It's natural to be frustrated by some UI changes because, as you have explained, the old UI was second nature to you and now there is an extra step or two to get the job done.

Since we are focused on tech support here... Do you have a specific question about adapting Firefox 29 to your requirements?

In order to place the back, forward and reload buttons where you want them, you will need an add-on such as https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/classicthemerestorer/ (there might be others).

There are multiple ways to move the tab bar below the other bars, documented in other threads.

Regarding "the same browser for years," many of the changes you don't like actually were the default interface of Firefox 4. What has changed that impacts you in Firefox 29 is: (1) no built-in way to move the tab bar, and (2) the address bar (from the back button to the stop/reload/go button) is no longer able to be split into parts using the built-in Customize feature.

In general, the problem with FF29 is that Mozilla has removed some options for choice. It seems your attitude is, "Do it our way, or use another browser".

I don't want another browser -- FF is the best I've ever used.

I think all we are asking is for the choice to do it the way that suits us. And put it on about:config so we don't have to search for an add-on or extension.

I like the tabs below the address/URL bar, and I actually want to see the tabs. I had to search for a solution to these problems. It shouldn't be like that.

jscher2000:

Yes, I have a specific question about adapting Firefox 29 to my requirements: How can I make the user interface in FF29 the same as FF28 without having to install add-ons or tweak code? Why should I have to jump through a bunch of hoops in order to keep what I already had?

The problem is more than just adding "an extra step or two", it's about taking things away that should have never been taken away in the first place. Instead of accepting these non-user-friendly changes we should demand that they be put back. How can adding a few extra steps to anything be considered an improvement?

I think your comment that Firefox 29 has similar interface defaults as Firefox 4 pretty much sums it up - one step forward, twenty five steps back.

MisterBee:

In general, the problem with FF29 is that Mozilla has removed some options for choice. It seems your attitude is, "Do it our way, or use another browser".

I think all we are asking is for the choice to do it the way that suits us. And put it on about:config so we don't have to search for an add-on or extension.

One of the developers was around the forum recently trying to answer some of these questions so I will quote the developer

For the full quote and useful links for fixes and explanations please see

• Why have you changed design in new Firefox 29.0? /questions/998084#answer-566525

Each setting you see in a computer program you use requires work; when a developer wants to build something new or improve something, he or she has to go through each related (hidden) setting and test if it still works like before and do that on each platform Firefox runs on. That's Apple's Mac OSX, various flavours of Linux and various flavours of Windows, including Windows XP. This costs time, lots of it, and that amount grows exponentially with each setting that's added. This comes on top of our work to continuously fix, improve and innovate Firefox.

Moses,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

As a person who has done some programming, I appreciate the amount of work required, and that work has paid off with the best browser available.

Don't consider my comments as complaints, but instead opportunities for improvement.

The thing that puts Mozilla way out in front is this forum where we actually get a response from the programmers. Great stuff!

The thing that puts Mozilla way out in front is this forum where we actually get a response from the programmers. Great stuff!

Definitely! We rarely see these guys out answering questions. :)

Don't consider my comments as complaints, but instead opportunities for improvement. 

Mozilla has set up a special place for this type of feedback by going to The image "new fx menu" does not exist. > Question mark icon near bottom > Submit Feedback (or if you are using the Classic Theme Restorer (orange Firefox button > Help > Submit Feedback

That info gets collected at http://input.mozilla.org/, where a team of people read it and gather data about the most common issues. That data is then presented in the weekly Firefox delivery meeting.

Hi G_Mann, the answer to your first question is, and you already know this is coming: there is no built-in way to do that.

G_Mann:

In response to that information that jscher2000 provided, you can submit the feedback, that you're about to tell or maybe get mad at us for not doing anything, to the Firefox developers by going to The image "new fx menu" does not exist. > Help > Submit Feedback

That info gets collected at http://input.mozilla.org/, where a team of people read it and gather data about the most common issues. That data is then presented in the weekly Firefox delivery meeting.

jscher2000, Yes, I knew it was coming :) It was a rhetorical question actually.

Moses, thanks for the reply and your assistance. I will take your advice and voice my concerns directly to the developers link.