I have to ask: Do you developers even understand how we use Firefox? This is not the first time you have made changes without allowing for user preferences to override what YOU think should be the default.

You also need to remember that the average user knows nothing about stylesheets, so telling us "just write this .css file to fix it" is far from a "solution".

Now please go back and put the option back in about:config and patch this debacle.

Hi All, there is work under way to tighten up the bookmark menus that drop from the main and bookmarks toolbar. In Firefox 93 (next release), the optional Compact density setting will do that. Here's a preview from the "Developer Edition" (based on the beta test version of Firefox 93):

However, we don't expect that to release until early October.

Until then...

Unofficial Community-Supported Workaround

Firefox users can modify the user interface of the browser using custom style rules. This involves setting up a userChrome.css file. If this is your first time, make sure to set aside 10 quiet minutes to work through it.

The full instructions are in the following reply: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1346577#answer-1435049

Thank you very much for your reply and for listening. Look forward to the update!

Well, I've had v 93.0 (64-bit) for a few days, and changing the Compact Density option doesn't work for me, and that's after enabling it via about:config's "browser.compactmode.show" preference. Does this work for anyone?

Well, I've had v 93.0 (64-bit) for a few days, and changing the Compact Density option doesn't work for me, and that's after enabling it via about:config's "browser.compactmode.show" preference. Does this work for anyone?

It depends on where you are looking. As I mentioned before, this change is for drop-downs from the two toolbars:

1. Bookmarks Toolbar folder drop-downs: Starting in Fx93, Compact Mode density tightens these up
2. Bookmarks Menu button () drop-down: Starting in Fx93, Compact Mode density tightens this up (see earlier screenshot)
3. Top menu bar (File, Edit, View, History, Bookmarks, Tools, Help) drop-downs: Compact Mode density has no effect
4. Right-click context menus: Compact Mode density has no effect

I realize that will disappoint many people and... I only have unofficial workarounds.

Well, I've had v 93.0 (64-bit) for a few days, and changing the Compact Density option doesn't work for me, and that's after enabling it via about:config's "browser.compactmode.show" preference. Does this work for anyone?

By the way, it's a two-step process. After enabling that preference, Compact Mode is added to the Density selector in the Customize screen (Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars). You then need to either use that selector, or you can set the density by hand in about:config (browser.uidensity => 1 for Compact; https://www.userchrome.org/firefox-89-styling-proton-ui.html#compactmode).

Personally, I am just happy that the .css file workaround still functions in 93.0 (after going to the extra trouble of creating it a month ago), and as long as it does I'm not touching anything that might affect it.

March 6, 2022...

It's amazing to me how long this issue has been going on, and that Mozilla does not seem to care,,,if they did, this would have been fixed by now. We are now up to version 97.0.2, and nothing has changed.

As a software developer myself, I have to agree with Kymber, who said "I have to ask: Do you developers even understand how we use Firefox? This is not the first time you have made changes without allowing for user preferences to override what YOU think should be the default."

In good software development, the user always comes first, and just because you think something is a good idea doesn't mean everyone will!

jscher2000, as a Top 10 contributor, do you have no influence? Instead of posting all these "convoluted, only works in certain versions, useless" work arounds, petition Mozilla to fix the DANG problem.

Thanks, Wayne

jscher2000, as a Top 10 contributor, do you have no influence? Instead of posting all these "convoluted, only works in certain versions, useless" work arounds, petition Mozilla to fix the DANG problem.

Hi Wayne, I've submitted my comments in the bug tracking system. That's all I can do. For now, the Compact Density option (see: Compact mode workaround in Firefox and Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars) tightens up some of the menus and not others. As noted earlier:

As I mentioned before, this change is for drop-downs from the two toolbars:

1. Bookmarks Toolbar folder drop-downs: Starting in Fx93, Compact Mode density tightens these up
2. Bookmarks Menu button () drop-down: Starting in Fx93, Compact Mode density tightens this up (see earlier screenshot)
3. Top menu bar (File, Edit, View, History, Bookmarks, Tools, Help) drop-downs: Compact Mode density has no effect
4. Right-click context menus: Compact Mode density has no effect

I realize that will disappoint many people and... I only have unofficial workarounds.

Since I seem to have been made more prominent in this discussion by Wayne, I would like to point out that in jscher's first link the developers have added a warning, in a big yellow box, which reads:

Compact mode is not currently supported. For the recommended and supported experience, we encourage you to keep the normal density setting.

It goes on to say that they removed the compact mode density option from the Customize panel beginning with version 89, so now the only way to activate that is through about:config ...

Once again, the developers are saying "you WILL use Firefox the way WE intend you to". No wonder Chrome is increasing in popularity.

Hi Kymber, Mozilla recently launched a new site to gather product suggestions, and this issue has been posted there by a few different users:

• Allow resizing of the UI
• Tiresome bookmark gaps
• Bookmarks and menus

You can give Kudos to Ideas, which I think is how you vote for them, as well as adding comments.

I should also point out that jscher reported to us six months ago that there was work underway to tighten up the bookmark menus that drop from the main and bookmarks toolbar, beginning with version 93. As Wayne points out, we are now four versions past that and ... nothing.

I believe the developers are now lying to jscher, too, and don't care what he reports anymore. Their arrogance is overwhelmingly evident now, and based on Wayne's accurate definition of the word, they no longer deserve to call themselves developers.

I should also point out that jscher reported to us six months ago that there was work underway to tighten up the bookmark menus that drop from the main and bookmarks toolbar, beginning with version 93. As Wayne points out, we are now four versions past that and ... nothing.

Did you switch to Compact density mode? The changes are linked to Compact density. I realize you looked at the article and saw that they didn't intend to maintain that option long term, but if you want the changes now, go ahead and use it for now.

Also, you can lay off the attacks on the developers. There is an endless to do list and the priorities are set by the product managers and user experience team.

I am using the workaround, but it concerns me that things they seem to have committed to months ago are still going unimplemented. Have they considered that the longer they take to address these kind of user-unfriendly concerns, the higher the total becomes of users who don't express themselves (or probably don't even know the support site exists for them to do so) and move away from Firefox?

And in my view, the product managers and user support team -- especially the latter -- don't have their priorities set well, and that reflects badly on the developers. Consider all of my "attacks" to include that entire group. IMNSHO, the developers could be reading these discussions and pushing for changes. Apparently they do not, because they tell you things are going to happen when they do not. I suggest they are just telling you whatever it takes to make you shut up, and whether that comes from their bosses or not, that's not a good way to go about making Firefox the superior browser it once was, hands down.

I am using the workaround, but it concerns me that things they seem to have committed to months ago are still going unimplemented.

I'm not sure what you are referring to. They compacted the "panel style" menus as a fix to the Proton redesign. They did not commit to compacting any other menus.

The support site is not for providing product input. On the Firefox Help menu, "Submit Feedback" goes to the "Ideas" site. I gave you some links to that site earlier.

This is a solved question asked by Steve Goncalves almost six months ago and will soon be archived. See Mozilla Support rules and guidelines under Posting support requests.

If you want to leave feedback for Firefox developers, you can go to the Firefox Help menu and select Submit Feedback... or use this link.