Mozilla has released Firefox 156 with a collection of performance improvements and bug fixes rather than major new features.
The most noticeable change is in the browser's built in PDF reader, which now opens PDF files around 45 percent faster than before. That improvement should be useful if you regularly open documents directly in Firefox instead of downloading them to a separate PDF application.
Firefox 156 also improves how the browser handles large JPEG images, reduces some networking problems, and fixes several smaller interface issues that could affect day to day browsing.
PDF loading gets the biggest performance boost
Mozilla says the built in PDF reader now launches about 45 percent faster.
That change builds on previous work to make Firefox's PDF tools more capable. The browser already supports more advanced PDF editing functions, so faster startup makes the integrated reader more practical for people who use it regularly for documents, forms, or downloaded files.
The release also improves CPU and memory usage when Firefox needs to shrink very large JPEG files so they fit properly within a webpage.
That optimization should matter most on lower powered PCs, where processing large images can consume noticeable system resources.
| Firefox 156 change | What it improves |
|---|---|
| PDF reader startup | About 45 percent faster |
| Large JPEG handling | Lower CPU and memory usage |
| DNS over HTTPS fix | Restores access to some non HTTPS sites |
| Built in VPN fix | Addresses complete connectivity loss |
| Picture in Picture fix | Restores missing subtitles in some cases |
| Windows taskbar fix | Prevents Firefox from blocking auto hide behavior |
DNS over HTTPS bug is fixed
Firefox 156 also addresses a problem affecting DNS over HTTPS.
Some websites that do not support HTTPS could fail to load when the feature was enabled. The new release fixes that issue while allowing you to continue using encrypted DNS.
DNS over HTTPS is designed to protect DNS requests from being sent in plain text, which can improve privacy and make it harder for third parties on a network to inspect the domains you are trying to reach.
The fix means Firefox can retain that protection without breaking access to certain sites.
Built in VPN receives a networking fix
Another important correction affects Firefox's built in VPN.
Some people could experience a complete loss of network connectivity while the VPN was active. Firefox 156 includes a fix for that behavior.
The browser's integrated VPN was introduced earlier as a simpler privacy option for people who want to hide their IP address and location while browsing. It is more limited than a dedicated VPN service, but reliable connectivity is essential for it to be useful.
The new update should make that feature more stable.
Smaller interface bugs are also addressed
Mozilla has fixed several less serious but irritating problems.
Subtitles could sometimes disappear while watching video in Picture in Picture mode. Firefox could also interfere with the Windows auto hiding taskbar in certain situations.
Both issues are addressed in Firefox 156.
The release is therefore mainly focused on refinement. There are no major interface changes or large new browser features, but the combination of faster PDF loading, better image handling, and networking fixes should make Firefox more reliable for regular use.
Mozilla is expected to release Firefox 157 in roughly two weeks. That version is planned to add support for JPEG XL, also known as JXL, a newer image format designed to deliver comparable image quality at smaller file sizes.
For now, Firefox 156 is the current stable release and is worth installing if you rely on the browser's PDF reader, encrypted DNS, built in VPN, or Picture in Picture mode.
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