Perplexity AI in Firefox: a complete guide to its use and advantages

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Artificial intelligence is no longer a foreign concept to web browsing : it's making its way into virtually all modern browsers, and Firefox is no exception. Mozilla has decided to natively integrate Perplexity, one of the most popular AI assistants of the moment, as a search engine within the desktop browser itself.

This new feature not only changes how we search, but also how we access information, verify sources, and organize our online work . From conversational responses with quotes to separate profiles for work and personal life, and the option to disable or even delete Perplexity if it doesn't suit you, Firefox offers ample control for each user to tailor the experience to their liking.

What is Perplexity and why does Mozilla integrate it into Firefox?

Perplexity is an AI-powered search engine that answers your queries in a conversational format, rather than simply displaying a list of links. The key is that, while generating an answer, it includes citations to the sources it used, allowing you to verify the information's origin with a single click.

Mozilla has decided to integrate Perplexity directly into Firefox because users increasingly demand quick, contextualized answers without having to open ten tabs to understand a topic. Instead of developing its own system from scratch, the company is opting to leverage an already established service, a logical move after the internal restructuring and resource adjustments of recent years.

Within the Firefox address bar, Perplexity appears as an additional search engine , on par with Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. It doesn't replace any of them; it simply adds an alternative. The user chooses at any given time whether to use the classic link search or an AI-generated answer with quotes.

For Mozilla, this move is also a way to remain competitive against other browsers that have already embraced AI: Edge with Copilot, Opera with Aria, and Brave with Leo. Firefox retains its own rendering engine (Gecko) instead of using Chromium, allowing it to make independent technical decisions and, in this case, integrate Perplexity as part of its differentiated offering.

The integration began as a pilot program in select markets around mid-2025, limited to a small group of users and countries. After verifying its acceptance and refining details, Mozilla has moved to a full-scale rollout in the desktop version of Firefox, while the mobile version is planned for later.

How to use Perplexity AI directly from Firefox

Using Perplexity in Firefox is surprisingly simple because it behaves like any other search engine within the browser . You don't need to install any unusual extensions or open additional tabs to the official Perplexity website if you don't want to.

Access is via the address bar. Clicking the down arrow next to the search icon displays a list of available search engines. There you'll see Perplexity alongside your other configured search engines. Simply select it to send that specific query to the AI ​​engine.

Once you've chosen Perplexity, simply type your question or request directly into the address bar . You can treat it like a chatbot: ask complex questions, request comparisons, summaries, or explanations. The response will appear in a conversational format and will include citations of the sources used to generate the content.

If you get used to this way of working, you can take it a step further and set Perplexity as your default search engine . From the Firefox menu, by going to Settings and then to the Search section, you can set it as the primary option, so that any query you make from the search bar will go to Perplexity unless you specify otherwise.

For many users already using the Perplexity app or website , this integration represents a significant reduction in clicks and context switching . There's no longer a need to jump between tabs or applications: AI is integrated into the natural navigation flow, which particularly streamlines quick queries and preliminary research tasks.

How to disable or remove Perplexity from Firefox if you don't want to use it

Not everyone is thrilled about artificial intelligence becoming ubiquitous. Some users feel these assistants are unnecessary in their browsers and prefer a more traditional environment, or simply don't want their use suggested in their daily lives.

Mozilla has taken this into account and offers the option to disable Perplexity as a search engine and even remove it from the list if you prefer. Everything is controlled from Firefox's own settings, without having to touch anything external.

To disable it, the process is very straightforward: first, click the button with the three horizontal lines (the main menu) located in the upper right corner of the window. In the drop-down menu, choose Settings, and on the new screen, go to the Search section, which you'll see in the left panel.

In that panel, you'll find the section called Search Shortcuts . There you'll see a table with all the configured search engines. Simply uncheck the box next to "Perplexity." This will remove the engine from the list of options when you open the address bar, although the setting is saved in case you want to reactivate it later by checking the box again.

If your intention is to completely remove Perplexity from Firefox , leaving no trace in the search engine list, that's also possible. In the same Search Shortcuts section, select the row where Perplexity appears and click the Remove button below it. This will remove it from the list of search engines. If you change your mind, you'll have to add it back later using Mozilla's method (for example, by restoring default search engines or reinstalling the browser).

Availability, platforms, and integration roadmap

The integration of Perplexity into Firefox has begun with the desktop version (Windows, macOS, and Linux). After a testing period in select countries, Mozilla has confirmed that the feature is being rolled out globally to more users, still within the desktop version of Firefox.

Regarding mobile devices, the company has already announced that Perplexity's arrival on Firefox for Android and iOS is in the roadmap, but a specific date has not yet been set. The idea is to offer the same conversational search experience with quotes on phones as well, maintaining consistency between what you do on your laptop or desktop and what you search on the go.

It's important to remember that this integration doesn't replace traditional search engines ; it's simply added as another option. Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and other alternatives are still available, and users can freely choose which one to use: with a single click in the address bar or by setting a default search engine.

Mozilla has also clarified that Perplexity does not sell or share personal data , which aligns with Firefox's image as a privacy-focused browser. Even so, it's important to remember that queries are processed on Perplexity's servers, not on your computer, so you should still follow standard best practices when sending sensitive information.

In the broader digital ecosystem, this movement reinforces the trend toward seeking answers rather than just links . More and more work and communication tools are incorporating AI, and the browser is a key point in that transition, because it's where much of the professional user's digital journey begins.

Basic technical operation and resource consumption

From the user's perspective, Perplexity functions like a classic search engine integrated into Firefox . The difference lies in the layer of artificial intelligence running in the cloud, responsible for interpreting your query, searching for relevant information, and summarizing it with corresponding citations.

A common question is whether this involves extra resource consumption on the computer itself . The answer is no, not significantly: Firefox doesn't run the AI ​​models locally, but rather sends the request to Perplexity's servers and receives the processed response back. The impact is more noticeable in network traffic than in your computer's CPU or memory usage.

This means that, in practical terms, Perplexity behaves like any other browser-based search engine. No separate floating assistant opens, nor does a new AI process launch on your system. Everything is routed through Perplexity's infrastructure, just like when you perform a regular search and Google's server does all the work.

In everyday use, you'll see a conversational response interface accompanied by a list of citations to the sources used: articles, official websites, reports, etc. This combination of conciseness and immediate verification is what sets Perplexity apart from a simple, generic chat without references.

Another advantage of this model is that improvements to AI models and indexing are applied server-side, so you don't have to constantly update your browser to see changes in response quality. However, it's advisable to keep Firefox updated to the latest version to have access to all the configuration and security options associated with the integration.

Firefox profiles and other new features accompanying Perplexity

The arrival of Perplexity in Firefox isn't the only change. In this same wave of updates, Mozilla has also enabled profile management across Firefox , a long-awaited feature that allows users to separate browsing environments within the same browser.

With profiles, you can have separate browsers for different contexts: one for work, another for personal use, another for testing, and so on. Each profile can have its own extensions, passwords, history, bookmarks, and tabs, completely isolated from the others. There's no need to create separate email accounts or deal with multiple browsers.

A clear example is that of a professional firm: separate profiles can be created for each area (Tax, Labor, Commercial) or client, minimizing the risk of mixing sensitive credentials or browsing histories . This is especially relevant when using Perplexity for preliminary queries and then transferring the results to internal files or corporate tools.

Another new feature is the integrated visual search with Google Lens for those who have Google as their default search engine. From the desktop, by right-clicking on an image, you can search for related information, extract or translate text, identify similar products, locate places, or recognize objects without needing to save the image or manually describe it.

Mozilla is gradually testing this feature and will decide on its rollout based on user feedback . In work environments, visual search can facilitate tasks such as identifying official forms, locating original versions of documents, or verifying the origin of certain graphic content, always preserving the link to the official source (Official State Gazette, ministries, agencies, etc.).

Advantages of Perplexity in Firefox for users and businesses

The main advantage of using Perplexity in Firefox is that you go from searching for links to finding traceable answers . Instead of opening multiple pages and reading them all to draw your own conclusions, you receive a summary along with the sources so you can verify it immediately.

For founders, technical teams, or professional firms, this represents a significant time saving in research and documentation . Typical queries such as differences between contractual arrangements, updates in labor regulations, or deadlines for public bodies can be addressed much more quickly, always with the option of confirming each appointment on their official website.

From a privacy standpoint, Mozilla emphasizes that the user decides when to use Perplexity . It's not a forced feature: you can choose traditional search engines, switch between them depending on the type of search, or disable it entirely. Furthermore, Perplexity's commitment to not selling or sharing personal data aligns with Firefox's philosophy.

In organizations that are adopting private AI environments (such as agents integrated into Slack or Teams), having a search engine with cited answers in the browser itself helps improve the quality of the material that is then shared in internal channels or linked to a CRM, file, or specific case.

There's also an impact on individual productivity: fewer tab switches and less need to copy and paste information . By having a structured response with links to sources, the user can focus on analyzing, deciding, and documenting, instead of spending time gathering scattered data.

Quick guide to responsible use in professional environments

For IT or compliance departments, the inclusion of Perplexity in Firefox necessitates the definition of clear usage policies . Simply enabling the feature is insufficient; it is advisable to establish criteria regarding the types of queries permitted and how the results are integrated into internal workflows.

A reasonable practice is to limit Perplexity to informational and support queries , always requiring subsequent validation. In other words, it can be used for orientation, to obtain an initial overview, or to locate relevant regulations, but it should never replace official databases or subscriptions to legal or accounting documentation.

It is also important to emphasize that users should click on citations and verify primary sources (BOE, DOUE, AEAT, INE, ministries, regulatory bodies) before making important decisions or preparing reports to be shared with clients or third parties.

Another key point is logging: organizations can set up the URLs of cited sources to be saved in the document management system, CRM, or corresponding Slack/Teams channel each time Perplexity is used for a query that affects a file or project, so that there is a clear trace of where the information came from.

Finally, it is essential to maintain a strict policy of not including personal data or customer identifiers in inquiries . Instead, it is recommended to phrase questions abstractly (“SME in sector X”, “case with these general characteristics”), thus protecting confidentiality and complying with the GDPR and the organization's internal policies.

Recommended profiles and work organization with Firefox

Leveraging the combination of Perplexity and profiles in Firefox involves designing a navigation structure tailored to actual work . It's not just about separating "Work" and "Personal," but about going a step further based on the needs of each company or professional.

For example, a law firm might create a Work – Tax profile with specific extensions (corporate password manager, advanced PDF reader, tools for capturing citations and references). In that context, Perplexity can be used for inquiries about tax regulations, changes in deadlines set by the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT), or general interpretations of certain concepts, always verifying information with official sources.

Meanwhile, a Work-related profile could focus on electronic signature tools, legal document managers, or extensions for working with collective bargaining agreements and case law. Again, Perplexity would act as an assistant to clarify initial questions about contract types, minimum wage, bonuses, or procedures before consulting specialized databases.

Finally, maintaining a separate Personal profile without access to corporate bookmarks or passwords helps reduce the risk of mixing contexts: less likelihood of sending customer information from personal accounts, installing dubious extensions in the work environment, or crossing browsing histories that should remain isolated.

In all these profiles, Perplexity integration can be configured differently: enabled in some, disabled in others, or limited to very specific cases. This flexibility is part of Firefox's added value for organizations that want to balance innovation and control.

Impact on SEO, research, and how information is consumed

The way Perplexity presents the answers, with summaries and highlighted quotes , also changes how users click on the results. Some traffic shifts from directly searching the first link to verifying the sources mentioned in the AI's answer.

For marketing teams and content managers, this means that having clear, reliable, and well-structured information on company websites becomes even more important. If a website is cited by Perplexity as a relevant source, users are more likely to click through to check the details, download a resource, or verify the exact data.

In the field of legal and accounting research, Perplexity's AI can streamline the initial stages of information gathering: quickly identifying which regulations, reports, or statistics are relevant to a specific topic before dedicating time to in-depth analysis. However, it's crucial to remember that AI does not replace official databases or expert interpretation.

Visual search, meanwhile, opens the door to new ways of locating documents and references . A practical example: starting with a screenshot of a form or notification and using Google Lens from Firefox to find the official document it comes from, or updated versions of it, maintaining traceability to the original source.

Taken together, these tools encourage teams to adapt their internal guidelines: always document which source has been used , attach the original links in reports and communications, and teach professionals to live with AI as support, not as a substitute for their own judgment or the current regulatory framework.

Risks, limitations and best practices for using AI in the browser

However advanced it may be, Perplexity's AI is neither infallible nor omniscient . Its answers may be incomplete, not reflect the latest regulatory updates, or, on occasion, offer questionable interpretations of certain legal, technical, or financial nuances.

One of the main risks is becoming overconfident and treating Perplexity's response as if it were a definitive ruling . The tool is designed to guide and expedite the search, not to replace direct consultation of official standards, specialized databases, or qualified professional judgment.

It is also essential to consider data sovereignty and protection . Although Perplexity and Mozilla emphasize their privacy commitments, each organization should review whether its query procedures comply with the GDPR and its internal policies. The general recommendation is to always anonymize information and avoid mentioning proper names, identifiers, or sensitive details.

For now, the option to use Perplexity from Firefox on mobile is still under development. This suggests a phased adoption plan : start with the desktop version, train users, establish clear usage guidelines, and then, when the mobile version arrives, extend the practice with a solid foundation already in place.

If managed properly, Perplexity's integration into Firefox can become another piece within an ecosystem of secure and efficient tools , where AI helps increase speed without compromising rigor or confidentiality. The key is to always maintain control: deciding when to use it, how to validate its output, and its role within internal processes.

The arrival of Perplexity in Firefox reflects a shift in how we browse: searches become dialogues with an assistant that cites its sources, profiles allow us to separate digital worlds, and visual search adds new ways to locate information; combined with good privacy and verification practices, these features offer a more powerful and flexible browser, but also require users to know how to use them wisely.