Stay up to date with the latest changes to Zen Browser! Since the first release till 1.7.2b, we've been working hard to make Zen Browser the best it can be.
Thanks everyone for your feedback! ❤️
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
We are back again with yet another stability update!
The focus on this update was to finally fix main issues people have with essentias/pinned tabs and make the overall experience/UI much better.
We've improved the overall UI and feel of the browser, added new optimized and *bouncy* animations, added some quality of life improvements and overall just having a great time!
One thing to expect on future releases is the implementation of a new settings window, where all zen specific features can be easilly customized and toggled.
Fixes
Fixed essentials and pinned tabs not being correctly restored when using multiple windows
Fixed bookmarks failing to correctly initialize when using multiple windows
Fixed 1password always prompting for password with the message 'It looks like Firefox has been updated'
Fixed macos users having all toolbar buttons on the right side
Fixed having one extra pixel on the web views, leading to weird UI
Refactored overall UI and spacings
Fixed unloading tabs still taking up memory
Fixed essentials being deleted when closing the last window
Fixed split views leading to weird margins
Fixed the sidebar thinking the mouse is over them when it's not
Workspaces no longer run into problems caused by timing issues. This means a big improvement in reliability, especially when using multiple windows or processes at the same time
Fixed unloading tabs while having the devtools open
Fixed essentials trying to duplicate them before all windows have been restored
Fixed weird margins when using the web panels
Fixed animations when trying to switch workspaces but no other workspace exists
Fixed dialogs having bad contrast on some themes
Fixed the sidebar thinking it's being hovered when opening the URL bar
Features
Made compact mode individual for each window
New shadows, colors, fonts, spacing and animations!
Pinned tabs wont have a scrollbar (or max height) anymore unless it covers 90% of the screen
Compact mode delay before closing has been reduced
New compact mode animations and feel
Made the sidebar icons overflow! Meaning the size wont matter anymore on the number of top icons
Tweaked values for windows to provide a more native feel
Breaking Changes
Changed default setting for 'Essentials favicon in background' to false, These settings will be better handled once we have a customized settings page (toggle zen.theme.essentials-favicon-bg in about:config to change it back)
Changed the about:config 'close window with last tab' default value to false
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This new release includes more polishing changes and bug fixes. We are most excited about our latest release schedule. We are now using Firefox's Release Candidates for Twilight, meaning we can test out new Firefox versions before they are released to the public. This will allow us to fix any issues before they are released to the public.
It may be a bit late, but happy new year! We hope you have a great year ahead!
P.S. We also have a community-made Discord Server designed to discuss ricing and customizing Zen!
Fixes
Fixed compact mode sidebar not hiding fully on some occasions
Fixed context menu checkbox icon aligments for Windows users
Fixed having multiple windows displaying the wrong essentials at startup
Fixed toolbar jittering when in compact mode
#3916
Fixed grain texture not being clipped at window corners
#2942
Fixed arrow keys not working after opening an extension popup
#2743
Fixed wrong window buttons when opening customize toolbar in compact mode
Fixed animation for opening popups cliping their content
#4050
Update application identifier for Zen Browser to align with new naming conventions (MacOS)
Fixed translations trying to be overriden on Windows builds
Fixed web panels closing and inmediately opening again when clicking on the toolbar button
#4049
Fixed issues when building PGO, leading to bad optimization techniques
Fixed empty separations not appearing at the top toolbar
Fixed the spacing between the titlebar window buttons and toolbar buttons in MacOS
Fixed support for scrolling vertical tabs when opening a background tab
Fixed mod default preferences not displayed correctly until reopening the settings page or browser restart
#3887
Fixed changing mod string preferences sometimes results in missing characters
#3558
Fixed on-boarding search engine icons having large sizes
#3575
Fixed preferences sidebar hidding on smaller screens
#4051
Fixed coloring issue on tree elements such as search engine selection on the preferences page
Fixed pinning and unpinning extensions messing up the toolbar
Fixed duplicating a tab showing the default workspace container indicator
#4132
Fixed common issues on the on-boarding pages such as button backgrounds and spacing
#4035
Fixed visibility issues when selecting multiple essentials
Fixed syncing workspaces on some specific scenarios
Fixed glance buttons not being able to be clicked
Fixed horizontal spacing issues when using split views
Fixed naming issues between sidebar and web panels
#4043
Fixed moving pinned tabs into the essential tabs container breaking the UI
Fixed compact mode not opening when hovering on the side when the window changes size
Improved security for Zen Mods, only allowing installs from the Zen Mods website
Fixed the completly broken save bookmark dialog
Fixed and improved the grain texture for workspace backgrounds (Thanks to @different55)
Fixed zen's app bundle ID giving an incorrect identifier
Fixed issue related to changing workspace with the 4 / 5 mouse buttons and we now take into consideration natural scrolling
Fixed some website dialogs overflowing the window
Fixed moving around pins not saving their position after a restart
Fixed extension Pin to Toolbar overlayed with gtk theme toggle
#1934
Fixed opening home page instead of newtab when closing the last workspace tab
#3201
Fixed essential icon not appearing on the context menu
Fixed accessibility issues on some native links
Fixed compact mode not closing when opening an extension dialog pinned to the sidebar
Fixed windows 11 titlebar looking weird when having a custom accent color
Fixed workspaces icons appearing on private mode once opening another window
Fixed having invalid shortcuts hard-locking the user inside the loading screen
#4071
Fixed weird UI when dragging essentials around, making them look like they are clipping out of the view
Fixed compact mode sidebar flashing for some seconds when opening a glance window
Features
Updated to firefox 134.0
Added transitioning when changing between workspaces backgrounds
Browser background now goes grayscale when unfocused
Added support for Windows 11 setting 'Show accent color on window title bars and borders'
Enabled experimental features for twilight builds
Improved design of native zen dialogs
Re-enabled the default password manager
Improved on-boarding experience for new users
Added support for searching for emojis on the workspace icon picker
Added support for MacOS smart cards
Installed mods will now be correctly ordered in the settings page
Color picker dialog will now convert to a valid color if it's hex-like but invalid
Made workspace switching tab's animation smoother
Added developer tools shortcuts support!
Breaking Changes
Changed versioning scheme to match Firefox's Release Candidates
Removed option to disable workspaces. Workspaces are now a core feature of Zen, and it can be really easy to ignore them (they are hidden if you have just one workspace) if you don't want to use them. Most of Zen's functionality is built around workspaces, so we decided to make them a core feature. They were an option before because they were experimental.
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release includes many more bug fixes and improvements to the browser. We've also added an issue metrics file too see how many issues we've fixed each month!
Fixes
Fixed fullscreen notice having a weird animation
Fixed workspace indicator not hiding if the config is set to hide it
Improved accessibility for links on some native system pages
Fixed toolbar buttons disappearing if the window is too small
Fixed compact mode getting stuck when clicking on a pinned tab
Fixed opening customizable toolbar while having multiple windows
#3819
Fixed glance not working on sites that prevented click event to happen
#2480
Fixed compact mode animations on hover for macos, having laggy window buttons and splitter size for macos
Minor fixes to layout spacing and padding
Fixed URL bar being outisde of the window in compact mode while typing
#3913
Fixed tab context menu not working when changing tab to a different workspace
Fixed fullscreen videos having a top-bar on certain layouts
Fixed wrong firefox version when using extensions API, therefor breaking some extensions
Features
Adjust mouse wheel delta multiplier for improved scrolling sensitivity
Disable Normandy studies by default
Zen Mods will now not load if the browser is opened in safe mode
Removed permission buttons in the URL bar into an unified button, saving space (single toolbar layout)
Added support for function keys in the range of F13-F24, also for nums lock and scroll lock keys
Add experimental window controls preference to hide the window controls always (zen.view.experimental-no-window-controls)
Fixed and improved PGO, LTO and clang plugins for all builds, improving performance
Breaking Changes
Due to a high amount of complaints, we've changed the 'Inspect Element' shortcut to 'Ctrl+Shift+L' (Windows/Linux) and 'Cmd+Opt+I' (macOS). This is done to prioritize the 'Copy current URL' shortcut
Removed opimized builds for linux and windows
Learn more
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release brings more bug fixing and ovcerall stability while also including some small polishing features/details. Our goal during the beta phase is to get everything as stable and ready for our stable release!
Note: We will be hosting a hall-of-fame event, where top 20 zen rices will be featured in the website!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Fixes
Fixed workspaces not being initialized correctly when creating a fresh profile
Fixed gradient generator not being correctly initialized on startup
Fixed moving around/reordering pinned and essential tabs not saving
Fixed pinned tabs and essential tabs not being saved correctly on the first run of a fresh profile
Fixed compact mode preferences page having wrong labels
#3885
Fixed scroll direction when swiping workspaces with mousepads
Fixed weird margins in compact mode in certain conditions
Fixed trying to unload multiple tabs at once
#3831
Fixed surrounding spaces for certain layouts while using the web panels sidebar
Fixed workspace indicator showing if workspaces are disabled
Fixed URL bar not showing while in compact mode + right sidebar
Fixed clicking on the URLbar not doing anything on some conditions
Fixed accessibility issues with system links
Fixed bookmarks toolbar being reset when changing toolbar layouts
Fixed having right side floating URL bar opening in single toolbar
Fixed not being able to click on window buttons when having collapsed sidebar on the right
Fixed opening unfloatable URL bar when having compact mode having a weird behavior
Fixed not saving essential tabs correctly, leading to data loss
Features
Added a 'Copy current URL' keyboard shortcut
Enhanced URL bar layout when it's not floating
Improved and polished compact mode switching animation (Can be disabled in about:config or when having performance issues)
Added delays when hovering on the window buttons, making it a bit less error-prone
Added experimental rounded corners for website (Disabled by default on macos)
Added fallback cache-based website favicon in case we fail to fetch the website's favicon for essentials/pinned tabs
Added a more optimized version of zen hardening, there should be less performance issues now and less font-rendering issues
Added a smoother scrolling experience by using msd physics and changing scroll values/offests (Disabled in macos)
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release introduces a new stage for Zen Browser, the beta stage! This means that we are getting closer to a stable release, and we are now focusing on fixing bugs and improving the overall experience.
We've made some significant changes to the UI, including a new layout for the browser called single toolbar and much more!
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release brings some quality of life improvements and new features to Zen Browser! First thing you would notice, pinned tabs look like normal tabs now. Why? Because we added 'essentials'.
Essentials are a new way to manage your tabs, workspaces and pinned tabs. You can now have pinned tabs your workspace, and essentials will be the only tabs that are not workspace specific.
We've also started to experiment with new layouts and designs for the browser, and we've added a more native look to the browser!
Fixes
Fixed release notes link being broken on some places
Fixed shadow offset, making the webview look weird on the left side
Fixed closing glance when there was only one tab left
Fixed custom color input accepting every possible value
Fixed glance buttons not having any background on hover
Fixed urlbar styling inconsistencies, some buttons had offset padding
Fixed having glance on pinned tabs
Fixed opening panel animation, making the popup view look weird while animating
Fixed web panels being reloaded when unpining them
Fixed not making a default workspace when creating a new profile on specific conditions
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This was another release with the sole purpose of fixing some issues that were introduced in the previous release. Thanks everyone for the quick feedback!
Fixes
Fixed compact mode sidebar breaking when open a link from the other subpanels
#2218
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release introduces Zen Glance, a new convenient way to preview links!
Zen Glance allows you to open a link preview in a small window, without leaving the current page. This feature is perfect for quickly checking links without losing your place.
We've also updated to the latest stable version of Firefox (what a mess, everything got broken!), and we can already start to see some early stages of tab groups!
Start using Zen Glance today my 'ctrl+clic' or 'alt+click' on macos on any link and experience this new way of browsing!
Fixes
Fixed gradient theme not applying to sidebar using expand on hover
#2360
Fixed color picker not being responsive to cursor
#2350
Fixed toolbar not using gradient colors when in compact mode
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release brings Zen to Firefox v131.0.2, which patches a significant security vulnerability.
This update improves the split view and pinned tabs features. We have also released Zen Twilight; automated unstable builds where you can test out the latest features!
Fixes
Fixed tab sidebar flickering when on the right
Fixed performance issue when scrolling
Fixed buffering issues on YouTube
Fixed Zen Mod settings page crashing when a mod ceases to exist
Fixed extension menu breaking compact mode when held open
#1925
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
We are thrilled to announce that this release marks a significant leap forward for Zen Browser.
Since the last version (1.0.1-a.2), we've implemented numerous improvements and addressed key bug fixes, all aimed at enhancing your browsing experience.
We've made significant changes to the UI, including a new compact mode design, improved tab management, and a more intuitive user interface. We've also added new features, such as the ability to customize the tab bar and a new compact mode design.
We hope you enjoy this release and look forward to your feedback!
Fixes
Can't split tab, if one of the tabs has been previously split
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This version marks a more stable alpha release.
This release brings a few improvements to the UI and some important quality of life features for workspaces, such as separate pinned tabs, custom icons and assigned tab conainers!
We've also added a new AppImage installer for Linux users and started signing our Windows builds with a verified digital signature, making Windows Defender and other antivirus software less annoying!
Also, we've made the browser's layout more stable for mods, improved overal UX and added an a better theme support (Now called Zen Mods)!
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release is the seventeenth alpha release of the 1.0.0-alpha series.
This release includes some bug fixes and improvements.
Thanks everyone for the feedback! We've skipped version 1.0.0-a.16 because of the size of the releases. One more step closer to the first stable release!
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release is the eleventh alpha release of the 1.0.0-alpha series.
We skipped some releases because we were working on some big features and improvements. This release includes some big performance improvements and support for other platforms.
Hopefuly things will get a bit more stable from now on.
Fixes
Fixed the browser crashing when updating on macOS
#84
Fixed 'Couldn't load XPCOM' error on some Windows installations
#107
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release is the seventh alpha release of the 1.0.0-alpha series. This release includes some important bug fixes and improvements. The main focus of this release was to improve some small details and improve stability.
Fixes
Fixed the browser crashing when updating on Linux
#76
Fixed workspace deleting button, deleting the wrong workspace
#81
Fixed the expanded sidebar for the compact view
#79
Fixed small margin on hidden windows
Features
A grid system for pinned tabs
Flatpak support
More performance improvements
Added newtab wallpapers (Version 2)
Enabled hiding floating sidebar web panels when clicking outside
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release is a very small release that includes some speed improvements and privacy improvements. This release is the fifth alpha release of the 1.0.0-alpha series.
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release is the fourth alpha release of the 1.0.0-alpha series. This release includes a lot of bug fixes and improvements. The main focus of this release was to improve some small details and the compact view mode.
This release is very small but it includes some important fixes and I wont be able to work on the browser for the next few days so I decided to release it now.
Sorry!
Fixes
Fixed the compact view mode not displaying correctly when it's not fullscreen
#58
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release is the third alpha release of the 1.0.0-alpha series. One big feature of this release is the new workspaces feature. This feature allows you to create different workspaces with different tabs and configurations. This release also includes a lot of bug fixes and improvements.
Fixes
Fixed subwindows not being displayed correctly
#54
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release is the second alpha release of the 1.0.0-alpha series. It includes a lot of bug fixes and improvements given the feedback we received from the first alpha release. This release is still not considered stable, but it's a big step towards the first stable release.
Fixes
Fixed rounded corners of browser views for some websites
#48
Fixed audio icon overlapping with the tab container
#41
If you encounter any issues, please report them on the issues page.
This release will be the first release considered as stable. It's still in alpha, but it's the first release that we consider to be stable enough for daily use. You can start using it as your main browser right now if you are reading this!
Fixes
Fixed a bug where the browser would crash when opening any extension
#34
Fixed extension icon resolution on the toolbar
#35
Applied a fix for that affected some Linux users
#36