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What’s the Easiest Way to Activate Firefox Link Previews Without Labs? (Proven Steps)
Firefox 139.0 and later introduces an AI-powered Link Previews feature, offering users a concise snapshot of a webpage before clicking a hyperlink. This feature is not enabled by default and typically requires access through Firefox Labs. However, you can activate it without using Labs by modifying Firefox’s advanced configuration.
What Does Link Previews Do?
- Displays a brief summary of a linked webpage when you hover and press ALT+SHIFT.
- Shows details such as URL, page title, estimated reading time, key points, and a direct link in a pop-up.
- Key points are generated using AI, summarizing the target page for quicker decision-making.
Why Use About:Config Instead of Labs?
- Labs access depends on enabling Firefox Studies and telemetry, which some users disable for privacy.
- About:config allows direct control without enabling data collection.
Step-by-Step: Enable Link Previews via About:Config
- Open Firefox and enter about:config in the address bar.
- Accept the warning to proceed to advanced settings.
- Search for linkpreview in the preference search box.
- Locate the following preference:
browser.ml.linkPreview.enabled - Double-click this preference or use the toggle icon to set it to True.
- This activates Link Previews immediately.
- To disable, set the value back to False.
Optional Customization
To remove the AI-generated “Key Points” from previews, add your region’s code (e.g., IN for India) to browser.ml.linkPreview.noKeyPointsRegions.
Usage Tips
- Hover over any link and press ALT+SHIFT to view the preview.
- The feature works instantly after enabling; no restart required.
This method ensures you can leverage Firefox’s latest smart browsing feature while maintaining control over your privacy settings.