Remove All AI Features with Firefox’s New AI Controls

For those of us who occasionally crave a break from the constant barrage of AI features in our browsers, Firefox has heeded our call. The newly introduced Firefox AI Controls provide users with a straightforward option to opt-out of AI functionalities entirely, making browsing a more personalized experience.

How to Access Firefox AI Controls

In early 2026, Firefox announced its AI Controls feature as part of an update to the browser’s settings. With the release of version 148, users can now easily disable AI features through a simple interface. No more convoluted settings or the need for external extensions!

By the end of February 2026, all users should receive these controls. For those who have already been updated, like myself—who promptly disabled AI features after encountering significant CPU spikes—it’s a welcome enhancement.

To access the AI Controls, make sure your Firefox is updated to the latest version. Open the Firefox menu, select Settings, and navigate to AI Controls on the left side.

Accessing Firefox AI Controls in Settings.

My first step to eliminate AI from Firefox was to prevent the browser from adding new AI features. In the AI Controls settings, simply toggle the Block AI enhancements option. This effective tool stops new AI features from being introduced during updates and eliminates those pesky pop-ups suggesting new additions. Kudos to Firefox for including this control!

Disabling On-Device AI Features

Firefox also prioritizes user privacy by conducting some AI processing directly on your device. While this commitment to privacy is commendable, many users, including myself, may wonder why these features are necessary if they are not being utilized.

The On-device AI section within the AI Controls encompasses features such as translations, alt text for PDFs, tab group suggestions, and key summaries in link previews. To disable these, head to the AI Controls menu and toggle each setting to Blocked using the drop-down menu next to each option.

Note that if you’ve previously utilized these features, your device may have already downloaded the necessary AI models. Blocking these will remove the models from your system, aiding in the overall clean-up.

While this functionality was once limited to the Firefox Nightly edition, it is now available for all regular Firefox users.

Blocking AI Chatbots in Firefox

If you prefer not to engage with AI chatbots offered by Firefox while browsing, the AI Controls allow you to disable this feature simply. Under the AI Controls menu, scroll to the section titled AI chatbot providers in sidebar. Adjust the setting to Blocked using the drop-down menu, and the AI chatbot button will be hidden the next time you launch Firefox.

Manual Methods to Disable AI Features

For those who may not be able to update their Firefox browser but still wish to disable AI features, various alternative options are available.

One approach is to use a free open-source script designed to disable AI functionalities across Firefox and other Chromium-based browsers. This process takes just a few minutes, although its effectiveness may vary with future browser updates.

Alternatively, Firefox allows users to manually adjust settings through about:config. Once you click Accept the Risk and Continue, you can toggle the configurations to disable AI features. Although Mozilla recommends manually switching off each individual setting, one primary toggle exists, yet it may not suffice in all cases.

To disable features, look for the following configurations:

Disabling AI configuration settings in Firefox.

browser.ml.enable – The main AI control toggle, but may not completely disable all functionalities.
browser.ml.chat.enabled – Deactivates chatbot capabilities within Firefox.
browser.ml.pageAssist.enabled – Turns off the AI summarization feature.
extensions.ml.enabled – Restricts extensions from accessing any AI-related functionalities.
browser.ml.chat.menu – Disables the right-click chat option.
browser.ml.chat.page – Removes the chat menu from the page.
browser.ml.chat.sidebar – Eliminates AI chat from the sidebar menu.
browser.ml.chat.page.footerBadge – Closes the floating chat interface in the footer.
browser.ml.chat.page.menuBadge – Removes the AI badge from the right-click menu.
browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled – Disables AI-generated previews for links.
browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled – Eliminates smart tab grouping powered by AI.

If you wish to retain certain features, simply disable the ones you prefer to exclude. Another option is to create a user.js file to store your preference overrides. Using a text editor like Notepad, format each entry as follows:

user_pref("option", false);

Replace option with the desired preference, for example, for the AI control: user_pref("browser.ml.enable", false);

Sample user.js file to disable Firefox AI.

Save the file as “user.js” to the appropriate profile folder. After restarting Firefox, your settings will be applied. If you ever decide to reintroduce AI features, just remove the user.js file.

Utilizing either the Firefox AI Controls or manual configuration methods grants you full command over the AI features in your browser. With these newfound controls, you can now personalize your Firefox experience, whether that means adding a vibrant background image or enhancing your browsing privacy by integrating Firefox Focus with Safari on iOS.

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