Firefox 149 adds free built-in VPN with 50 GB, split view, tab notes and enhanced security

Firefox 149 brings several new features aimed at making daily browsing more productive and secure. The updated browser adds a split view mode, letting users display two pages side-by-side within a single window. This change helps when comparing content, researching topics, or working across multiple tabs. In parallel, a free built-in virtual private network (VPN) is debuting in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France, offering 50 GB of data per month and allowing users to toggle protection for specific websites.

Building on workflow improvements, a tab notes feature in Firefox Labs lets you attach personal notes to individual web pages. Users can jot down reminders or details to revisit later. The new TrustPanel brings privacy and security settings into one location accessed from the address bar. Notification controls are tougher: Firefox now auto-blocks and permanently revokes permissions for sites flagged as malicious by SafeBrowsing, while the requirements for JavaScript in core processes have also been strengthened.

Following these security enhancements, many PDF files will load faster with added hardware acceleration. Linux users will see Firefox defaulting to the XDG portal file picker where available for a more native experience. Updates also extend address autofill to five more countries and add new languages, including Bosnian, Serbian, Norwegian and Thai, to on-device translation. Additionally, Windows and macOS users gain a share button for quick tab sharing via system tools.