# Mozilla Firefox 160 enters public beta with MKV support and PiP playback controls

> **Key takeaway:** Firefox 160 introduces expanded media playback capabilities and improved UI interactions for history management.

**Published:** 2026-11-06T08:18:04+00:00 
**Source:** Linux Today 
**Category:** distro-news 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/mozilla-firefox-160-enters-public-beta-with-mkv-support-and-.html 

## Summary
Mozilla has launched the public beta for Firefox 160, introducing several functional updates to the browser's media engine and user interface. This release focuses on enhancing the multimedia experience and streamlining navigation for power users.

Key improvements include expanded support for container formats and more granular control over video playback within the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode. These changes are currently available to beta testers and are expected to reach the stable release channel in a future update.

## New features in Firefox 160 beta
- **Media Playback:** The Picture-in-Picture player now includes a playback speed setting with selectable increments ranging from 0.25x to 2.0x.
- **Container Support:** The browser adds native support for playing Matroska (MKV) files, specifically accommodating audio streams in FLAC, MP3, or PCM formats.
- **UI/UX Improvements:** Users can now perform drag-and-drop actions to move history entries from the sidebar directly onto the tab strip to open them as new tabs.

## Why it matters
The expanded MKV and audio codec support improves Firefox's utility as a local media player for Linux users. Additionally, the UI refinements for history management and PiP controls enhance the desktop browsing experience for productivity-focused users.