[Feature request] Ability to completely disable features we don't need or want to use (Brave Wallet, Brave Rewards, Brave Search, Brave VPN,...)

[Marko-98]

Description

I'm requesting setting(s) that could let us completely disable features we don't need or want to use.

Brave Wallet & Brave Rewards

I'm not a fan of crypto and those features don't have any meaning for me. Since I don't have a use for them, it would be nice if I could completely turn them off. Currently, I can disable them, but they are still left in the UI.

EDIT: Can be disabled using Group Policies, but not through Settings. More on that here.

Brave Search

Brave Search shows irrelevant results for me. It isn't available in the language of my country and doesn't show me the regional results. This also doesn't have any use for me so I use other search engine. But even though I don't have Brave Search selected as default search engine (not even for private tab), I still see huge Brave Search when I open the private tab.

Brave VPN

Brave VPN (this is valid only for Android); you can't disable it in flags like you can on the desktop version, so there's annoying Brave VPN entry in the menu which just wastes space there because it requires subscription.

Brave Shields

I'm using 3rd party ad blocker and have no use for the built-in Brave ad blocker. It would be awesome if we could get an option to disable context menu entry.

EDIT: Can be disabled when starting with --disable-brave-extension, but there should really be an option for this in the settings of the browser.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Disable Brave Wallet & Brave Rewards
2. Choose any other search engine other than Brave Search
3. Brave VPN can't be disabled on Android
4. Can't disable Brave Shields context menu

Actual result:

1. Leaves Brave Wallet & Brave Rewards parts in the UI
2. Leaves huge Brave Search bar in private tab
3. Leaves Brave VPN entry in the browser menu
4. Brave Shields context menu is always present

Expected result:

1. No Brave Wallet & Rewards parts in the UI
2. No Brave Search in the private tab start page
3. No Brave VPN entry in browser menu (on Android)
4. No Brave Shields context menu entry

Reproduces how often:

Easily reproduced

Brave version (brave://version info)

Brave	1.59.120 Chromium: 118.0.5993.88 (Official Build) (64-bit)
Revision	135f92a9af2134bc7d7aeba82f87ff5e68669410
OS	Windows 10 Version 21H2 (Build 19044.3570)

Version/Channel Information:

• Can you reproduce this issue with the current release? Yes.
• Can you reproduce this issue with the beta channel? Yes.
• Can you reproduce this issue with the nightly channel? Yes.

Other Additional Information:

• Does the issue resolve itself when disabling Brave Shields? No.
• Does the issue resolve itself when disabling Brave Rewards? No.
• Is the issue reproducible on the latest version of Chrome? No.

Miscellaneous Information:

None.

[ghost]

The real question for users like you is: why are even you using Brave?

What's the point if you are going to disagree/complain about everything they have added as a spork? Maybe you should use another browser if you are requesting this. You can already disable features on the flags anyway, only because buttons exist, doesn't mean you have to click them, which makes this whole request weird... I know people are entitled to their opinions, but doesn't mean it is it makes sense to want Ungoogled Chromium in Brave, when you could be using Thorium or Ungoogled Chromium.

For example, the "I use 3rd party adblocker". Why should Brave even listen to a request like that? Brave adblocker is deeply integrated, they already let you disable the adblocker, and they added a lot of flags to disable adblocker and shields features.

You don't even understand the benefits of Brave adblocker, so why are you even disabling it?

1. it won't get affected by manifestv3 like your 3rd party adblocker probably will, because you use uBlock.
2. Brave adblocker can do CNAME uncloaking, making Brave Browser the only Chromium browser to be able to do that. No, uBlock or any other adblocker in Chromium can do that, because Chromium never provided a DNS API like Firefox has.
3. It is not an extension, therefore it is not restricted like an Extension API adblocker, example, with brave://flags/#brave-extension-network-blocking flag, you can block network requests in Extensions. Also, this is pretty important, because if you use Edge sidebar, you will get ads, and any tracker, extensions can't touch it, while Brave can do it as an advanced native adblocker.
4. it is faster, you might not care about speed, but Brave adblocker is faster than uBlock, reason why uBlock barely does anything when running side by side.
5. Also, Brave adblocker includes the scriplet injection to remove Brave detection in pages where they use it to block Brave. That means you will get blocked in many pages without it, even CNN español was blocking Brave and Adobe and Archive and so many, so it because they dislike Brave like Archive or they think Brave having a native adblocker deserves being blocked. What are you going to do about this by only using uBlock?

If you were developing a software, and a fork, and some user requested what you are requesting, would you listen to them? there are 900 Chromium alternatives and Firefox that can do what you want, no rewards, no adblocker, no VPN and no buttons to remember they exist. So again, why are you using Brave if you want ungoogled or throrium or well... Firefox? or Chrome or Vivaldi or anything else but Brave?

Edit: BTW, element picker has nothing to do with Adblocker, you can already disable it if you run Brave with --disable-brave-extension. It will disable WPD and the element picker

[Marko-98]

The real question for users like you is: why are even you using Brave?

Mainly for privacy reasons, but for the features too.

What's the point if you are going to disagree/complain about everything they have added as a spork? Maybe you should use another browser if you are requesting this.

I'm not complaining. Where did I complain? I just requested a feature; few entries in the settings and that's all. Why would I switch to another browser if I use many features of this one?

You can already disable features on the flags anyway, only because buttons exist, doesn't mean you have to click them, which makes this whole request weird... I know people are entitled to their opinions, but doesn't mean it is it makes sense to want Ungoogled Chromium in Brave, when you could be using Thorium or Ungoogled Chromium.

It just doesn't make sense that I can disable Brave VPN & Brave News in the desktop version, and not in the Android. It doesn't make sense when I disable Brave VPN & Brave News, they don't appear as placeholders in the UI, but Brave Rewards, Brave Wallet and Brave Search does.

You don't even understand the benefits of Brave adblocker, so why are you even disabling it?

Actually, I didn't disable it. I use it along with uBlock Origin, but not for the ad blocking. I use it for everything else (fingerprinting protection, HTTPS upgrade, fingerprinting protection etc.). And no, I didn't know Brave can't block those, because there's little information on their website about their ad blocker. I may start using it when ManifestV3 becomes unavoidable.

Anyway, I use uBlock Origin because then I have greater control over what gets blocked. uBlock Origin isn't just ad blocker, but content blocker instead. Also, I have to mention, filters I use in uBlock Origin are developed by Brave employees.

If you were developing a software, and a fork, and some user requested what you are requesting, would you listen to them? there are 900 Chromium alternatives and Firefox that can do what you want, no rewards, no adblocker, no VPN and no buttons to remember they exist. So again, why are you using Brave if you want ungoogled or throrium or well... Firefox? or Chrome or Vivaldi or anything else but Brave?

I would. I'd take any suggestion into consideration. Because I think, users should have a voice in product development. Products are made for users.

And can you believe, out of these 900 Chromium alternatives, none are secure because they skip Chromium versions and update rarely? Also, none is as customizable as Brave and Vivaldi, but Vivaldi is missing many features I use in Brave. Firefox and their forks work terrible for me and their font rendering was weird. This is why I use Chromium-based browser only.

Edit: BTW, element picker has nothing to do with Adblocker, you can already disable it if you run Brave with --disable-brave-extension. It will disable WPD and the element picker

Will try this, thanks!

[ghost]

Also need ability to see Brave Rewards Ads as Opt-in at Brave News, just like there is a toggle to Show sponsored images

Button to disable ad background image

Need button to not show the Ads in Brave News

Currently users are forced to see ads when they choose to enable Brave News. This will make users not use the feature of Brave News if Ads are forced.

[qcbf]

The real question for users like you is: why are even you using Brave?

What's the point if you are going to disagree/complain about everything they have added as a spork? Maybe you should use another browser if you are requesting this. You can already disable features on the flags anyway, only because buttons exist, doesn't mean you have to click them, which makes this whole request weird... I know people are entitled to their opinions, but doesn't mean it is it makes sense to want Ungoogled Chromium in Brave, when you could be using Thorium or Ungoogled Chromium.

For example, the "I use 3rd party adblocker". Why should Brave even listen to a request like that? Brave adblocker is deeply integrated, they already let you disable the adblocker, and they added a lot of flags to disable adblocker and shields features.

You don't even understand the benefits of Brave adblocker, so why are you even disabling it?

1. it won't get affected by manifestv3 like your 3rd party adblocker probably will, because you use uBlock.
2. Brave adblocker can do CNAME uncloaking, making Brave Browser the only Chromium browser to be able to do that. No, uBlock or any other adblocker in Chromium can do that, because Chromium never provided a DNS API like Firefox has.
3. It is not an extension, therefore it is not restricted like an Extension API adblocker, example, with brave://flags/#brave-extension-network-blocking flag, you can block network requests in Extensions. Also, this is pretty important, because if you use Edge sidebar, you will get ads, and any tracker, extensions can't touch it, while Brave can do it as an advanced native adblocker.
4. it is faster, you might not care about speed, but Brave adblocker is faster than uBlock, reason why uBlock barely does anything when running side by side.
5. Also, Brave adblocker includes the scriplet injection to remove Brave detection in pages where they use it to block Brave. That means you will get blocked in many pages without it, even CNN español was blocking Brave and Adobe and Archive and so many, so it because they dislike Brave like Archive or they think Brave having a native adblocker deserves being blocked. What are you going to do about this by only using uBlock?

If you were developing a software, and a fork, and some user requested what you are requesting, would you listen to them? there are 900 Chromium alternatives and Firefox that can do what you want, no rewards, no adblocker, no VPN and no buttons to remember they exist. So again, why are you using Brave if you want ungoogled or throrium or well... Firefox? or Chrome or Vivaldi or anything else but Brave?

Edit: BTW, element picker has nothing to do with Adblocker, you can already disable it if you run Brave with --disable-brave-extension. It will disable WPD and the element picker

because. need a browse vertical tabs. edge too many feature, context menu length like IE. chrome vertical tabs, still exists top tab bar. firefox compatibility. just simple vertical tabs browse, so brave.

[quinncomendant]

I too would like the ability to completely disable features I'm not using. It doesn't seem like an unreasonable request?

why are even you using Brave?

My answer: because Brave is the only browser that meets these criteria:

• Chromium-based.
• Supports Manifest v2 (for uBlock Origin).
• Get upstream security updates quickly.
• Privacy-respecting.
• 100% open source with dev discussions in the public.
• Active bug bounty program.

I like the idea of Thorium and Ungoogled Chromium, but they both fall short:

• Relies on community for updates and maintenance.
• Limited resources for security audits.
• Thorium latest macOS release (via Homebrew) is 6 versions behind.
• Ungoogled Chromium latest macOS release (via Homebrew) is 2 versions behind.
• No built-in functionality for auto-updating extensions.
• No built-in translation functionality.
• Widevine requires manual installation after every update.

[Marko-98]

You can disable Brave Rewards, Wallet, VPN, IPFS and AI completely using their Group Policy settings, but the process is complicated for the average user. It requires you creating some registry keys, it only works on desktop variants and the annoying "this browser is managed by your organization" message is present everywhere.

More on that here: https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039248271-Group-Policy

I switched to Firefox as my primary browser. But I still have Brave installed as my secondary browser just because of this annoyances and problems with scrollable context menu.

[quinncomendant]

@Marko-98, this is a great tip, thanks! It seems most settings in the UI have an equivalent Group Policy option, which means it can be very easy to automate setting up a new installation of Brave (or any Chromium fork).

I tested the related Brave-specific options (search for “Brave” at brave://policy and tick the Show policies with no value set checkbox). I'm on macOS, so I can just use the defaults command line tool, then restart Brave. Here's the results of setting these options:

BraveVPNDisabled

defaults write com.brave.Browser BraveVPNDisabled -bool YES

Setting this results in “VPN” disappearing from the UI everywhere, not even listed in the settings. Great! This is an example of the ideal behavior requested by OP in this issue.

BraveRewardsDisabled

defaults write com.brave.Browser BraveRewardsDisabled -bool YES

Setting this did not seem to have any effect beyond simply not setting up rewards. Rewards are still mentioned in several places in the UI.

BraveWalletDisabled

defaults write com.brave.Browser BraveWalletDisabled -bool YES

Setting this did not seem to have any effect. Wallet is still mentioned in several places, and appears in the hamburger menu.

[Marko-98]

@quinncomendant I can confirm that BraveRewardsDisabled and BraveWalletDisabled work on Windows normally. Brave Rewards and Brave Wallet are completely hidden from the UI.

The only thing that cannot be removed is Brave Search from incognito tab. Even if you change your default search engine, it remains present on the start page when you open incognito tab.

[Chaython]

Path to brave.adm file $admFilePath = ".\brave.adm" # Destination folder for ADMX and ADML files $admxDestPath = "C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions" $admlDestPath = "C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US" # Copy ADMX and ADML files Copy-Item -Path $admFilePath -Destination $admxDestPath Copy-Item -Path $admFilePath -Destination $admlDestPath # Set policy values $policies = @( @{ Name = "BraveRewardsDisabled" Value = 1 }, @{ Name = "BraveWalletDisabled" Value = 1 }, @{ Name = "BraveVPNDisabled" Value = 1 }, @{ Name = "BraveAIChatEnabled" Value = 1 } ) foreach ($policy in $policies) { $key = "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave" if (!(Test-Path -Path $key)) { New-Item -Path $key -Force } Set-ItemProperty -Path $key -Name $policy.Name -Value $policy.Value } Write-Output "Brave policies have been configured successfully."

[itsgiff]

@Marko-98, this is a great tip, thanks! It seems most settings in the UI have an equivalent Group Policy option, which means it can be very easy to automate setting up a new installation of Brave (or any Chromium fork).

I tested the related Brave-specific options (search for “Brave” at brave://policy and tick the Show policies with no value set checkbox). I'm on macOS, so I can just use the defaults command line tool, then restart Brave. Here's the results of setting these options:

## `BraveVPNDisabled` ``` defaults write com.brave.Browser BraveVPNDisabled -bool YES ```

Setting this results in “VPN” disappearing from the UI everywhere, not even listed in the settings. Great! This is an example of the ideal behavior requested by OP in this issue.

BraveRewardsDisabled

defaults write com.brave.Browser BraveRewardsDisabled -bool YES

Setting this did not seem to have any effect beyond simply not setting up rewards. Rewards are still mentioned in several places in the UI.

BraveWalletDisabled

defaults write com.brave.Browser BraveWalletDisabled -bool YES

Setting this did not seem to have any effect. Wallet is still mentioned in several places, and appears in the hamburger menu.

I am attempting the same and I still have Leo and Wallet all over the UI after enabling and confirming the policies are OK:

[Marko-98]

Well... I still think users deserve to see options to disable those features in Settings section of the browser, and not in the GPE. 🤷‍♂️

[kernbug]

Same issue, policies doesn't work on latest MacOS 15.6 with latest Brave (1.80.124):

[bsclifton]

Hi @kernbug - so you have the policies set as we can see there, but it's not working?

Which ones? All of them?

[kernbug]

Hello @bsclifton. Everything listed in the policy continues to work, such as the same Leo AI, as you can see in the screenshot.

Maybe of course I'm missing something, but the policies are applied, in brave://policy/ they are displayed, but all the funcionality of the policies continues to be available in the UI.

[bsclifton]

@kernbug OK I think we found that issue in https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/45106 and we have updated the docs: https://support.brave.app/hc/en-us/articles/360039248271-Group-Policy

Can you please try the new way of doing it? For example, see https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/45106#issuecomment-3079027401

[Marko-98]

@bsclifton I'm wondering, will we ever get ability to do that on Android?

[kernbug]

Can you please try the new way of doing it? For example, see #45106 (comment)

This will work for MDM managed machine, since /Library/Managed Preferences/ doesn't exists on non MDM machine.

Also confusing part of the link:

Some policies on macOS must be set in a managed environment.

1. How to find this "some" policies?
2. For example, I wanted to put Brave on my parents' laptops, and I want to disable unnecessary things they might mistakenly click on and then call to fix/remove.

At the moment it looks like it's easier to leave Safari and do nothing, yes, it collects statistics, yes, you have to think about advertising separately, but Safari doesn't offer a set of anonymous crypto-trade-tor starter kit that can't be turned off with a few simple actions.

Thanks for replying, but this is not a solution for systems without MDM policies.

[bbondy]

This will work for MDM managed machine, since /Library/Managed Preferences/ doesn't exists on non MDM machine.

This will work even for non managed machines. You'll just need to create that directory first so it exists:

sudo mkdir -p "/Library/Managed Preferences"
sudo chown root:wheel "/Library/Managed Preferences"
sudo chmod 755 "/Library/Managed Preferences"

I updated our documentation accordingly.

There's going to be some changes right now, but in general here's how the admin policies will work after the fixes:

• Top level enable/disable feature itself will hide the feature being enabled itself.
• If the preference is managed and force on or off, then it will hide the enable/disable feature and force that feature state. If disabling a feature, it will act as if the feature is not there at all.

For best result, I recommend using the managed commands, since it'll completely hide the existence in the future.

[Marko-98]

With Brave for Android v1.84.133 we got an option to customize menu and hide Brave features we don't use (#41801) which is what this issue is partially about. MASSIVE thanks to those involved in this.

Now we wait for the same to be implemented in the desktop variant. Sure, some can be achieved through the usage of Group Policy, but as I already mentioned this isn't something average user knows to do. 🙂