Firefox 160 adds Mini Window and 40-language speech recognition
Firefox 160 adds an always-on-top Mini Window, faster picture-in-picture controls, 40-language speech recognition and wider media support.
Mozilla has released Firefox 160 to the Release channel, adding a Mini Window feature, faster controls for picture-in-picture video and on-device speech recognition in 40 languages. Firefox 160 was first offered to Release channel users on 10 November 2026. 1
The update is available across Firefox’s supported platforms, although Mozilla notes that some features are being rolled out progressively. That means the version number may be the same while individual features arrive at different times for different users.
Mini Window puts a tab above the rest
Mini Window can move a tab, or a selected part of a page, into an always-on-top window while you continue browsing elsewhere. Mozilla’s release notes show the feature with several floating windows, including a document, a map and a reference page. 1
It is a practical change rather than a flashy redesign. A small reference page can stay visible while you write, a map can remain open while you work through directions, and a video or live dashboard no longer has to compete with the rest of the browser window. Mozilla is calling the feature an early version and is asking users for feedback through Mozilla Connect.
Picture-in-picture gets more useful
Firefox’s Picture-in-Picture player now includes playback-speed controls from 0.25x to 2.0x. The control appears when the PiP window is medium-sized or larger, giving users a quicker way to slow down lectures, speed through long presentations or study a difficult section without returning to the original tab. 1
The release also adds support for Matroska video files with FLAC, MP3 or PCM audio. On macOS, Firefox can render WebGL content with Apple’s Metal graphics API, which Mozilla says may improve performance on some sites. Those changes are less visible than Mini Window, but they address the everyday compatibility and playback details that determine whether a browser feels reliable.
Speech recognition runs on the device
Firefox 160 adds support for the SpeechRecognition interface in the Web Speech API, providing real-time, on-device speech-to-text in 40 languages. Processing on the device can offer privacy and responsiveness benefits, though the exact experience will depend on the operating system, language support and the website using the interface. 1
Mozilla has also made PDF MathML content more accessible to screen readers, added a “Never allow” option for websites repeatedly requesting mailto and other link handling, and fixed a range of issues across desktop and mobile platforms. The release includes security fixes, but the release notes point readers to separate advisories for the detailed vulnerability information.
Our opinion
Firefox 160 is a useful, deliberately practical release. Mini Window is the standout because it changes how people can arrange work rather than merely adding another setting to a menu. Picture-in-picture speed controls and broader media support make the browser better for watching and learning, while on-device speech recognition gives Mozilla a stronger privacy-minded answer to browser dictation.
The caveat is rollout. Mozilla says some features will arrive progressively, so not every Firefox 160 installation will show the same set of switches immediately. That is sensible for a feature like Mini Window, but it can make a release announcement feel less definitive than the version number suggests. If the new tools are stable and arrive without needless friction, Firefox 160 will be remembered as a quality-of-life update rather than a headline-grabbing overhaul.