Firefox is finally adding vertical tabs - why it's a game-changing update
I've been calling for Mozilla to improve Firefox tab management for a long time. While other browsers -- such as Opera, Arc, and even the Firefox-based Zen Browser -- have added features like Workspaces and Spaces, which elevate tab management to levels other browsers cannot match.
What are vertical tabs?
You're probably asking yourself, "What are vertical tabs, anyway?" The answer to that question is simple: imagine moving the tab bar (usually found at the top of the browser window) into a sidebar. Instead of a horizontal row of tabs, you have a vertical column of tabs.
How does this make a difference?
Also: Firefox expands access to popular AI chatbots right from the sidebar
You know when you have twenty or thirty tabs open, and all of a sudden it becomes very difficult to discern one tab icon from another? To that end, you might have to hover over each tab to get a preview of what's there. Or worse, you have to click through all of those tabs until you find the one you want.
With vertical tabs, it's much easier to find the tab you're looking for.
Why are vertical tabs a good thing?
It boils down to organization and getting rid of clutter. Horizontal tabs can get messy, especially if you tend to work with a lot of open tabs. Vertical tabs make it easier for you to see what you want, arrange your tabs in any order, and create a much cleaner look for your browser.
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The new feature also works with Tab Groups, so you can group those tabs for better organization. Of course, Tab Groups are no substitute for a Workspaces-like feature, but this is a step in the right direction.
On top of that, Mozilla has made the Firefox sidebar resizable on the fly, which means you can quickly drag the sidebar to the left to make it minimal or drag it to the right to get a full view of those tabs.
You can slide the sidebar to the right to expand it.
One other caveat to the new Firefox vertical tabs feature is that it doesn't currently adhere to any theme you might install. Unlike Zen Browser, Firefox doesn't have a built-in theming engine, so you have to rely on old-school extensions, and those only apply to the top bar.
Maybe someday...
You'll also get quick access to your AI chatbot of choice, tabs from other devices, history, and bookmarks -- all from the Firefox sidebar.
Also: Opera's Tab Traces has a little trick to keep my browsing on track
Currently, there is no official date for vertical tabs to hit the standard Firefox release. In the meantime, if you want to see the feature in action, you'll have to use Firefox Nightly. Don't be fooled into thinking that Nightly is a good browser to use for everyday purposes. This is a browser you run to see what's new; otherwise, you could lose work, tabs, data, or your favorite restaurant might close.
I'll let you decide which is hyperbole.
When you download and run Firefox Nightly, you have to enable the Vertical Tabs feature, which is found in Settings > General > "Browser layout." To try vertical tabs, click the radio button to enable the feature.
I started using vertical tabs years ago (thanks to Opera) and haven't stopped using them since. Vertical tabs can help you be more productive and organized.