Zen Browser Rules Out HEX Color Picker as User Base Hits 500,000
Zen Browser‘s development team has confirmed it will not add a custom HEX color picker — a tool that lets users input precise alphanumeric color codes — to the browser’s theme settings.
“We currently have no plans to implement HEX into the theme picker. Sorry,” the developers said in a public exchange with a user who asked whether finer color controls were coming.
That rules out any option to match the browser’s interface to an exact color value, such as a desktop wallpaper’s specific shade.
Workaround Exists for Pure Black
The developers did offer a limited technical fix for users who want a pure black background rather than custom colors.
They said users can access the browser’s advanced configuration panel — reached by typing a command directly into the Address Bar — locate a hidden preference, and toggle it to convert a pure white background into pure black.
That workaround does not replicate the flexibility of a full HEX input system, but it addresses the specific request that triggered the exchange: a user asking for a deep black mode to darken favorite websites.
Growth Piles Pressure on Small Team
The decision lands as Zen Browser hits a notable growth mark. The team recently said an estimated 500,000 people now use the indie browser as their primary daily driver.
That figure places Zen in a competitive tier occupied largely by browsers backed by major corporations, making the milestone significant for an independent project.
Still, rapid growth brings pressure. The team has shipped several updates in quick succession to keep pace with expanding demand and mounting bug reports.
One recent update patched a transparency glitch that had replaced the browser’s frosted glass background effect — a visual layer that gives interface elements a blurred, semi-transparent appearance — with a solid gray block for Windows users.
New Features Rolling Out
Even so, the team has pushed forward on functional additions. Developers recently introduced smart tab routing, a feature that Lets Users set rules directing specific links to open automatically in designated workspaces.
That removes the need to manually drag tabs between windows, a common friction point for users who manage high volumes of open pages.
By contrast, cosmetic customization such as the HEX picker appears lower on the team’s priority list as it works to stabilize core performance across a fast-growing install base.
Zen Browser is a free, open-source project built on Mozilla’s Firefox engine. It positions itself as a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream browsers from Google, Apple, and Microsoft.
