Mozilla’s Firefox browser is getting a long-awaited feature. Called Split View, this new feature will allow users to view two different websites side-by-side in a single tab.

Firefox rivals Chrome with Split View

Firefox’s Split View feature makes a process many users currently do more practical. Users usually drag tabs into separate windows and place them on either side of the screen. The new feature will allow this process to be done in a single tab.

The feature is currently available for testing in Firefox version 146. However, it needs to be manually activated as it is still under development. Mozilla plans to roll it out to all users when it’s fully ready.

Google Chrome is also working on a similar feature. According to test results, Chrome’s implementation currently appears more advanced. It’s stated that Mozilla engineers have learned from Google’s approach.

Because Firefox’s version is newer, it’s still more rudimentary compared to its competitors. Showing two pages in a single tab affects drag-and-drop behavior, navigation focus, tab splitting, and other interactions. These issues need to be resolved.

The Firefox Beta channel is giving hints about its plan. Options to reverse, split, or close the split view are offered via a button appearing in the URL bar. The same options are also available in the context menu below the unfocused section.

In the future, a “Open in Split View” option will be added when right-clicking a link. When split view is launched, it will offer the ability to select from empty, partially open tabs.

If you are using Firefox 146 or later, you can activate the Split View feature now. However, remember that this is an experimental feature. It may give errors or crash during a critical browsing session.

To activate it, first open Firefox. Type “about:config” in the address bar and accept the warning. Search for “browser.tabs.splitView.enabled” and double-click the value “false” to change it to “true”. You don’t need to restart the browser.

To create a split tab, right-click on any tab and select “Add Split View.” Like windowed systems, you can resize tab sections using a draggable handle. It works well in narrow sections, as most websites are mobile-friendly.

Firefox’s URL bar and navigation buttons are applied to the focused section. You can tell which section is in focus by a thin border. To turn the feature off, simply change the same setting to “false.”

While Mozilla’s new management focuses on AI features, it seems the engineering team continues to develop features that users truly want. Would you like to try this new Firefox feature?