![GitHub Maintained](https://img.shields.io/badge/open%20source-yes-orange) ![GitHub Maintained](https://img.shields.io/badge/maintained-yes-yellow) [![Visitors](https://hits.seeyoufarm.com/api/count/incr/badge.svg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fyokoffing%2FBetter-Fox&count_bg=%2379C83D&title_bg=%23555555&icon=&icon_color=%23E7E7E7&title=visitors&edge_flat=false)](https://hits.seeyoufarm.com/) # Betterfox 31% faster than regular Firefox^{[1](https://medium.com/@mihirgrand/comparing-popular-firefox-forks-6fa83fdfdaad#%3A%7E%3Atext=31%25+more+than+vanilla+Firefox)} :rocket: [about:config](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox) tweaks to enhance [Mozilla Firefox](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/). :new: Now with [ESR support](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/tree/esr115#betterfox-esr). ## 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](https://web.archive.org/web/20231108092752if_/https://pmctraining.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Law-of-Diminishing-Returns-CHART.png) and the [minimum effective dose](https://medium.com/the-mission/less-is-more-the-minimum-effective-dose-e6d56625931e). ## Required reading *If you don't have it already: [Get Firefox](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release)* 0) Create a [backup profile](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/wiki/Backup). 1) Download the user.js file [here](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/main/user.js) (Right click > `Save Link As…`). 2) Review [Common Overrides](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/wiki/Common-Overrides) and make any necessary changes. * See also [Optional Hardening](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/wiki/Optional-Hardening) for other recommendations. 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) Move the `user.js` file into the folder. *After restarting Firefox:* 1) Get an **ad blocker** like [uBlock Origin](https://addons.mozilla.org/blog/ublock-origin-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ad-blocker/) with our [recommended filters](https://github.com/yokoffing/filterlists#guidelines). 2) Enable **DNS-level protection** with [NextDNS](https://nextdns.io/?from=xujj63g5). ^{Use the link and support this page!} * Check out our configuration [guide](https://github.com/yokoffing/NextDNS-Config) for the best experience. * See how to [quickly enable](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/dns-over-https) **secure DNS** in Firefox. ## Simple goals 1) **Minimalism:** get what isn't needed out of the way 2) **Efficiency:** unleash Firefox's ability to be fast and performant 3) **Privacy:** protect your data without causing site breakage ## 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](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Fastfox.js) | Increase Firefox's browsing speed. Give Chrome a run for its money!| | [Securefox](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Securefox.js) | Protect user data without causing site breakage. | | [Peskyfox](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Peskyfox.js) | Provide a clean, distraction-free browsing experience. | | [Smoothfox](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/Smoothfox.js) | Get Edge-like smooth scrolling on your favorite browser — or choose something more your style. | | [user.js](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/blob/main/user.js) | All the essentials. None of the breakage. This is your `user.js`. | ## Recognition ### Browser Integration * [Midori](https://github.com/goastian/midori-desktop/blob/ESR115/README.md) | [files](https://github.com/goastian/midori-desktop/blob/f3d8d96eb8e08f35a64e3c957bea4e839d7c7730/floorp/browser/components/userjsUtils.sys.mjs#L28-L33) (Dec 2023?) * [Mercury](https://github.com/Alex313031/Mercury/releases/tag/v.115.3.0) | [files](https://github.com/Alex313031/Mercury/commit/eb9600f9fb8f48c8f5b5c6f3264fbcdb5caff7f5) (Sep 2023) * [Waterfox](https://www.waterfox.net/en-US/docs/releases/G6.0/) | [files](https://github.com/WaterfoxCo/Waterfox/tree/current/waterfox/browser/app/profile) (Sep 2023) * [Floorp](https://github.com/Floorp-Projects/Floorp#-betterfox) ^{[1](https://github.com/Floorp-Projects/Floorp/issues/233#issuecomment-1543557167) [2](https://blog.ablaze.one/3135/2023-04-01/)} | [files](https://github.com/Floorp-Projects/Floorp/blob/ESR115/floorp/browser/components/preferences/userjs.inc.xhtml) (Apr 2023) * [Pulse](https://github.com/pulse-browser/browser#%EF%B8%8F-credits) | [files](https://github.com/pulse-browser/browser/tree/alpha/src/browser/app/profile) (Dec 2021) * [Ghostery Private Browser](https://github.com/ghostery/user-agent-desktop#community) ^{[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20210509171835/https://www.ghostery.com/ghostery-dawn-update-more/) [2](https://web.archive.org/web/20210921114333/https://www.ghostery.com/ghostery-dawn-product-update/)} | [files](https://github.com/ghostery/user-agent-desktop/tree/main/brands/ghostery/branding/pref) (Feb 2021) ### YouTube * [The ULTIMATE Browser Tier List](https://youtu.be/j5r6jFE8gic?t=560) (Mar 2023) * [I Hate Firefox. But I'm Still Switching Back to It.](https://youtu.be/w0SJFED5xK0?t=220) (Nov 2022) * [Español] [Optimize and Accelerate Firefox](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XtoONmq5_Q) (Nov 2022) * [How To Improve Firefox Performance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8IOJiOFVEk) (Dec 2021) ### Podcasts * [Italian] [Digitalia.fm](https://digitalia.fm/684/) | 1:41:35–1:42:41 (July 2023) * [GhoSTORIES with Franz & Pete](https://anchor.fm/ghostories/episodes/S2E6-We-Talking-Ghostery-Dawn----Again-er0q02/a-a4o5vmh) | 17:05–18:40 (Feb 2021) ### Articles * [Browsers for Daily Using](https://anhkhoakz.neocities.org/blog/browsers-for-daily-using) (Jan 2024) * [Avoiding Manifest V3 – Escaping the Ad-Pocalypse](https://www.xbitlabs.com/avoiding-manifest-v3/) (Dec 2023) * [German] [Pulse Browser Review: Firefox fork with Turbo tweaks and Opera sidebar](https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-Tipps-Software-Pulse-Browser-Review-ein-Firefox-Fork-mit-Seitenleiste-wie-bei-Opera-35644139.html#%3A%7E%3Atext=Noch+mehr+Speed-Features) (Apr 2023) * [2023 Browser Showdown: Comparing Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Vivaldi, and Opera](https://www.appdate.lk/technology/2023-browser-showdown/) (Jan 2023) ### Guides * [FMHY Browser Tools: Privacy Tweaks](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/storage/#wiki_privacy_based_browsers) * [Firefox-UI-Fix](https://github.com/black7375/Firefox-UI-Fix/wiki/Tips#privacy) * [Narsil/desktop_user.js](https://git.nixnet.services/Narsil/desktop_user.js#thanks) * [pyllyukko/user.js](https://github.com/pyllyukko/user.js) [comparator](https://jm42.github.io/compare-user.js/) ### Reviews * “I use this one ... The performance is absolutely amazing. There’s definitely a huge difference when it comes to loading sites.” - [DIRIKtv](https://youtu.be/N8IOJiOFVEk?t=16) * "BetterFox ... will provide good-enough privacy and help with performance." - [Qdoit12Super](https://old.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/139h4my/suggestion_for_finding_3_good_privacy_focus/jj3n3qn/?context=2) * "...drastically changed the experience with Firefox for me. Improved speed, security, smoothness, and removed clutter." - [AppDate](https://www.appdate.lk/technology/2023-browser-showdown/#%3A%7E%3Atext=Used+the+BetterFox+user+config+settings+with+some+overrides+which+drastically+changed+the+experience) * "Firefox with uBlock Origin extension and tuned with Betterfox is faster than Safari." - [cugeloid](https://elephas.app/blog/best-browsers-mac#what-is-the-best-browser-for-mac-according-to-redditandnbsp) * "I don't think I could use Firefox without Betterfox." - [Professional_Fun4616](https://old.reddit.com/r/nextdns/comments/15y815f/the_people_behind_betterfox_have_this_awesome/jxb7cir/?context=3) * "The best collection of tweaks available." - [AuRiMaS](https://old.reddit.com/r/MozillaFirefox/comments/15cc1vk/about_changes_in_aboutconfig/jtyx910/?context=3) * "FF is now much snappier!" - [whotheff](https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/z5auzi/firefox_not_properly_usingrecognizing_gpu_poor/iy36hyz/) * "...the experience is so good now I don’t think I’ll go back to any of the chromium based browsers." - [Mr_Compromise](https://old.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/zwioe1/what_browser_will_you_be_using_in_2023_please/j1wmbxo/) ## Support If you like the project, leave a :star: (top right) and become a [stargazer](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/stargazers)! [![Stargazers repo roster for @yokoffing/Betterfox](https://reporoster.com/stars/dark/yokoffing/Betterfox)](https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/stargazers)

## Credit * Betterfox mirrors the ongoing work provided by [arkenfox](https://github.com/arkenfox/user.js). 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](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/) team and developers working on [Bugzilla](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/home), fighting for the open web. * A special thanks to [Alex Kontos](https://github.com/MrAlex94) of [Waterfox](https://github.com/WaterfoxCo/Waterfox) for his collaboration in v.116. * Many thanks to the 2021 [Ghostery](https://github.com/ghostery) team for testing Betterfox at scale in its early days.

since 23 July 2022

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