Firefox 153 Released With HDR Video Support, PDF Improvements, and More Than 60 Security Fixes

Mozilla has released Firefox 153 for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, introducing new productivity features, HDR video playback support, and a major batch of security patches. The update also addresses more than 60 security vulnerabilities, including several rated as high risk.

Following the release, Mozilla acknowledged an issue causing crashes for some users and has provided a workaround.

Crash Issue Affects Some Users

After Firefox 153 became available, some users reported browser crashes caused by missing or corrupted internal Firefox files, particularly after updating the browser.

Mozilla recommends resolving the issue by:

• Downloading the latest Firefox installer.
• Reinstalling Firefox over the existing installation.

According to Mozilla, this process does not remove personal data such as:

• Bookmarks
• Saved passwords
• Browsing data

These files are stored separately from the browser installation.

HDR Video Playback Comes to Windows

One of Firefox 153’s headline features is HDR (High Dynamic Range) video playback on Windows.

To use the feature:

• HDR must be enabled in Windows display settings.
• A compatible HDR display is required.

Mozilla notes that laptops supporting only HDR video streaming and portrait-oriented smartphone videos are not currently supported.

PDF Editor Gains New Features

Firefox’s built-in PDF viewer and editor have also been expanded.

New capabilities include:

• Merging multiple PDF files by dragging them into the PDF sidebar.
• Inserting images as new pages within PDF documents.

These additions further reduce the need for third-party PDF editing software.

QR Code Sharing and Privacy Improvements

Firefox 153 introduces a built-in QR code generator, allowing users to quickly share webpages with other devices without relying on services such as Firefox Sync.

The browser also makes location permissions more visible by displaying the location-sharing icon in red whenever a website is actively accessing a user’s location.

Free VPN Expansion Continues

Mozilla’s free VPN feature, first introduced in Firefox 149, remains available.

For a limited time through the end of August, users can access:

• Unlimited data
• Servers in 28 countries

The free VPN is currently available in:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• France
• Germany

More Than 60 Security Vulnerabilities Patched

Firefox 153 addresses over 63 security vulnerabilities, according to Mozilla’s Security Advisory 2026-68.

The fixes include:

• 17 high-risk vulnerabilities
• 35 medium-risk vulnerabilities
• Multiple low-risk issues
• Several internally discovered memory management flaws

Mozilla also noted that three vulnerabilities were reported by OpenAI Codex Security.

Among the high-risk issues, four could potentially allow attackers to escape Firefox’s browser sandbox.

Firefox ESR Also Updated

Mozilla has also released updated Extended Support Release (ESR) versions:

• Firefox ESR 140.13.0
• Firefox ESR 115.38.0

Firefox ESR 115 remains available for older platforms including:

• Windows 7
• Windows 8.1
• macOS 10.12–10.14

Mozilla says Firefox ESR 115 will continue receiving security updates until March 2027, while Firefox 153 will become the next ESR base release later this year.

A Recommended Update

With significant security fixes, improved PDF editing tools, HDR playback support, and new sharing features, Firefox 153 represents a substantial update for desktop and mobile users.

Users experiencing crashes after upgrading are encouraged to reinstall the browser using Mozilla’s latest installer, while those who have not yet updated should install Firefox 153 promptly to benefit from the latest security protections.