[Tip] Restore Old Classic Theme and UI in Firefox 89 and Later Versions

UPDATE: A new working method available at following link to disable new Proton UI and restore classic UI in Firefox 91.0 and later versions:

[Tip] New Working Method to Restore Classic Theme and UI in Firefox 91 and Later Versions

This article will help you in restoring old classic theme and User Interface (UI) in Mozilla Firefox 89.0 and later versions.

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If you upgraded or installed newer versions of Mozilla Firefox web browser such as 89 and later, you might have noticed the new white/grey theme and UI which is called “Proton UI“.

The new redesigned UI is fresh and modern and has been developed to provide similar interface for different devices. We told you about the new Proton UI when it was under development and testing and was available in Firefox testing versions such as Nightly builds.

[Review] Upcoming “Proton” Design Refresh UI in Mozilla Firefox

Following screenshot shows new Proton UI enabled in Mozilla Firefox web browser:

New_Proton_Visual_Design_Refresh_Theme_UI_Mozilla_Firefox.png

Although the new visual design is refreshing and might please lots of users but there are some Firefox users who don’t like the new UI and want to bring back the good ol’ classic theme in their browser.

Fortunately, it’s possible to get the old theme and UI back in Firefox at least for now.

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The hidden preferences/flags which were used to activate and enable new Proton UI in Firefox testing builds, still work in public stable versions of Firefox and we can modify those preferences to disable new Proton UI and re-enable classic UI.

Following screenshot shows old classic theme and UI restored successfully in Firefox newer versions:

Old_Classic_Theme_UI_Restored_Mozilla_Firefox.png

If you also want to get rid of new Proton UI and restore old classic theme and UI in Firefox 89 and later versions, following steps will help you:

1. Open Firefox Nightly and type about:config in the addressbar and press Enter. It’ll show you a warning message, click on “Accept the Risk and Continue” button. It’ll open Firefox’s hidden secret advanced configuration page i.e. about:config page.

2. Now type proton in Search filter box and you’ll see following preferences in the window:

browser.proton.contextmenus.enabled

browser.proton.doorhangers.enabled

browser.proton.enabled

browser.proton.modals.enabled

browser.proton.places-tooltip.enabled

All preferences values are set to true by default, which means the new Proton design UI is currently activated and enabled everywhere in your Firefox browser.

Restoring_Old_Classic_Theme_UI_Disable_Proton_UI_Mozilla_Firefox.png

3. To disable the new Proton design UI and restore old classic theme UI, double-click on each preference and set their values to false. Alternatively, you can click on the Toggle icon given next to the preference name.

That’s it. Once you set all above mentioned preferences to false, it’ll immediately restore old classic theme and UI everywhere in Firefox such as titlebar, tab bar, toolbars, context menus, flyouts, etc.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore and apply new Proton UI in Firefox, set above mentioned preferences/flags to true again.

Also Check:

[Tip] Restore “Compact Mode” Density Option in Firefox Customize Window

[Tip] Restore Classic Print Preview Dialog Box UI in Mozilla Firefox

[Fix] Restore Real Working Search Box on New Tab Page in Firefox 89 and Later

[Tip] How to Restore “View Image” Option to Context Menu in Mozilla Firefox

[Tip] Take Webpage Screenshot Option Removed from Addressbar in Mozilla Firefox

[Tip] How to Restore Backspace Key to Go Back to Previous Page in Mozilla Firefox

Published in: Mozilla Firefox

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. Thanks for great info.
    I absolutely don’t like that new flat 2d A4 paper sheet look.

  2. Proton crashed on the update, then when restarted was left with this white washed view. Restore setting so I can go back to original view or I will be looking for another browser, your choice not mine!

  3. I don’t like the new Proton. I agree with Bee and Eric. It is an accessibility issue. I hope that the “old way” continues in version 90.

  4. I thought your addition of a switch to stop audio and video without adding an on/off button was the ultimate. You have outdone your self with the latest theme implementation. Congrats.

  5. Thank you very much, I was already annoyed about the fact they never can keep their dirty fingers away from things, which are already good.

  6. Thanks for the fix. Proton sets off my Autism anxiety big time. At least I found your site before my friend with epilepsy updated their firefox. Huge accessibility fail.

    THANK YOU FOR THE FIX!

  7. Cheers for suggesting this which worked well for me.

    I’m not sure why Mozilla think the knew interface is a good idea, I find it visually confusing to follow. I might get used to it, but at present I keep thinking I’m in another browser. It’s quite unsettling. This might be the final straw in me switching to the now excellent MS Edge!

  8. why do these browser companies like making the window title take up more and more space? this is a bad trend that shouldn’t have happened in the first place

  9. Sorry, this doesn’t work. My folders are still grey and unreadable vs the old style. And my tabs are now in the wrong place, just under the menu bar.
    FF now looks awful, like the Office team have been hired for the redesign.
    Why do tech people insist on imposing their design tastes on others?

  10. I agree. Proton theme is garbage when you are so used to the classic. I feel Mozilla should keep the old forever. The search bar still looks new… can I fix that?

  11. This tip very thankfully makes the top bars not take up so much space on the page, and puts back separators between the tabs so you can understand what you are looking for, but now the bars have a distracting black background. Please give the option to bring back the old theme for people who actually liked the old theme and who find this new redesigned ‘fresh and modern’ UI to be designed for children, not people who actually appreciate functionality in a browser.

  12. I’m sorry, but this new “Proton” mode is just… it’s extremely jarring to me. I see no purpose in the ‘floating’ tabs – they’re ugly, hard to read and their lack of discernible border makes it too easy to lose the one I’m looking for – on top of that, the double spacing on the various menus is likewise jarring and unnecessary. I understand how it might work for some people and that’s fine, if they want to use it, let them do so. But PLEASE do not remove the ability to change the density/compact mode entirely as some of us really like that better and ‘forcing’ us to use the new mode without any kind of option is not a good thing.

  13. Thank you!

    Why do companies always feel the need to change up a working design to something “hip” and unreadable.

  14. My company pushing Edge, I already have some serious issues with firefox with Microsoft environment.
    I did not move to Edge because of the GUI, missing menu bar.
    Now the interface. Development is not repainting IMHO.
    If I have to get used to a different user interface, I do not see any reason to stay with firefox.
    Sorry
    Bye

  15. Thank you for the instructions to reset this!

    A lot of users don’t like re-designs just because they look different, but I have to say that Proton UI has indeed such poor readability that I don’t get why the Firefox team went that way. I’d hope that great software like Firefox should stand up against temporary (!) design trends like low contrast and overly bulky elements.

  16. This is much appreciated, thanks – before finding it, I was at the point of “sigh, well I guess I need to find a new browser because people just love changing their products”

  17. I use Firefox since i started using a browser. If this mess of a design is the only option to use Firefox i will have to find something else. Really a shame! I loved Firefox. But if you often work with 20+ tabs open this new design is a absolute nightmare!!!!!!

  18. Big “thank you” for instructions to reset the white space / padding between bookmark and menu items in the new Proton interface introduced in Firefox 89.

    Change for the sake of change is unneeded!

    Thank you again! 🙂

  19. Thanks for the tip about the about:config options being eventually be removed. Firefox will be forbidden from doing anymore updates.

  20. Thanks. That’s really great we can get back to some previous settings – proton is awful!

  21. Thanks so much for this, it worked. I don’t like the “proton” look, it’s hard for me to read the bubble tabs without borders. Also, people have habits, it’s human nature, and these developers should understand that when mucking about with things just for the sake of it, when there is nothing wrong or in need of fixing.

  22. Thanks!
    Worked for me.
    Now only one item left. How to get the icons in bookmarks to be filled again and not only outlined…

  23. Thanks VG
    Love your work.
    And as for the so-called upgrades to FF, as others have said, if it’s not broken, don’t mess with it.
    It seems that the developers of FF are more interested in Form over Function.
    There was & is nothing wrong with the appearance of FF pre version 89.
    It looks like they are trying to make FF into Google Chrome. If i wanted to use that Google Chrome, i would but i use FF instead.
    I used to use Palemoon but they went somewhere i did not want to go and it seems FF is heading that way too.
    What to use instead of FF (which was near perfect for me) is going to be difficult.

  24. Thank you for this. I was going nuts as my poor eyesight struggles with the new look. This is totally an accessibility issue.

  25. This is no longer working on Firefox version 91. The ugly tabs and drop down menu is back and seems not to be able to change them back to the classic look.

    Any ideas ?

  26. I was ready to give up and dump Firefox after using it since it was called Netscape.

    Then I stumbled over this Github project.

    github.com/black7375/Firefox-UI-Fix

    They have 3 different versions available. I picked the Photon (Quantum) version after testing all of them.

    You can download them from the top of the Installation guide.

    github.com/black7375/Firefox-UI-Fix/wiki/Installation-Guide

    Now you can enjoy Firefox again!

  27. Agreed with Thomas above – this fix no longer works with Firefox 91. I toggled all the Proton settings to “false” and no change.

    Trying Michaels github suggestion – although with the new Firefox finding the “green download button” is a challenge since it’s neither green nor an arrow any longer.

    If it doesn’t work I’ll have to abandon Firefox (which I’ve also used since “Netscape).

  28. Hello – I really need help please. I’ve followed all the steps above and turned all to ‘false’ but there is no save button, or anything and nothing has changed. Is it still possible to revert the appearance of bookmarks, etc to older version. I did not want to update, but accidentally it did and I hate this version – it is impossible to see and visually very difficult for me. Please can you help?

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