Firefox 125

Firefox 125’s release highlights prompt debate over where the browser is improving and where it still lags. Users welcome incremental gains like address autofill prompts, stronger download blocking, performance optimizations, and better container/tab search, but remain frustrated by weak native tab management, uneven mobile and iOS UX, and reliance on extensions and userChrome tweaks for core workflows. Security and privacy trade-offs around safe browsing and download blocking also draw scrutiny, with some calling for clearer controls and sandboxing.

Address & form autofill changes

  • Firefox now prompts US/Canada users to save addresses; some are surprised this appears “new.”
  • Multiple commenters say address autofill has existed for years and suspect only the prompt is new.
  • Complaints that credit card autofill is still unavailable in some regions despite appearing in settings or existing in other browsers.
  • Desire for finer-grained control over form data vs search history (clear/disable separately).

Download blocking and Safe Browsing

  • Concern that “more proactively blocks downloads” might mean sending URLs to third parties.
  • Others explain Firefox’s Safe Browsing uses hashes / blocklists and has existed for years; “more proactive” likely refers to expanding blocking of HTTP downloads (per linked Bugzilla), not new remote checks.
  • Some users hit over-aggressive blocking on legitimate downloads and find the hoops disrespectful; want clearer explanation of why a file is blocked.

Performance improvements and regressions

  • Update messaging claims ~25% faster page loads vs last year, attributed to many incremental changes.
  • Links to Mozilla posts about Speedometer 3 and SpiderMonkey improvements for more detail.
  • At least one user reports severe performance regressions on Linux (video/WEbRTC heavy CPU, likely hardware decoding issue), others suggest profiling and bug reports.

Tabs, bookmarks, and Firefox View

  • Many comments on “tab hoarding” (hundreds to thousands of tabs).
  • Some see using tabs as long‑term storage as natural and want native support: progressive bookmarks, unified model of tabs/bookmarks/history, “tab cold storage,” better cross-device tab recovery.
  • Others strongly dislike many tabs, prefer explicit bookmarks or text notes, and see overflowing tabs as poor organization.
  • Extensions like Tab Stash, Winger, and manual workflows (Ctrl+Shift+D to save window as folder) are used to convert tab piles into bookmarks.
  • Firefox View gets mixed reception: some appreciate slow progress; others see it as duplicating existing features, with poor layout and inconsistent padding.

Containers, tab groups, and vertical tabs

  • Multi-account containers are a major draw but users want:
    • Ability to remap Ctrl+T to open in current container.
    • Native tab grouping/workspaces and integrated vertical tabs.
    • Better profile switching and a “tab overview” akin to Safari’s or the old Panorama.
  • Several extensions are discussed (Sidebery, Tree Style Tab, Simple Tab Groups, Duplicate Tabs Closer, Auto Tab Discard), giving container-aware vertical tabs, tab “panels,” grouping, and tab discarding.
  • Opinions split: some find these extensions cohesive and “good enough” to rival native implementations; others feel the extension-based approach is inherently fragmented and fragile (userChrome.css tweaks, risk of breakage, corporate environments banning extensions).

Mobile (Android/iOS) experience

  • On iOS, lack of swipe-to-change-tabs and janky gestures make Firefox a non-starter for some who want one primary browser across devices.
  • Some argue iOS limitations and Apple’s rules make deep investment in Firefox for iOS less worthwhile.
  • On Android, long-standing pain around bulk recovery of synced tabs after device loss is highlighted; current solutions are hacky.

Security fixes and sandboxing

  • The release includes many security fixes; one commenter infers this suggests many more bugs likely remain and plans stronger sandboxing around the browser.

Other configuration and UI wishes

  • Requests for:
    • Clear visual borders between tabs.
    • More compact UI / less vertical chrome; interest in vertical tabs or smaller tab height.
    • Ability to disable AV1 (achievable via about:config flag).
    • Better tab search, now improved for container-specific tabs.