Waterfox delivers a balanced browsing experience for users to navigate the web with peace of mind. Leveraging privacy and usability, Waterfox enables users to add customizations and optimize their time on browser-based applications while protecting their online activity. Waterfox schedules timely releases to improve user experience and has more accessibility in-store, with an Android platform in the works.

Features

  • Compiled in Intel's C++ Compiler
  • Intel's Math Library
  • Streaming SIMD Extensions 3
  • Advanced Vector Extensions
  • Jemalloc
  • Profile-Guided Optimisation
  • /O3 Switch
  • 100% Extension Compatibility
  • 64-bit Plugin Support
  • Future Proof

What's New

Includes fixes from the forthcoming MFSA 2026-70, attempts to correct regional search defaults, and adds a privacy-enhancing search suggestion proxy alongside compatibility fixes.

  • Includes security fixes covered by the forthcoming Mozilla Foundation Security Advisory 2026-70.
  • Attempts to correct the previous country based search configuration, using Qwant in supported regions and DuckDuckGo elsewhere.
  • Migrates users affected by earlier automatically selected defaults to the appropriate regional search engine.
  • Removes obsolete search overrides that could interfere with regional defaults and Waterfox search attribution.
  • Routes Google-backed search suggestion requests through Waterfox Private Search to prevent a direct connection to Google.
  • Stops forcing the experimental HTTP 'Idempotency-Key' header on POST requests.
  • Fixes Chase compatibility when Waterfox's built-in content blocker is enabled.
  • Highlights Waterfox 6.7.0-beta.2 and invites users to help test and report regressions.

Previous Release Notes:

Security

Waterfox 6.6.16 includes all security fixes that have landed to date for the upcoming Firefox ESR 140.13, which Mozilla is due to release on 21 July. Rather than hold these back for two weeks, we're shipping them now alongside the search change below.

The corresponding Mozilla Foundation Security Advisory will be published when ESR 140.13 is released. If any further security fixes land upstream before then, they will follow in a point release.

Search

Qwant is the new default

Back in 6.6.13 we set 1.org as a temporary default while we worked out a longer term arrangement. That arrangement is now in place - Waterfox has partnered with Qwant, the independent, privacy-focused search engine based in Paris, and it is now the default search engine on all platforms.

You can read the full story behind the partnership, and why it matters for Waterfox's independence, in the announcement post.

  • Qwant is the default in 26 regions: most of Europe, plus Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the UK, and the US.
  • Everywhere else, DuckDuckGo is the default until Qwant supports your region.
  • As always, if you've ever set your own search engine, that choice stays put - the new default only applies if you were on the previous default or are installing fresh. You can switch any time in Settings.

Ad blocker allowance follows the default

As explained in 6.6.13, the built-in ad blocker allows search ads only on Waterfox's default search provider - that allowance follows whichever provider we ship as the default, so it now applies to Qwant. Those ads are how the partnership funds Waterfox, and you can turn the allowance off in the blocker settings if you prefer.