[Firefox Tip] Remove Recommended Extensions and Themes Sections from Add-ons Manager

If you upgraded or installed the new version of Mozilla Firefox web browser, you might have noticed new “Recommended Extensions” and “Recommended Themes” sections in redesigned Add-ons Manager (about:addons) page UI.

When you open Add-ons Manager, you’ll see these 2 new sections “Recommended Extensions” and “Recommended Themes” on “Extensions” and “Themes” page respectively.

Following screenshots show the new recommended sections in Add-ons Manager:

Recommended Extensions section in Extensions tab of Add-ons Manager:

Recommended Themes section in Themes tab of Add-ons Manager:

These new sections display promoted 3rd party extensions and themes which can be installed in Firefox browser. You can consider them as advertisements or suggestions.

The Recommended Extensions section also shows following message:

Many Firefox users may start worrying after reading the above mentioned notice on Extensions page as the feature collects data and statistics to show extensions recommendations.

If you don’t want Firefox to show personalized extensions and themes recommendations on Add-ons Manager, you can disable this feature completely. Once you turn off this new feature, Firefox will remove “Recommended Extensions” and “Recommended Themes” sections from Add-ons Manager permanently.

Following steps will help you in disabling personalized extensions recommendations and removing recommended extensions and themes sections from Add-ons Manager page in Mozilla Firefox:

STEP 1:

1. First of all, open Firefox and click on the Hamburger icon present at the right-side end of the toolbar to open the main menu. Now click on Options menu to open Firefox settings page.

Alternatively, you can direct option this page using about:preferences command in address bar.

2. Now under “Privacy & Security” tab, scroll down to bottom and go to “Firefox Data Collection and Use” section.

3. You’ll see “Allow Firefox to make personalized extension recommendations” option.

Disable or uncheck this option and it’ll immediately turn off personalized extensions recommendations feature in Firefox. It means Firefox will stop collecting data and statistics to make personalized extensions recommendations.

It’ll remove “Some of these recommendations are personalized. They are based on other extensions you’ve installed, profile preferences, and usage statistics.” warning message or notice from Add-ons Manager.

Remember it’ll not remove “Recommended Extensions” and “Recommended Themes” sections from Add-ons Manager. Firefox will still show recommendations on Add-ons Manager but the recommendations will be generalized, not personalized.

STEP 2:

Now we’ll remove the “Recommended Extensions” and “Recommended Themes” sections from Add-ons Manager.

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and type about:config in the addressbar and press Enter. It’ll show you a warning message, click on “I accept the risk!” button. It’ll open Firefox’s hidden secret advanced configuration page i.e. about:config page.

2. Now type aboutaddons in Search filter box and look for following preferences in the window:

• extensions.htmlaboutaddons.discover.enabled
• extensions.htmlaboutaddons.recommendations.enabled

3. Both preferences are set to true by default which means recommended extensions and recommended themes sections are enabled.

Double-click on both preferences one by one and set them to false. Alternatively, you can right-click on the preferences and select Toggle option.

That’s it. Now re-open Add-ons Manager and “Recommended Extensions” and “Recommended Themes” sections will disappear from Add-ons Manager.

BONUS TIP:

You can restore old classic UI of Add-ons Manager in Mozilla Firefox which will also remove “Recommended Extensions” and “Recommended Themes” sections automatically:

[Firefox Tip] Restore Old Classic UI of Add-ons Manager (About:Addons) Page

Also Check:

[Tip] Remove “Report Extension” Option from Add-ons Manager in Mozilla Firefox

[Tip] Disable Recommended Extensions Suggestions in Mozilla Firefox

[Tip] Disable Recommended Features Suggestions in Mozilla Firefox