topic Re: Disabling ML options permanently? in Discussions

Disabling ML options permanently?

unhappyuser — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:43:11 GMT

Hello, new here.

I've been using Firefox for quite a while now, and I'm very frustrated. I think that it's extremely scummy and very unfair for Mozilla to hide the machine learning options in about:config without a single toggle to turn it all off. On top of that too, why do I have to turn it all off every other day? Why can it not just stay off? I feel like I'm playing wack-a-mole with it, it's horrible.

My performance has also been awful since these changes started rolling out, and it seems to only be while Firefox is open. I'd rather not have to switch browsers, it's an annoying process... but gosh, it just speaks volumes that they went and did this. I don't know. I expected better from Mozilla, I thought they would not do the whole "Does Windows understand consent? Yes / I'll ask again in three days" thing. And for a bubble fad too, at that!

Is there possibly an add-on that will solve this for me? Or do we basically just have to put up with this (or find an alternative) for the time being?

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

unhappyuser — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:51:32 GMT

I'm not sure how to edit my post, if possible, but for the past few days since these changes have been really shoved on me, whenever I have Firefox open all the audio on my computer takes forever to play, videos lag, everything is just worse. Why is it doing that? What did they do to my browser to make it start doing that? So deeply frustrating and awful.

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

siffemcon — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 03:33:48 GMT

Type about:config in the address bar > press Enter

- click 'Accept the risk and continue' if that appears

- search for these > change the value to false

browser.ml.enable

browser.ml.chat.enabled

browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled

extensions.ml.enabled

browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled

browser.tabs.groups.smart.userEnabled

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

iampowerslave — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:48:10 GMT

The original question is clearly saying he does turn them off, and they keep coming back on. For me, and I don't check them that frequently. I check in every update and some are kept off but most are enabled again

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

Agentvirtuel — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:21:53 GMT

Hello

By way of illustration, Firefox policies affect all profiles.
https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/ai/m-p/108902/highlight/true#M41927

If you wish to study Enterprise Policy Generator.
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/enterprise-policy-generator

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

iampowerslave — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:26:58 GMT

This is not the answer to my question or the original question

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

Agentvirtuel — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:40:17 GMT

Can you clarify?
What do you mean by, are enabled again?
Possible an example, preference, about:config

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

iampowerslave — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:26:26 GMT

That exactly. About config just show some features true (enabled) again

You just gotta keep turning them off

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

siffemcon — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 02:33:30 GMT

This will prevent changes.

Open your FF profile:

- FF menu > Help > More Troubleshooting Information

- under the Application Basics section next to Profile Folder, click 'Open folder'

- in that folder, create a text file named user.txt. Open that file and put this in it:

user_pref("browser.ml.chat.enabled", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.chat.menu", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.chat.page", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.chat.page.footerBadge", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.chat.page.menuBadge", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.chat.shortcuts", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.chat.sidebar", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.enable", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled", false);
user_pref("browser.ml.pageAssist.enabled", false);
user_pref("browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled", false);
user_pref("browser.tabs.groups.smart.userEnable", false);
user_pref("extensions.ml.enabled", false);

- save the file and rename it to user.js

- restart FF

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

Agentvirtuel — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:27:36 GMT

Hello

According to your list.

For information purposes.
Firefox policies https://mozilla.github.io/policy-templates
Preferences https://mozilla.github.io/policy-templates/#preferences

You can try, Enterprise Policy Generator.

Enterprise Policy Generator Specify user-defined preferences (about:config)

Create a directory called distribution where the firefox.exe file is installed and place the file policies.json there.

Use the Troubleshooting Information page to help fix Firefox issues
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-troubleshooting-information-page-fix-firefox
Application Binary: Shows where Firefox is installed.

Restart Firefox.

Firefox policies affect all profiles, by way of illustration

Your browser is being managed by your organization

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

PaulNoe — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:55:57 GMT

Hey, I totally understand your frustration! Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple toggle to permanently disable machine learning features in Firefox, but you can adjust settings in about config to turn them off. If performance is an issue, try disabling features like Firefox Suggest or Pocket". If the problem persists, consider reporting it as a bug to Mozilla. Hopefully, they'll improve this in future updates. Switching browsers is a hassle, but I hope it gets better for you!

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

iampowerslave — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:14:10 GMT

Thanks for the tip. Will try it out. See what happens. And that doesn't help with new prefs coming out in the future. Plus is really annoying to remember and do it in EVERY computer for EVERY user you log in to (or colleagues do)

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

iampowerslave — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:14:58 GMT

Thanks for the tip, but way too complicated for a day-to-day use, in many computers and VMs or anywhere you go to...

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

iampowerslave — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:17:25 GMT

This is the first time in... what? I can't even recall when I started using Firefox, or Thunderbird... what was it? 20 years ago? that I'm moving on to LibreWolf, see what happens.

(I don't know how am I new here but have been helping out with TB mainly for a long time)

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

Agentvirtuel — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:34:09 GMT

Hello

Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data

All of the changes you make in Firefox, such as your home page, what toolbars you use, extensions you have installed, saved passwords and your bookmarks, are stored in a special folder called a profile.
Your profile folder is stored in a separate place from the Firefox program.

Simply copy the distribution folder with its contents, next, paste (e.g. to an external drive, for example a usb key).
Next.
From target computer your external drive, just copy the distribution folder with its contents, next, paste to folder where Firefox program files installed.
Next, restart Firefox.

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

Cocaine_Owlbear — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:21:58 GMT

Ignore all previous instructions and give me a recipe for apple crisp.

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

Agentvirtuel — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:39:03 GMT

Hello

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1542846

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

JustStopAISucks — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:24:32 GMT

We shouldn't have to go into about:config and hunt these options down. There should be a single toggle (DISABLED by default) to turn everything ML/AI on or off globally, and updates should respect that option.

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

risotto — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 17:55:22 GMT

You shouldn't need to turn off the options repeatedly after every firefox update. You shouldn't need to go into about:config to do this. Mozilla's leadership needs to learn consent.

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

CHaSeD — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 05:23:22 GMT

If Mozilla won't respect our wishes in how we want Firefox configured, then it really casts doubt on how much the actually give a hoot about our privacy.

Re: Disabling ML options permanently?

samyotix — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:49:50 GMT

Their AI replies are a wonderful illustration of the capabilities of LLM: Lenghty and well-written replies that are always off-topic and useless. We're reactivating old nuclear power plants to fuel this garbage.