Firefox doesn't label any one setting "text predictions." The address bar suggestions come from two features: Search suggestions and Firefox Suggest. Both live in the Search panel of Firefox Settings.
You can turn them off there, or use about:config when you need the preferences behind the toggles. Follow the exact steps, then check what to do if predictions still appear after you disable them.
In this guide, I have covered:
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What “Text Predictions” Means in Firefox
If you want to turn off text predictions in Firefox, know this: Firefox doesn’t have one setting called “text predictions.” When you type in the address bar, two features create the gray preview text and the dropdown list below it: Search suggestions and Firefox Suggest.
Search suggestions come from your default search engine. Firefox Suggest pulls from local history, bookmarks, and open tabs. Both are controlled from the Search panel in Firefox Settings.
Turn them off, and the address bar stops guessing. It only matches the characters you actually type.
Open Firefox Settings
You won’t find these toggles on the General panel. Start by opening the Search panel from Firefox Settings.
- Open Firefox on your computer.
- Click the hamburger menu
in the top-right corner of the window. - Click Settings.
You can also type about:preferences#search in the address bar and press to jump straight to the right page.
Turn Off Search Suggestions
The Search Suggestions section controls the online predictions that show up under your typing in the address bar.
- In the left sidebar of Settings, click Search.
- Scroll to the Search Suggestions section.
- Uncheck Provide search suggestions to stop Firefox from asking your search engine for completions.
- Uncheck Show search suggestions in address bar results to stop the inline gray preview text.
Open a new tab and type a few characters into the address bar to confirm. The suggestion row and gray preview text should no longer appear.
Unchecking Provide search suggestions alone is enough for most readers. If the gray ghost text still shows up, uncheck the second box too.
Turn Off Firefox Suggest (Local Suggestions)
Firefox Suggest uses your own data to predict what you want. Its section controls suggestions from bookmarks, browsing history, and other open tabs.
- Still on the Search panel, scroll to the Address bar section. In some Firefox versions, this is labeled Firefox Suggest.
- Uncheck Browsing history to stop Firefox from suggesting pages you visited before.
- Uncheck Bookmarks to stop bookmark titles from appearing in the suggestion list.
- Uncheck Open tabs to stop Firefox from listing your other open tabs as predictions.
After these changes, the address bar only matches the text you type. You can also uncheck sponsored suggestions and web-based suggestions in the same section if you want an empty suggestion list.
Disabling these toggles hides the predictions. Your history and bookmarks stay where they are. If you also want to delete browsing data, our guide to clearing Firefox browsing history on a computer walks through that separately.
Disable Suggestions Through about:config
If the Settings toggles do not fully disable predictions, Firefox’s hidden preferences give you a second path. Use this route only if you are comfortable editing advanced settings.
- Type about:config in the address bar and press .
- Click Accept the Risk and Continue to open the advanced preferences page.
- In the search box, type browser.search.suggest.enabled.
- Click the toggle button on the right to set the value to false.
- Search for browser.urlbar.suggest.searches and toggle it to false as well.
- For history and bookmark suggestions, repeat the same toggle for browser.urlbar.suggest.history and browser.urlbar.suggest.bookmark.
- Restart Firefox for the changes to fully take effect.
TIP: Open a private browsing window (press ++) to compare. Private windows always disable predictions, so use one to check whether your normal window is truly off.
What to Do If Predictions Still Appear
If predictions still show up after every checkbox is unchecked, don’t assume the change failed. Work through this short checklist.
- Make sure you are editing the Search panel in Settings, not the General panel.
- Clear the search term history so old entries stop suggesting matches. You can do that from the same Search panel under Search History, or follow our guide to clearing Firefox search history on a computer.
- Restart Firefox fully (close every window and reopen) so the new preferences load.
- If you use Firefox Sync, repeat the changes on each signed-in computer. Address bar preferences are not synced.
- Check installed extensions. A search-related add-on can override the built-in behavior.
If none of these steps remove the predictions, refreshing Firefox resets preferences to their defaults while keeping your bookmarks and passwords. Use that only as a last resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Firefox have a toggle called “text predictions”?
No. Firefox groups all predictive text features under Search suggestions and Firefox Suggest in the Search panel of Settings. There is no standalone “text predictions” label.
Will turning off text predictions affect my saved bookmarks and history?
No. Disabling predictions only stops Firefox from suggesting those items in the address bar. Your bookmarks, history, and open tabs stay intact and can still be searched through the Library.
Do my changes sync to other devices?
No. Address bar and search suggestion preferences live on each device and are not synced through Firefox Sync. Repeat the steps on every computer, phone, or tablet where you want predictions disabled.
Why do I still see a gray preview word in the address bar?
That inline gray text is a separate setting labeled Show search suggestions in address bar results or controlled by browser.urlbar.suggest.searches in about:config. Make sure both the regular and inline suggestions are disabled.
Can I turn off predictions without affecting autofill for passwords and addresses?
Yes. Address bar predictions, autofill for saved logins, and form autofill are independent features. Disabling suggestions on the Search panel does not change your saved logins, addresses, or payment methods.
