Common Overrides
- Open the
user.jsin a text editor such as Notepad. - Add prefs from the options below.
- Save and close the file.
- Return to Required Reading.
A user.js applies prefs in the order they are written.
So, if a pref is listed a second time, then the second value (yours) would override the first (Betterfox's).
To enable certain functions, copy+paste the appropriate prefs to the MY OVERRIDES section of your user.js.
Important
If a site doesn't work, temporarily disable ETP for that page. This should resolve most issues.
Most problems stem from Firefox running in Strict mode. Switch back to Standard protection to fix them.
// PREF: revert back to Standard ETP
user_pref("browser.contentblocking.category", "standard");Alternatively, you can adjust how aggressive Strict ETP is. You can change one or both prefs:
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lvl2to-lvl2uses a less aggressive Disconnect tracking protection (lvl 1 list) -
fppto-fppdisables additional fingerprinting protection (FPP) in Normal Browsing windows -
fppPrivateto-fppPrivatedisables FPP in Private Browsing windows (not recommended)
In the string below, I've disabled the lvl2 tracking list but left FPP enabled.
If you were to add a - to fpp, it would disable the protection in Normal Browsing windows.
// PREF: make Strict ETP less aggressive
user_pref("browser.contentblocking.features.strict", "tp,tpPrivate,cookieBehavior5,cookieBehaviorPBM5,cm,fp,stp,emailTP,emailTPPrivate,-lvl2,rp,rpTop,ocsp,qps,qpsPBM,fpp,fppPrivate,3pcd,btp");In theory, sites should break less often. These changes shouldn't be an issue if you're using uBlock Origin.
With Strict ETP, Firefox's SmartBlock feature lets you enable embedded content from sites like Instagram and TikTok. When you visit a website with supported embeds, Firefox shows a placeholder instead of the blocked content.
Mozilla has not yet added this function for Twitter (X) or Reddit third-party embeds. You can add exception rules to permit these embeds in the meantime.
// PREF: allow embedded tweets and reddit posts [FF136+]
user_pref("urlclassifier.trackingSkipURLs", "embed.reddit.com, *.twitter.com, *.twimg.com"); // MANUAL [FF136+]
user_pref("urlclassifier.features.socialtracking.skipURLs", "*.twitter.com, *.twimg.com"); // MANUAL [FF136+]Firefox's text rendering on Windows is awful. These settings make it better.
// PREF: improve font rendering by using DirectWrite everywhere like Chrome [WINDOWS]
user_pref("gfx.font_rendering.cleartype_params.rendering_mode", 5);
user_pref("gfx.font_rendering.cleartype_params.cleartype_level", 100);
user_pref("gfx.font_rendering.directwrite.use_gdi_table_loading", false);
//user_pref("gfx.font_rendering.cleartype_params.enhanced_contrast", 50); // 50-100 [OPTIONAL]The built-in password manager is disabled for security.
-
☰→ Settings → Privacy & Security → Logins and Passwords → Ask to save logins and passwords for websites
We recommend using Bitwarden or 1Password to manage your credentials on multiple devices.
// PREF: restore login manager
user_pref("signon.rememberSignons", true);
// PREF: pop-up to save logins for a new site
user_pref("signon.formlessCapture.enabled", true);
// PREF: restore address and credit card manager
user_pref("extensions.formautofill.addresses.enabled", true);
user_pref("extensions.formautofill.creditCards.enabled", true);Location requests are blocked to minimize annoyances.
Manage your site exceptions to allow only for websites you want to ask for your location.
-
☰→ Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Location
// PREF: allow websites to ask you for your location
user_pref("permissions.default.geo", 0);Site notifications are blocked to increase security and minimize annoyances.
Manage your site exceptions to allow only for websites you want to send you notifications.
-
☰→ Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Notifications
// PREF: allow websites to ask you to receive site notifications
user_pref("permissions.default.desktop-notification", 0);Top sites (pinned site shortcuts) are removed for a clean new tab page, but you can re-enable them.
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☰→ Settings → Home → Firefox Home Content
// PREF: restore Top Sites on New Tab page
user_pref("browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.feeds.topsites", true);
// PREF: remove default Top Sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
// This does not block you from adding your own.
user_pref("browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.default.sites", "");
// PREF: remove sponsored content on New Tab page
user_pref("browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.showSponsoredTopSites", false); // Sponsored shortcuts
user_pref("browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.feeds.section.topstories", false); // Recommended by Pocket
user_pref("browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.showSponsored", false); // Sponsored Stories- Bookmark keywords may improve your experience (YouTube example).
- Learn how to narrow down suggestions in the URL bar by a specific type of result:
-
*for bookmarks -
^for browser history -
?for search suggestions - and more
-
Firefox v.130 and later have the option to show Weather on the new tab page.
// PREF: show weather on New Tab page
user_pref("browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.showWeather", true);These are the main prefs responsible for AI features built into Firefox. Betterfox disables them, but you can re-enable them.
// PREF: restore AI features
user_pref("browser.ml.enable", true);
// PREF: restore AI chat
user_pref("browser.ml.chat.enabled", true);
// PREF: AI chatbot option in right click menu
user_pref("browser.ml.chat.menu", true);
// PREF: smart tab groups
user_pref("browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled", true);
// PREF: restore link previews
user_pref("browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled", true);Search suggestions from the URL bar are disabled in Betterfox to keep everything you type from going to Google.
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☰→ Settings → Search → Search Suggestions → Provide search suggestions
// PREF: restore search engine suggestions
user_pref("browser.search.suggest.enabled", true);Add a search engine from the address bar to use a custom search engine like Brave Search or Kagi.
Once you've added the user.js to your Profiles folder and restarted Firefox, you'll see some new buttons in the Search settings.
-
☰→ Settings → Search → Search Shortcuts → Add
Click on Add to manually enter a custom search engine.
Consider adding the good search version of Google to see uncluttered web results. The udm=14 parameter directs Google to its less bloated Web mode, and num=50 requests 50 results per page. For the Search engine name box, I usually call this one Google (No AI).
https://www.google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s
However, even this cleaner view cannot rescue you from Google's SEO slop 🙃
For that, you'll need Kagi.
Kagi is a premium privacy search engine. If you want search suggestions in the URL bar, make sure to follow the first steps in their Firefox tutorial. Then, use the latter steps to setup Kagi for Private Browsing using your private session link.
If you don't want search suggestions, then use the private session link both as your default and private search engine.
-
☰→ Settings → Search → Default Search Engine
You can also select a default search engine just for Private Browsing windows. (This is an option after you apply the user.js and restart.)
Firefox v.137 adds a button to the address bar to switch search engines and search modes.
// PREF: disable unified search button
user_pref("browser.urlbar.scotchBonnet.enableOverride", false);Enable container tabs if you want to login to the same site under different accounts.
You'll also want to install Multi-Account Containers for extra functionality (YouTube example).
// PREF: enable container tabs
user_pref("privacy.userContext.enabled", true);Firefox's default scrolling could be better. Smoothfox provides options for a better scroll experience.
Important
Use only one option at a time! Reset prefs if you decide to use different option.