Remember the days when your web browser was just a web browser, and not an AI-pushing, shop-selling, sponsored-content-shovelling annoyance? Corbin Davenport does, and he’s made a tool to take all of that stuff out of the most common browsers: Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
The tool is a little script that works on the Windows, Mac and Linux versions of the three browsers (except for Edge on Linux, which is not currently supported). And as you’ll see in a moment, it’s pretty simple to use.
What does Just The Browser remove?
Just The Browser will remove AI features such as Firefox’s tab group suggestions and CoPilot in Microsoft‘s Edge browser, although it’s not intended to throw babies out with bathwater so it doesn’t remove Firefox’s useful page translation.
It doesn’t stop at AI, though. It also removes price tracking and buy now pay later (BNPL) integration; sponsored site suggestions and suggested articles on the New Tab page; pop-ups asking if you want to change your default browser, and first-run features such as welcome screens that ask if you want to import data.
The script also removes telemetry features that collect data, with the exception of crash reporting that can notify the browser developers of bugs.
Each browser has a different set of features, and that means Just The Browser will remove different features in each. You can see a full list of the features removed from each browser on the Chrome, Edge and Firefox pages. They also contain detailed instructions about how to install Just The Browser if the script doesn’t work on your computer.
How to install Just The Browser on your computer
The simplest way to install Just The Browser is to run the script. There’s one script for Windows and one for Macs and Linux, and you’ll find them both on the main Just The Browser web page. Copy the appropriate script with Ctrl-C (Windows) or Command-C (Mac).
In this tutorial we’ll change the browser settings on our Mac. If you’re on Windows it’s essentially the same, but instead of the Mac Terminal you’ll need to open a PowerShell prompt as the PC administrator. To do that, just right-click on the Windows button in your taskbar and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin). Paste the code and follow the on-screen instructions.
1. Go to the Terminal
Terminal lives in your Applications folder, and the quickest way to launch it is via Spotlight: press Command-Space and start typing Terminal, then hit Enter or double-click on the app.
2. Paste the code
Press Command-V to paste the code you copied from Just The Browser. As you can see, it includes a URL: that’s the GitHub location where the script you need for your computer lives. When you hit Enter the script will run.
3. Choose the browser
The browsers you see here will depend on what’s on your system, so here we have a choice of Chrome or Firefox. The Update Settings option removes the features; the Remove Settings feature removes Just The Browser’s changes.
4. Make the changes
We’ll change Chrome, so we’ll press 1 for Google Chrome: Update Settings. This downloads a new device profile to our Mac, and macOS’s security means the profile needs to be reviewed by you. Click on OK and the appropriate Systems Setting page should be waiting for you.
5. Review the profile
If the page didn’t load automatically you can find it in System Settings > General > Device Management. You should see “Google Chrome settings” in the Downloaded section. Double-click on it.
6. Install the profile
This screen shows you what the profile is going to do, so in this case it shows it’s going to change some of the settings in com.google.Chrome. That’s exactly what we want it to do, so click Install to make the changes.
7. Say you’re sure
macOS really wants you to be sure about this, so it’ll ask you to confirm your choice. Click Install again.
8. Exit System Settings
The warning triangle is now gone from the Device Management page and “Google Chrome settings” is now listed as a user. You can close this window now.
9. Do it again
If you want to change another browser, repeat the process by choosing Update Settings for that app in the Terminal window. If you want to reverse your changes, use the Remove Settings option. If you’re happy, quit Terminal.
10. Open your browser
When you open your web browser it’ll look the same, but there’s one big sign that the script has done its job and changed the settings on our copy of Chrome: the “AI Mode” button that usually sits in the main search bar is no longer there.
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