Tutorial

How to Disable WebRTC on Firefox: Step-by-Step Guide

Riley Nevins

• 2 min read
How to Disable WebRTC on Firefox: Step-by-Step Guide
Photo by Rubaitul Azad / Unsplash

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a technology that enables real-time communication via browsers, allowing for voice, video, and data sharing without the need for plugins. While WebRTC offers significant advantages, it can also expose your real IP address, potentially compromising your privacy even when using a VPN.

If you're concerned about your privacy and want to disable WebRTC in Firefox, this guide will provide step-by-step instructions to help you secure your online activities.

Why Disable WebRTC on Firefox?

Disabling WebRTC is crucial for several reasons:

  1. Protecting Privacy: Prevents exposure of your real IP address.
  2. Enhancing Security: Reduces the risk of potential data leaks.
  3. Improving VPN Effectiveness: Ensures your VPN can effectively mask your online activities.

Disabling WebRTC in Firefox

Using Firefox Settings

Firefox allows you to disable WebRTC directly through its settings. This method is straightforward and effective.

Open Firefox:

  • Launch your Firefox browser.

Access Advanced Settings:

  • In the address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
  • Click "Accept the Risk and Continue" if a warning message appears.

Search for WebRTC:

  • In the search bar, type media.peerconnection.enabled.

Disable WebRTC:

  • Double-click on the media.peerconnection.enabled preference to set its value to false.

Restart Firefox:

  • Restart your browser to apply the changes.

Using Firefox Add-ons

If you prefer using add-ons to manage your browser settings, several Firefox add-ons can disable WebRTC for you.

1. uBlock Origin

  • Step 1: Open Firefox and go to the Mozilla Add-ons site.
  • Step 2: Search for "uBlock Origin."
  • Step 3: Click "Add to Firefox" to install the add-on.
  • Step 4: Open uBlock Origin settings by clicking on the add-on icon.
  • Step 5: Go to the "Dashboard" and select the "Settings" tab.
  • Step 6: Enable the "Prevent WebRTC from leaking local IP addresses" option.

2. Disable WebRTC

  • Step 1: Open Firefox and go to the Mozilla Add-ons site.
  • Step 2: Search for "Disable WebRTC."
  • Step 3: Click "Add to Firefox" to install the add-on.
  • Step 4: The add-on will automatically disable WebRTC leaks.

Verifying WebRTC is Disabled

To confirm that WebRTC is successfully disabled, you can use an online tool to check for leaks:

  1. WebRTC Leak Test:
  • Visit a site like veilock.com/webrtc-leaks/.
  • If WebRTC is disabled correctly, these sites should not show your real IP address.

Conclusion

Disabling WebRTC in Firefox is an essential step for enhancing your online privacy and security. Whether you choose to adjust the settings manually or use an add-on, the methods outlined in this guide will help protect your real IP address from being exposed.

Remember, maintaining your privacy online requires a comprehensive approach. In addition to disabling WebRTC, consider using a reliable VPN service, keeping your browser and add-ons updated, and regularly reviewing your privacy settings.