate open tabs that are chewing up system resources. Firefox will then reduce their power-hungry impact so that your phone’s battery life isn’t as affected.
- Here’s an AI-powered feature slated for a future version. With Quick Answers, you’ll be able to ask Firefox a question via voice and receive an AI-generated response directly in the browser. And with AI being fallible, you can also check out the sources used to generate the answer to double-check the accuracy.
- Finally, Mozilla continues to enhance its Smart Window option through which you can tell the built-in AI to find general information or answer specific questions. But here, your conversations remain private, stored only on your own device. To take the current version of Smart Window for a spin, head to the Smart Windows beta page.
