this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2025
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I came across a Tumblr post detailing how to disable AI "features" in Firefox as of 11/20/25 and I'm expecting an arms race of new/changed fields vs new strategies to disable them. So I wanted to ask, what would you recommend a lifelong Firefox user use, for PC and Android?

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[–] MilliaStrange@beehaw.org 24 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] MilliaStrange@beehaw.org 19 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The fields:

browser.ml.enable browser.ml.chat.enabled browser.ml.chat.menu browser.ml.chat.page browser.ml.chat.page.footerBadge browser.ml.chat.page.menuBadge browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled browser.ml.pageAssist.enabled browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled browser.tabs.groups.smart.userEnabled extensions.ml.enabled browser.search.visualSearch.featureGate

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 14 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

If you add three back ticks (```) to the beginning and end of the list, it will format as a code block instead of a bunch of links

browser.ml.enable
browser.ml.chat.enabled
browser.ml.chat.menu
browser.ml.chat.page
browser.ml.chat.page.footerBadge
browser.ml.chat.page.menuBadge
browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled
browser.ml.pageAssist.enabled
browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled
browser.tabs.groups.smart.userEnabled
extensions.ml.enabled
browser.search.visualSearch.featureGate
[–] Ethereal87@beehaw.org 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Interesting that I had a lot of these already set to False and I definitely haven't gone through this process before. Maybe there was a prompt somewhere that I said no to?

Appreciate the list though just to be extra sure!

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 7 points 2 months ago

Half of them were already False for me. I think I remember right clicking and seeing an AI option that I said no to. That probably disabled some of the features listed.

[–] lemmyng@piefed.ca 22 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Librewolf (PC) or Fennec (Android) if you want to stay in the Firefox ecosystem. Vivaldi if you don't mind A Chrome based browser.

[–] cabbage@piefed.social 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

A proprietary chrome based browser that is. But nevertheless one that seems to superior I'm considering seeking refuge there until Servo is ready.

After a few months in LibreWolf I still don't feel at home.

[–] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 months ago

Someone really needs to make a general purpose fork of librewolf that turns on the features you need for compatibility and ease of use by default, and the regular librewolf can stay hardened.

[–] stranger@lemdro.id 4 points 2 months ago

I moved from Chrome to Firefox / Fennec to Vivaldi for Windows and Android, and after disabling a lot of the UI bloat I've honestly not had an issue with it. Synced tabs across devices, fast performance, and built in ad-blocking with option to add extensions.

[–] Morphite88@thelemmy.club 2 points 2 months ago

IIRC the only portion of Vivaldi that isn't open source is their UI code, for what that's worth. Guess they want to keep an edge there? I'm Currently migrating my Android from Vivaldi to Brave; using xBrowserSync (bookmarks), Proton Pass (passwords), and KDE Connect to keep it synchronized to desktop (debian 13 using KDE Plasma) instead of Vivaldi's sync. Kind of a pain after using a single service for some time but I don't trust anyone anymore.

[–] bonenode@piefed.social 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Fennec is good. Ironfox is better, it is the successor to Mull.

[–] scintilla@crust.piefed.social 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Can you explain why it's better?

[–] Zykino@programming.dev 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I would also love to know. It is not on F-Droid so I'm a bit suspicious at first. (Not all is open source? Or is it too new?)

[–] SweetCitrusBuzz@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

You have to add its repository from here: https://gitlab.com/ironfox-oss/IronFox

[–] FaceDeer@fedia.io 22 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I would recommend continuing to use Firefox until you actually don't like it, rather than switch because of yet another social media post raging about AI. 90% of the time I've seen people complaining about AI being "shoved in their faces" it's something that I had no idea existed and had to actively seek out and enable to see it in action.

Just don't use features that you don't want to use.

[–] MilliaStrange@beehaw.org 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Most people have no idea their data is being scraped from the services they use either, that doesn't mean they like it or that they should.

Unlike some folks in this thread, I never got an opt in pop up for the "features" on desktop or mobile.

[–] chaoticnumber@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago

Dude above's advice is just bad. Firefox defaults to some crappy shit, such as data collection, all the features such as pocket or what have you. By default its just not a secure browser, its really not.

I would advise against using it. Librewolf exists, you need to tweak the settings for it to be a normal browser, with data permanence, but after just a few tweaks you have a relatively secure browser.

[–] D1re_W0lf@piefed.world 15 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] RivverRavven@beehaw.org 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Oh there's no doubt he's a really bad dude, but his browser is the most secure and best overall. I choose the browser.

[–] D1re_W0lf@piefed.world 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Secure?? 👀 If it was only him that was bad. From bypassing ad blockers with their own ads, to crypto scams, to privacy scandals, to… I just want distance from that thing.

[–] chaoticnumber@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 months ago

Best overall you say? Don't post absolutes friend, the way the browser space is right now, none of them are the best overall. They each are better than others for their respective niche.

[–] tyler@programming.dev 14 points 2 months ago

Firefox. If you want them to all be disableable with a single toggle then make a pull request. FF is open source.

[–] pasdechance@jlai.lu 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Stick with Firefox for now.

Some FF forks like LibreWolf break sites because they are too strict. That isn't a critique, that's just how LibreWolf works and if your threat model requires it, go for it.

You can toggle the flags or use a userjs like arkenfox or betterfox. Eventually they might also enable these flags.

On Android I like Privacy Browser, but it takes getting used to (I like being logged out when I close the browser in case someone uses my phone).

[–] azerial@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 months ago

I just installed librewolf on my Linux laptop and you can customize how strict it is in the settings. There's a librewolf setting group in the settings to adjust the fork customizations that they have made.

[–] higgsboson@piefed.social 13 points 2 months ago

LibraWolf and IronFox

[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I use LibreWolf on the computer and IronWolf on the phone. Both modified versions of Firefox, both Free Software. Not sure what they do with AI, but as they're both aimed at privacy, I'd expect them to disable AI features which send data to external services.

[–] dangling_cat@piefed.blahaj.zone 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Zen browser! It’s a Firefox fork without all that crap and it’s soooo pretty! Like arc browser but ff based. It’s also not like florp which I feel like if I look it wrong it will break.

[–] termus@beehaw.org 1 points 2 months ago

Been using Zen for about 6 months now. I like it a lot. It's also come a long way. I dig the minimal vertical tab bar.

[–] solomonschuler@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Librewolf on desktop, ironfox on mobile.

By default these applications come with no Firefox suggestions, no AI bullshit, and even turns on strict security. This is what I use personally because I don't like to reconfigure the settings every time I install Firefox, this just works.

[–] chaoticnumber@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Same here, I use the exact same ones

[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 2 points 2 months ago
[–] 30p87@feddit.org 5 points 2 months ago

Probably any FF fork

[–] sculd@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago

Vivaldi if you want Chromium browser Continue to use Firefox is probably the best choice for now

[–] Nanook@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)
[–] mc900ftJesus@lemy.lol 13 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Only Americans put the month at the start.

[–] Nanook@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 months ago

Must be the lead.

[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Different countries write dates differently. In the USA, 11/20/25 is Nov. 20, 2025. In other nations, it's written 20/11/25.

[–] Nanook@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

Only in the US. This is an international platform.

7.7 billion people: Day Month Year, Decade, Century, Millennium etc.

[–] doc@fedia.io 22 points 2 months ago (1 children)

ISO8603 master race

Year-Month-Day

[–] Nanook@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 months ago

lol, I submit

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Not just the US. Philippines, Togo, Cayman Islands, and Greenland apparently also use MM/DD/YYYY in some way or form. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_date_formats_by_country

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 3 points 2 months ago

Well, that settles it. We must invade Greenland.

[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yes, as I said, "In other nations..."

[–] Nanook@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 months ago

In all other nations lol

[–] thatsTheCatch@lemmy.nz 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 2 points 2 months ago

I've read good things about it.

[–] kittenroar@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago

I still use Firefox; their bullshit is less egregious than Chrome's and they are Chrome's only challenger. The ai features don't even come in to play unless you actually choose to use them.

[–] 68silver@beehaw.org 0 points 2 months ago

I use Brave on desktop and android.

[–] artyom@piefed.social -2 points 2 months ago

Brave and/or Zen