---
title: How to restore Firefox’s old UI and theme after the rounded redesign
url: https://roboin.io/article/en/2026/09/30/how-to-revert-firefoxs-rounded-design-and-restore-the-previous-theme/
description: Mozilla has redesigned Firefox, giving the browser a rounder
  interface and replacing the dark mode color scheme with a more colorful
  palette. In this article, I’ll show you how to change the new Firefox dark
  mode from its colorful palette to a more subdued one, as well as how to
  restore the previous UI design.
publishedDate: 2026-09-30T04:39:30.338Z
modifiedDate: 2026-09-30T04:39:30.338Z
thumbnail: https://roboin.io/api/media/file/firefox-new-design-default-dark.png
thumbnailAlt: Screenshot of Firefox’s default dark mode
thumbnailCaption: N/A
---

# How to restore Firefox’s old UI and theme after the rounded redesign

[Mozilla has redesigned Firefox](https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/new-firefox-design-is-here/), giving the browser a rounder interface and replacing the dark mode color scheme with a more colorful palette. Users have mixed reactions to the new design, and some may want to restore the previous look.

In this article, I’ll show you how to change the new Firefox dark mode from its colorful palette to a more subdued one, as well as how to restore the previous UI design.

I didn’t like Firefox’s new design at first, but switching the theme to Proton using the method below addressed most of what bothered me. In my case, the default theme change caused more of the unfamiliar feel than the UI redesign itself.

## How to restore a more subdued dark mode color scheme

Firefox’s new dark mode uses a colorful palette that barely resembles a conventional dark theme.

![Screenshot of Firefox’s default dark mode](https://roboin.io/api/media/file/firefox-new-design-default-dark.png)

If you want to keep the new UI design but change only the dark mode colors, follow these steps.

<Steps>
  Press Ctrl + Shift + A, or open [Add-ons and themes] from the menu

  Open the [Themes] tab, then click [Show more] in the [Firefox Themes] section

  ![Screenshot of the \[Themes\] tab in Firefox settings](https://roboin.io/api/media/file/firefox-theme-tab.png)

  Click Install for [Gray]

  ![Screenshot showing the \[Gray\] theme selected in the Firefox theme list](https://roboin.io/api/media/file/firefox-theme-gray.png)

  Firefox now uses a more subdued color scheme in dark mode

  ![Screenshot of Firefox with the \[Gray\] theme enabled](https://roboin.io/api/media/file/firefox-gray-theme-ui.png)
</Steps>

:::tip
if you want the same flat color scheme as before, without gradients, I recommend installing Mozilla’s official Proton theme. Proton also removes the gradients in light mode.

[https://addons.mozilla.org/en/firefox/addon/firefox-proton/](https://addons.mozilla.org/en/firefox/addon/firefox-proton/)
:::

## How to restore the old Firefox UI

You can restore Firefox’s previous UI design by changing an internal preference.

:::caution
This method changes an internal Firefox preference rather than an officially supported setting. I confirmed that it works in my environment at the time of writing, but the change may cause unintended side effects or stop working in a future Firefox release. Change this preference at your own risk.
:::

<Steps>
  Enter `about:config` in the Firefox address bar and open the page

  If Firefox displays a warning, read it and continue if you understand and accept the risks

  Enter `nova` in the search box on the page, rather than the address bar, then click the button at the right end of `browser.nova.enabled` to change its value to `false`

  ![Screenshot of Firefox’s about:config page](https://roboin.io/api/media/file/firefox-about-config-nova.png)

  Firefox returns to the previous UI design

  ![Screenshot of Firefox’s about:config page using the previous UI design](https://roboin.io/api/media/file/firefox-about-config-old-design.png)
</Steps>

## Conclusion

I covered two ways to restore Firefox’s previous appearance.

If the new colorful dark or light mode bothers you, switch to one of Firefox’s built-in themes with a more subdued palette, or install Mozilla’s official Proton theme.

If you want to restore the entire previous UI design, open `about:config` and set `browser.nova.enabled` to `false`.

## Verification details and sources

### Verification environment

- OS: Windows 11
- Browser: Firefox Nightly version 159.0a1

### Verification details

I confirmed that the steps in the article can restore Firefox’s previous color scheme and UI.

### Last verification date

2026-09-30T04:20:00.000Z