Instant Insights: How to Use Firefox 139's AI-Powered Link Previews

The web is an endless sea of links, and while a quick hover often reveals the URL, truly understanding what lies behind a link usually requires a full click and page load. Until now.

With the release of Firefox 139 today (May 27th, 2025), Mozilla is introducing an intriguing new experimental feature: AI-powered Link Previews. This capability allows you to get an instant summary and key insights of a linked webpage directly from your browser, without actually navigating away from your current page. Even better, this AI processing happens locally on your device, upholding Firefox's commitment to user privacy.

Ready to try it out? Here’s a simple guide on how to enable and use this innovative new feature.

Step 1: Ensure You Have Firefox 139 (or Newer)

First things first, make sure your Firefox browser is updated to version 139 or later. You can usually check this by going to Help > About Firefox. If an update is available, it will automatically download and prompt you to restart.

Step 2: Enable "Link Previews" in Firefox Labs

This feature is currently experimental and resides within Firefox Labs, so you need to manually switch it on.

  1. Open a new tab in Firefox.
  2. In the address bar, type: about:settings#experimental and press Enter.
  3. Alternatively, you can go to about:config, search for browser.link_previews.enabled, and set it to true, but using the experimental settings page is generally easier.
  4. Scroll down until you find the section labeled "Link Previews."
  5. Toggle the switch next to "Link Previews" to the "On" position.
  6. You might be prompted to restart Firefox for the changes to take effect. It's a good idea to do so.

Step 3: Start Using AI-Powered Link Previews

Once enabled, using the feature is straightforward:

  1. Navigate to any webpage that contains links.
  2. Hover your mouse cursor over a link that you're curious about.
  3. While hovering, press the specific keyboard shortcut:
    • On Windows and Linux: Press Alt + Shift simultaneously.
    • On macOS: Press Option + Shift simultaneously.
  4. A small pop-up window will appear next to your cursor. This pop-up will display:
    • The page's title and description.
    • A relevant image from the page.
    • An estimated reading time for the article.
    • And most importantly, 3 key points summarized by Firefox's on-device AI model!

You can then decide if the link is worth clicking to explore further, all without leaving your current context.

Important Notes & Tips:

  • Experimental Status: Remember, this is an experimental feature. It's in its early stages, and you might encounter occasional glitches or inconsistencies in summary quality.
  • Privacy First: A significant advantage here is that the AI processing happens on your device. This means your Browse data for these previews isn't sent to Mozilla or any third-party servers, upholding your privacy.
  • Language Support: Currently, the AI summarization works best with English-language webpages. Support for other languages may improve as the feature develops.
  • Provide Feedback: As an experimental feature, Mozilla is actively seeking user feedback. If you encounter bugs or have suggestions, consider reporting them to help refine this tool.

Firefox 139's AI-powered Link Previews are an exciting step towards a more efficient and insightful browsing experience, putting the power of AI directly into your hands while keeping your data private. Give it a try and see how it enhances your web exploration!

Here is the demo to show you how it works on our store. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

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