Betterfox

31% faster than regular Firefox 🚀

Now with support for ESR 128 🆕

Required reading

Create a backup profile, if you feel unsure about the changes.

If you don't have it already: Get Firefox

1. Download the user.js file here (Right click > Save Link As…).
2. Review Common Overrides and make any necessary changes.
   • See also Optional Hardening for other recommendations.
   • Do not change Recommended Overrides as there is no need to do so, create an Issue if I'm wrong.
3. Open Firefox. In the URL bar, type about:profiles and press Enter.
4. For the profile you want to use (or use default), click Open Folder in the Root Directory section.
5. Close Firefox.
6. Move the user.js file into the folder.
7. Open Firefox and make changes in settings if you need.

After restarting Firefox:

1. Get an ad blocker like uBlock Origin with our recommended filters.
2. Go to C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\distribution and put policies.json there.
3. Restart again and then check about:policies, if you see tweaks there, then you're good to go.
   • You probably don't have distribution, so create it.
   • If your Firefox folder isn't in that path, so find it yourself and do the same steps.

Optional

0. Enable DNS-level protection with NextDNS. ^{Use the link and support this page!}
   • Check out our configuration guide for the best experience.
   • See how to quickly enable secure DNS in Firefox.

Made for everyday browsing

A secure, blazing fast browsing experience. Without breakage.

Betterfox is an opinionated preference list inspired by the law of diminishing returns and the minimum effective dose.

Simple configs

Fastfox, Securefox, Peskyfox, and Smoothfox are guides to settings within Firefox.

The user.js — a configuration file that controls Firefox settings — is curated from these guides.

List	Description
Fastfox	Increase Firefox's browsing speed. Give Chrome a run for its money!
Securefox	Protect user data without causing site breakage.
Peskyfox	Provide a clean, distraction-free browsing experience.
Smoothfox	Get Edge-like smooth scrolling on your favorite browser — or choose something more your style.
user.js	All the essentials. None of the breakage. This is your user.js.

Recognition

Browser Integration

Important

While the browsers listed below incorporate Betterfox to some extent, they often modify it in ways that reduce its effectiveness. For optimal results, apply the user.js file even when using Firefox forks.

• Zen | files (July 2024)
• Midori | files (Dec 2023?)
• Mercury | files (Sep 2023)
• Waterfox | files (Sep 2023)
• Floorp ^{1 2} | files (Apr 2023)
• Pulse | files (Dec 2021)
• Ghostery Private Browser ^{1 2} | files (Feb 2021)

Support

If you like the project, leave a ⭐ (top right) and become a stargazer!

Credit

• Modified by pr3ttyleaf for everyday usage and perfomance. Buy me a coffee.
• Betterfox mirrors the ongoing work provided by arkenfox. Additionally, this repository includes content reproduced or adapted from other sources. Credit for overlapping material goes to the original authors.
• Appreciation goes to the Firefox team and developers working on Bugzilla, fighting for the open web.
• A special thanks to Alex Kontos of Waterfox for his collaboration in v.116.
• Many thanks to the 2021 Ghostery team for testing Betterfox at scale in its early days.

since 23 July 2022