New Tab/Home page redesign keeps reverting and is obscuring the page

   I changed the New Tab/Home settings.

   I tried the about:config change to restore the older layout.

   The page returned to normal once, but only for one instance; after that, it went back to the problematic layout again.

   The redesigned Home/New Tab layout is too cluttered and interferes with basic use.

   My preference change is not sticking, because the page resets after a restart or later reopening.

   Why the Home/New Tab page is reverting after I change it.

   Whether this is caused by a Firefox study/experiment, session restore, a profile issue, or an extension.

   How to make the older compact layout stay permanently.

   My Firefox version is 153.0 (aarch 64).

   The problem happens after every restart of Firefox.

  Troubleshoot Mode changed nothing.

   The browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.nova.enabled setting was reset to false and that has held.

   I'm on macOS

   Using Sync across devices.

Hi Mozilla team, After a recent Firefox update, my Home/New Tab page changed dramatically and became hard to use. The issue is not just that the layout looks different — the new page is functionally worse for me because the shortcuts are oversized, they obscure the search bar area, and the trending/recommended stories are difficult to read. I tried the usual fixes: I changed the New Tab/Home settings. I tried the about:config change to restore the older layout. The page returned to normal once, but only for one instance; after that, it went back to the problematic layout again. So I think there are two problems: The redesigned Home/New Tab layout is too cluttered and interferes with basic use. My preference change is not sticking, because the page resets after a restart or later reopening. What I need help with is: Why the Home/New Tab page is reverting after I change it. Whether this is caused by a Firefox study/experiment, session restore, a profile issue, or an extension. How to make the older compact layout stay permanently. My Firefox version is 153.0 (aarch 64). The problem happens after every restart of Firefox. Troubleshoot Mode changed nothing. The browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.nova.enabled setting was reset to false and that has held. I'm on macOS Using Sync across devices. In addition I cannot find session restore - I was going to try unchecking it to see if that helps