Mozilla has released Firefox 145.0 beta, marking a significant transition for Linux users as the browser officially discontinues 32-bit (x86) Linux support. The move aligns Firefox with the modern hardware ecosystem and other browsers that have already phased out legacy architectures.
The Firefox 145 beta release introduces several new features and developer-focused improvements while formally ending support for 32-bit Linux systems. Users running older hardware are advised to migrate to 64-bit operating systems or remain on Firefox ESR 140, which will continue receiving security updates for 32-bit builds until at least September 2026, according to Mozilla’s future releases blog.
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Mozilla explained that maintaining 32-bit Linux builds has become increasingly impractical as most major Linux distributions have already abandoned the architecture. While the company historically upheld 32-bit support longer than its competitors to help users extend hardware lifespans, the browser’s core focus has now shifted toward performance, maintainability, and forward-compatible security.
Beyond the architecture change, Firefox 145 beta delivers multiple interface and functionality upgrades. The tab bar receives a refined rounded design, harmonizing horizontal and vertical tab aesthetics. Buttons and input fields, including the address bar, have also been visually refreshed for greater UI consistency.
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On the usability front, the new “Search Image with Google Lens” option appears in context menus when Google is the default search engine, and the “Copy Link to Highlight” feature lets users share links pointing to specific text selections on webpages.
For developers, Firefox 145 adds support for Atomics.waitAsync, enabling non-blocking synchronization on shared memory, and recognizes the legacy -webkit-fill-available CSS keyword. It also introduces preliminary handling of the Integrity-Policy header for subresource integrity enforcement and broadens multimedia compatibility by adding Matroska (MKV) container support for codecs including AVC, HEVC, VP8, VP9, AV1, AAC, Opus, and Vorbis.
Mozilla’s deprecation timeline underscores a shift away from legacy architectures. With 32-bit Linux support ending in Firefox 145, the upcoming releases will focus exclusively on 64-bit systems. Users relying on older hardware are encouraged to transition before the ESR 140 support window closes next year.
Source:
Mozilla Firefox 145.0 Beta Release Notes
Mozilla Future Releases Blog
