New about:config page built-on web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) is finally coming to Firefox 71 release channel and will replace the XUL based version of the Configuration Editor.
About:config, one of the internal pages of Firefox, used by users to troubleshoot and tweak Firefox performance by modifying hidden preferences, to get a complete makeover.
Mozilla has offered initial implementation of the feature in Firefox 67 Nightly for the first time, from then onwards till now, it is enabled by default in the Nightly. The organization has acted on the feedback it received in the last six months and recently the feature has been signed off to ship with Firefox 71 release.
If you visit new about:config for the first time, it will show a warning as usual with text: “Changing advanced configuration preferences can impact Nightly (Firefox) performance or security”. You can proceed forward by agreeing to the warning. The warning can be disabled by unchecking the checkbox provided on the page.
Unlike the old version, instead of displaying all preferences, the new version only shows a search bar with the ” Show all” button for preferences.
If you compare old and new layouts of about:config, you’ll notice Preference name and value have been kept in the new version and Type and Status columns have been left out. A third column added to the new version to Toggle/Edit preference value.
Most rows in about:config appear with three columns, you’ll also notice an additional fourth column for some preferences with Reset or Delete button.
The old version has provided the following options on the right-click menu for a selected pref.
Toggle/Modify, Copy, Copy Name, Copy Value, New >String, Integer, Boolean, and Reset
The new version has taken the context menu and options away, but like in the old version, by double-clicking on a pref, you can now able to copy its name, modify its value (you can also use the Toggle button to change pref value). The reset button appears at the end if you use the toggle button.
To create or add a new pref, type its name, select the type from Boolean or Number or String and click on + button. About:config new version allows to delete the user-created preferences.
FYI, the new version doesn’t support sorting of preferences by name, type or status, the related bug has been marked as wont fix by Mozilla. You can able to switch back to old about:config in Firefox by visiting chrome://global/content/config.xul, this may not last for long.
Related articles:
Export Firefox about:config settings to a CSV file
Firefox: How to reset all Preferences in about:config?
Preference Monitor Notifies When Firefox About:Config Preferences Changes
Thank you for the tips about chrome://global/content/config.xul ! Why, when Firefox’s market share is falling, would Mozilla take away useful options, such as sorting About:config on columns and providing context menu? Mozilla, PLEASE eliminate the HTML interface and keep XUL.