How to Disable AI Features in Firefox

Firefox’s AI-related options can include webpage summaries, chatbot shortcuts, and suggested features, and the available controls vary by version. You can turn off the built-in AI settings and remove visible AI entry points, but there is no single switch that disables every AI-powered service on the web or every feature added by an extension.

What You’ll Need

• A current Firefox installation and access to its settings.
• A minute to check which Firefox features and extensions you actually use. Some controls may not appear in older versions or in every region.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Firefox settings. Select the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner, then choose Settings on Windows or Linux, or Settings on macOS. You can also type about:preferences in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Look for the AI controls in the current release. In Settings, use the search field to search for AI or artificial intelligence. Mozilla has been adding and changing AI-related options over time, so the labels and locations can differ. If a section for AI features or AI controls appears, open it and select the option to disable or block the features you do not want. Read the descriptions: a setting may apply to one feature rather than all AI functions.
3. Turn off the AI features listed there. Disable each relevant option, such as AI-generated webpage summaries or suggestions, if it is present. If the setting offers a choice between allowing, blocking, or asking before use, choose the blocking option for the broadest restriction. Restart Firefox if the page asks you to; otherwise, close and reopen any tabs where the feature was already active.
4. Remove an AI chatbot shortcut if you see one. If Firefox shows a chatbot button in the sidebar, open the sidebar’s settings or customization controls and remove the chatbot or hide the sidebar. You can also check Settings for a sidebar or browsing-tools section. The exact controls depend on the release and configuration. Removing a shortcut hides access from the interface; it does not necessarily disable the chatbot service elsewhere.
5. Check extensions. Type about:addons in the address bar, press Enter, and select Extensions. Review extensions that provide AI writing, chat, search, summarizing, or page-analysis features. Use the toggle to disable one, or choose its menu and select Remove if you no longer want it. An extension may have its own settings, so check those before assuming it is inactive.
6. Review Firefox Labs and experiments. If you have enabled experimental features, open Settings and search for Firefox Labs. Turn off any AI-related experiment you recognize and do not want. Labs options are not available to everyone, and an experiment may be missing, renamed, or already removed in your version.
7. Verify the result. Reopen Settings and confirm that the choices stayed off. Look for the AI button or feature you were targeting, and test on a page where it used to appear. If it remains, check whether it is supplied by an extension, a managed browser policy, or a website rather than Firefox itself.

Common Mistakes

• Expecting one universal switch. Firefox has multiple features and integrations, and turning off one does not automatically disable every other AI-related option.
• Confusing a hidden button with a disabled service. Removing an icon or sidebar entry changes the interface. It may not revoke a service’s access through a separate extension, website, or account.
• Searching for an exact menu label from another version. Controls change as Firefox develops. Search Settings and check Firefox’s built-in help rather than assuming a guide’s menu names still match.
• Disabling an extension without checking its status. Extensions can have separate toggles and configuration pages. Confirm that the extension is disabled or removed in about:addons.
• Assuming website features are controlled by Firefox. A site can use its own AI tools regardless of Firefox’s built-in settings. Those features need to be turned off on the site, if it provides a control.

Tips

• Update Firefox before troubleshooting: select the menu button, then Help and About Firefox. Firefox checks for updates in that window. Restart if prompted.
• Change one setting at a time and note what it controls. That makes it easier to restore a feature if you disable something you rely on.
• If you want to limit a specific service, inspect its extension permissions and settings rather than disabling unrelated browser features.
• For a work or school computer, ask the administrator about managed settings. Some preferences may be enforced and unavailable to change.

Troubleshooting

The AI setting is missing: Update Firefox, then search Settings for “AI.” The option may not have reached your release, may be region-dependent, or may have been renamed. If it is absent, you cannot use that particular built-in switch; check about:addons and the relevant feature’s own controls instead.

The feature still appears after turning it off: Restart Firefox and reload the page. Confirm the change applied to the correct feature, then check extensions, the sidebar, Firefox Labs, and any site-specific controls. If a button remains but no longer opens the feature, it may be a separate interface shortcut.

A setting keeps turning back on: Check whether an extension, Firefox Sync, a profile configuration, or an organization’s browser policy is restoring it. To test extensions, open about:addons and disable likely candidates temporarily. On managed devices, an administrator may control the preference.

Firefox behaves unexpectedly after changing a preference: Restore the setting to its previous value. Avoid changing unfamiliar entries in about:config; incorrect preferences can affect browsing or stability. If ordinary Settings and extension checks do not resolve the issue, use Firefox’s built-in troubleshooting information or support resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Firefox have a switch to disable all AI?
No single switch is guaranteed to cover every AI-related feature, extension, experiment, or website. Disable the controls available in your version and check each source separately.

Will turning these features off delete my browsing data?
Disabling a feature or extension does not ordinarily erase browsing history, bookmarks, or saved passwords. Data handled by a separate service may have its own settings and deletion controls.

Can I disable AI in Firefox on a phone?
Firefox for Android and iOS has a different interface and may offer a different set of features. Check the mobile app’s Settings and its add-on controls; desktop instructions may not apply.

Do I need to edit about:config?
Usually not. Start with standard Settings, the sidebar controls, and about:addons. Only change advanced preferences when you have reliable, version-specific instructions.

Does disabling Firefox’s features turn off AI on websites?
No. A website’s tools are controlled by that site, and an extension or external service may have independent controls. Turn off those features at their source if available.

Will an update turn the features back on?
Updates can introduce or change settings, but behavior depends on the feature and your configuration. After a major update, search Settings again and confirm your preferred options remain disabled.

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