How to disable all artificial intelligence in Firefox and regain control

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In the last months, Firefox has been filled with artificial intelligence featuresChatbots in the sidebar, improved link previews, smart tab grouping, automatic translations, and more. For some users, all this sounds fantastic, but for many others, it's quite the opposite: more noise, more resource consumption, and many privacy concerns.

If you are in the group of those who prefer a classic browser, without AI “magic”.You're in luck. Mozilla has started responding to complaints from its community and now allows Turn off all of Firefox's artificial intelligence at onceor disable only the parts you're not interested in. Let's take a look, calmly and in detail, at what options you have today and how to clean your browser of AI, both in current and future versions.

Why many users want to disable AI in Firefox

The rise of artificial intelligence has meant that Virtually all major technology companies try to sneak it into their products Yes or yes: browsers, operating systems, office suites, mobile phones… Firefox is no exception, but its user base is especially sensitive to privacy and control over what the software does.

One of the biggest fears is that, by activating these functions, the browser starts sending data to third-party servers like Microsoft, OpenAI, or Google, which is inevitable if you use integrated chatbots or cloud-based services, such as... Google AI summariesThis is where you can put complete queries that you type into the chatbot, navigation metadata, session identifiers, and even information that will be used later to train models during up to 30 months.

In addition, there is a saturation factor: many users complain that Pop-up windows or AI suggestions appear seemingly out of nowhere.For example, when navigating backward or forward, or when visiting completely trivial websites. This is not only distracting, but also gives the impression that the browser is "trying to think for you" without your permission.

On the other hand, quite a few people are bothered that Many of these features will be enabled by default with an update.Although they're theoretically optional, if they turn on automatically after an update, they no longer feel like something you control. Ultimately, some people prefer to continue using their own judgment to find information and solve problems without an algorithm interfering.

In this context, Mozilla has understood that, if it wants to maintain its reputation as a privacy-focused browser, It needs clear, visible, and simple controls to disable AI., instead of forcing people to swallow it no matter what, as happens in other major browsers.

The global “Block AI enhancements” button in Firefox 148

The most important new feature comes with Firefox 148, desktop version in which Mozilla adds a Master switch to turn off all AI functionsIt's the closest thing to a "general shutdown button" you'll find in a major browser today.

This new control is called something like “Block AI improvements” or “AI safety switch”, and according to official documentation It will be available from February 24thIt was first tested on the Nightly (experimental) channel and then it will arrive on the stable channel, which is the one most people use.

To use this button, the first thing you need to do is make sure have Firefox version 148 or higher installedYou can check your version by going to the three-line menu in the upper right corner, then to "Help," and then to "About Firefox." If an update is available, it will be downloaded and applied automatically.

Once updated, return to the burger menu and enter "Settings"In the left column you will see a new section called something like “AI controls”That's where Mozilla has concentrated everything related to these functions so you don't have to hunt for them through the menu.

Inside that panel you will find the famous “Block AI enhancements” buttonBy activating it, the browser disables all generative AI features at onceThis includes both current features and those that may be added in the future. It also prevents you from seeing pop-up windows or "suggestive" reminders about new smart features.

A key point is that This preference is maintained across updatesIn other words, Firefox shouldn't unexpectedly reactivate AI in a new version. And if you ever change your mind, you can return to the same panel and change the setting whenever you want.

Granular control: which AI features you can turn on or off

In addition to the global switch, Mozilla has added a finer control over each AI-based functionFor those who don't want everything off, but also not everything on. This part is quite interesting because not all users have the same needs.

In the “AI Controls” panel, just below the master button, you’ll see a list of specific tools that you can manage separatelyDepending on your region, you may have more or fewer options available; for example, in Spain, the following are currently mentioned:

• Browser translationsThey allow you to automatically translate web pages that are not in your language, without having to copy and paste text into external services.
• Chatbot in the sidebar: integrates icons of popular chatbots into the Firefox sidebar so you always have them just a click away.

In other markets, especially the United States, the list is broader and includes things like Alternative text generation for PDF images, smart tab grouping with AI-suggested names, or rich link previews with key points of the page.

Mozilla's idea is that you can, for example, Keep translations active if you find them useful.But disable the sidebar chatbot if you find it intrusive. Or vice versa: keep the chatbot and turn off anything else that feels like "excessive automation".

This approach contrasts sharply with other browsers, where AI usually arrives as a single block: It's all or nothing.Here, on the other hand, you have room to keep only what truly brings you value.

How to disable AI in Firefox from about:config (advanced method)

If you don't yet have Firefox 148, are using a Developer/Nightly version, or simply prefer a more radical and technical control over AIYou can use the famous advanced settings panel: about:configFrom there it is possible to disable one by one the “flags” related to artificial intelligence.

The process is similar on Windows, Linux, or macOS. First, write about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Firefox will display a warning such as "Accept the risk and continue!". Confirm to access the advanced settings.

Once inside, you'll see a search bar at the top. There you'll need to locate a series of internal preferences that control the various AI functions. Many users who don't want any AI at all recommend this. put all these entries to false:

• browser.ml.enable
• browser.ml.chat.enabled
• browser.ml.chat.menu
• browser.ml.chat.page
• browser.ml.chat.shortcuts
• browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled
• browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled
• browser.tabs.groups.smart.userEnabled
• extensions.ml.enabled
• sidebar.revamp

For each of them, you just have to double-click or use the change icon to alternate between true y falseAs soon as they are in falseThe corresponding functions should stop loading and disappear from the interface, such as the chatbot button in the sidebar or the smart link previews.

Many users comment that, After changing these flags, you don't even need to restart Firefox. To remove the AI ​​elements, the change is applied on the fly. However, if you want to ensure nothing remains in memory, you can always close and reopen your browser.

Note that These internal options may be renamed in future versions. or move to other settings, but Mozilla's philosophy on this issue is to maintain that granular control for those who want to go "into the guts" of the browser.

Remove chatbots from the Firefox sidebar and Copilot

One of the new features that has generated the most buzz is the Integration of chatbots into the Firefox sidebarMozilla's idea is that, from that column, you can open shortcuts to services like Anthropic Claude, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, or Le Chat Mistral.

In certain trial versions, for example, Firefox allows you to add Microsoft Copilot directly to the sidebarso that it appears as just another button in your browser. From there you can generate text, images, code, analyze photos, and use other typical Copilot functions.

The problem is that, when this feature is integrated into a stable version, It is usually activated by default.If you don't want to see Copilot anywhere near you, there are several ways to remove it. One of the simplest, when there's an AI section in the settings, is to look for the button that says something like “Remove Copilot” and click. That takes it directly out of the interface.

You can also Use the right mouse button on the chatbot access. In the sidebar, uncheck options like "Ask a chatbot" or similar, so the button disappears completely. And if you want to close it completely, you can go to the AI ​​sidebar and close it using the classic X at the top.

With this, basically, You will remove access to all chatbots integrated into the sidebar.Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Mistral, and any others that Mozilla adds. If you've also added false the preferences of browser.ml.chat.enabled And company, you make sure they don't reappear.

Privacy risks and what data is shared when using AI

One of the most repeated arguments by those who choose to disable AI is what happens with the data that is shared when you use these featuresAlthough Firefox as a browser has a strong focus on privacy, the situation changes as soon as an external chatbot comes into play.

When you enable AI assistants within Firefox, Some of the information is transferred to third-party serversIn the case of Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI, or Google Gemini, this can include the questions you write, the content you analyze, navigation metadata, or even anonymous identifiers that allow multiple interactions to be associated.

Furthermore, according to the documentation of several of these platforms, The data can be stored for long periods, up to 30 months, to train and improve your modelsEven with anonymization techniques, many people are uncomfortable knowing that their activity may end up being used to train a business model.

Mozilla, aware of this misgiving, has insisted that the functions it executes locally in the browser (such as some translations or basic processing) don't send data to the cloud unnecessarily. But as soon as the service runs on another company's infrastructure, that provider's privacy policy comes into play, and that's where Firefox loses direct control.

Therefore, for users who are very concerned about their digital footprint, the most reasonable option remains to completely disable the AI ​​integrated into the browser (or the system; see how). Disable AI as much as possible in Windows 11) or, at the very least, limit yourself to those functions that you know for sure operate locally without exposing your information to third parties.

Firefox as an example of responsible AI implementation

Despite initial criticism of AI's arrival in the browser, it must be acknowledged that Mozilla is trying to make a clear difference compared to other large companiesWhile, for example, Microsoft or Google tend to activate AI by default and hide the toggle switches, Firefox has moved in the opposite direction.

Executives of the organization have made it clear that Every product they develop must allow people to decide how it worksespecially regarding privacy, data, and the use of artificial intelligence. This philosophy translates into visible, simple, and persistent controls.

The very launch of the “AI Controls” panel and the “Block AI Enhancements” button is presented as a direct response to community feedback, where there were many users who wanted nothing to do with AI, alongside others who did see it as useful but demanded the ability to configure it to their liking.

In fact, Mozilla has been testing these features first in experimental channels such as Nightly and encouraging people to submit feedback through Mozilla Connect, its feedback platform. Based on these opinions, both the integration of AI and the way to turn it off have been refined.

With this move, Firefox is trying to recover its image as a browser focused on privacy and user control. moving away from the “algorithmic imposition” model which is seen in other projects. It's a risky bet, because it goes somewhat against the grain of the hype, but it fits with the historical culture of its community.

In a landscape where everything seems to have "AI built in" by obligation, having the real possibility of completely disable any trace of artificial intelligence in the browser It's a breath of fresh air for those who simply want to browse without a machine trying to outsmart them. And ultimately, that balance between modernization and respecting the user's wishes is what can make the difference in long-term trust.

The fact that Firefox includes a master switch for AI, a dedicated settings panel, and advanced flags in about:config shows that It is possible to adopt artificial intelligence without forcing anyone to use it.If you want to translate pages or play with a chatbot in the sidebar, there you have it; if you prefer a classic browser without AI, you can have that too, with a few well-placed clicks.