Firefox is bringing Web Apps to Windows 11 with Taskbar Tabs: First Look

Mozilla is working to bring Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) to Firefox on Windows 11 under the name “Taskbar Tabs.” This feature aims to transform websites into app-like experiences, allowing users to pin web apps to their taskbar on desktop for quick access.

PWAs, or Progressive Web Apps, are websites that function like apps on your phone or computer. They load quickly, even with a slow internet connection, and can work offline.

Progressive Web Apps in Firefox

In the past, Mozilla attempted to add PWA support to Firefox in the form of a Single Site Browser (SSB), but the feature was never launched, even in the Nightly version for testing. The company eventually abandoned PWA support. Although there is an extension to support PWAs in Firefox, native support for the feature had not been implemented—until now.

With growing demand, Mozilla is working on Taskbar Tabs for Windows, aiming to make websites feel more like traditional apps.

David Rubino, a Firefox product manager, shared that the team is rethinking how to implement PWAs based on community feedback. The goal is to allow users to turn any website into a web app with a single click, running it in its own window with a simplified browser interface. These web apps would stay open until closed, handle links within their scope, and integrate with the operating system, such as Windows, for quick access—like appearing on the taskbar.

WindowsReport has learned that Mozilla worked on this feature under the name “Taskbar Tabs” as a separate extension before integrating it into Firefox. The feature moves tabs to single-site windows in the taskbar.

How Taskbar Tabs work

Based on our findings, here’s how you can create web apps in Firefox:

When you navigate to a website, an option appears in the URL bar to move a normal window tab into a Taskbar Tab. It may also be possible to move a Taskbar Tab back into a normal window, similar to how PWAs work in Chrome or Edge, where you can reopen them in the browser.

Here’s how you can enable Taskbar Tabs and install PWAs in Firefox on Windows:

WindowsReport has noticed that Mozilla has kept Taskbar Tabs behind a hidden preference. Here’s how you can enable it:

1. Launch the latest Firefox Nightly.
2. Visit about:config.
3. Create a boolean preference named browser.taskbarTabs.enabled and set its value to true.
4. Restart Firefox.

Note: As of now, the feature isn’t working. However, we’ve shared a video below that shows how Taskbar Tabs work, based on the concept made available as an extension in the past.

Progress so far and what’s next

From the Taskbar Tabs meta bug, we have learned that Mozilla has made a significant progress in improving Firefox’s PWA Support. key tasks, such as minimizing the browser UI for Taskbar Tab windows, cleaning up the hamburger menu, have already been completed.

However, some work remains, including adding a URL bar action for Taskbar Tab conversions, handling Taskbar Tab launches, integrating with the Session Store, and improving the Jump List to display only relevant items.

The team is also working on allowing users to revert Taskbar Tabs back to regular windows and updating internal logic to ensure Taskbar Tabs don’t interfere with normal tab restoration.

Video: How Taskbar Tabs Worked as an Extension

Mozilla plans to roll out Taskbar Tabs as an experiment first, followed by a wider release based on user feedback. The team is also looking to bring PWAs feature to macOS, where single tabs could be moved to the dock instead of the taskbar.

However, while Firefox on Android already supports adding website shortcuts to the home screen, it’s unclear whether Mozilla plans to expand PWA support for Linux or further improve Android’s PWA features

WindowsReport has reached out to Mozilla for a statement on this development and an estimated timeline for when Taskbar Tabs will be available to users. We are currently awaiting their response and will update this article as soon as we hear back.

Apart from making headlines for removing Do Not Track support and offering Vertical Tabs and Tab Groups in the Nightly version, Firefox is also testing an AI feature to group tabs—a feature that hasn’t received much support from the community since we first reported it.

What do you think about Firefox’s new Taskbar Tabs and its PWA install button?Could this feature convince you to switch to Firefox?Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.