How to Remove Perplexity AI from Mozilla Firefox Search

Mozilla recently introduced Perplexity AI as an optional search option in Firefox. Unlike traditional search engines that display lists of links, Perplexity offers a conversational search experience, delivering answers with citations directly in the browser. While this feature might be something a few people are looking for, the bulk of people don't want to integrate AI into their browsing experience. Thankfully, for the time being, Firefox allows users to customise their search settings, including the ability to remove Perplexity AI entirely.

Why You Might Want to Remove Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI provides an alternative to standard search engines like Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. It is designed to give answers like ChatGPT rather than a full page of links. It's handy for research and quick questions, but some people still prefer the traditional search format or are cautious about AI features, even though Mozilla ensures that Perplexity does not sell or share personal data (Yet).

How to Remove Perplexity AI from Mozilla Firefox Search

• Open Firefox and click the menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window.
• Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
• In the Settings page, navigate to Search in the left-hand sidebar. This section lists all search engines available in Firefox and lets you choose which provider appears in the address bar by default.
• If Perplexity is set as your default search engine, you need to switch it to another provider.
• In the Default Search Engine section, click the dropdown menu and select your preferred engine, such as Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo.
• Changing the default ensures that all future searches in the address bar use the engine of your choice instead of Perplexity.
• Scroll to the One-Click Search Engines list. Here, each search engine has a checkbox for quick access in the search bar.
• Uncheck Perplexity to disable it. If you want to remove it completely, click the Remove button next to its name. This deletes Perplexity from Firefox, so it no longer appears in search options or suggestions.

Clear Stored Data

To ensure no data related to Perplexity remains on your system, go to Privacy and Security in the Settings menu. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Manage Data and search for “Perplexity.” If any entries appear, select them and click Remove Selected. This step deletes residual cookies and site data from the AI engine.

Repeat for Multiple Profiles

If you use multiple Firefox profiles for work, personal browsing, or other purposes, you will need to repeat these steps for each profile. Each profile has independent search settings, so removing Perplexity from one does not affect the others.