Ever feel like your Firefox scrolling on Linux (with Wayland) is a little... off? Maybe the pages come to a jolting halt too soon, or maybe they coast like a skating rink. The good news is, there's a hidden Firefox setting that can give you the scrolling mojo you crave: apz.fling_friction.

(A quick refresher: Wayland is a newer display protocol designed to replace the older X11. Because it handles input differently, touchpad gestures in Firefox might not feel as natural without a bit of fine-tuning.)

What Is apz.fling_friction?

Think of apz.fling_friction as the brakes on your scrolling. A lower number means you're lightly tapping those brakes, letting your scroll glide on and on. A higher number? More friction. Your scroll stops sooner and doesn't coast as far.

How to Tinker With It

Pop open about:config in your Firefox address bar (yes, the one that warns you about dragons). Search for apz.fling_friction and double-click the value to change it. Before you adjust anything, jot down the original number—just in case you want to revert later. Experimenting with different values is quick and easy.

Finding Your Perfect Balance

• Default: 0.002 – The average setting.
• Smoother Scrolling on Wayland: Try 0.0012 or even 0.001 if you like that effortless glide.
• More Control: Bump it up to 0.003 if you want to slam those brakes on sooner.

Why Does This Help on Wayland?

Under Wayland, input events can feel a bit different than under X11. Firefox’s default friction setting might not mesh perfectly with these events, causing scrolling to feel too quick and abruptly halted. By lowering the friction value, you give the scrolling more time to coast naturally. This adjustment smooths out the overall scrolling experience, making it feel more organic and better aligned with how Wayland delivers your touchpad gestures.

Lower friction means the animation lasts a bit longer, but on any half-decent machine, you’ll never notice a performance dip. Just remember to restart Firefox after you tweak the setting so it can show off its new moves.

With a quick stop by about:config and a little number-tweaking, you can transform your Firefox scrolling into a smooth, controlled glide—no ice skates required. If you don’t love the change, you can always revert to the original setting. In the end, it’s all about finding that sweet spot that feels just right for you.