Firefox mobile users started noticing something peculiar this week when sharing links to WhatsApp. After hitting that share button, their messages were getting an unexpected tagline: “Sent from Firefox 🦊” with a direct link to the Mozilla app store listing.
Sound familiar? That’s because it borrows from the same playbook Apple used for years with their “Sent from my iPhone” email signatures. The move has Firefox users on Reddit feeling less than thrilled, with many calling out Mozilla for turning their personal messages into what they see as unpaid advertisements.
The feature appeared quietly, with no fanfare or announcement from Mozilla. According to code commits on GitHub, this isn’t actually new territory for Firefox. The “Sent from Firefox” experiment was originally tested and then decommissioned back in 2024, but Mozilla decided to bring it back for an end-of-year 2025 push.
Why Firefox added this feature?
Mozilla’s reasoning is straightforward: more visibility equals more potential users. When you share a link through Firefox mobile to WhatsApp, that promotional text becomes part of your message, exposing the Firefox brand to everyone in your chat. It’s guerrilla marketing that piggybacks on organic user behavior.
The implementation is selective, though. Only links shared directly from Firefox’s toolbar or the menu’s share option get tagged. Content shared through other methods, like long-pressing links or sharing from bookmarks stays clean. File sharing is also exempt from the branding treatment.
Over on the Firefox subreddit, user reactions ranged from annoyed to understanding. Some commenters pointed out that at least it’s a free product, unlike Apple’s approach of adding signatures to devices people actually paid for. Others weren’t buying that logic, arguing they expect Mozilla to stick to higher standards than tech giants like Apple.
How to disable “Sent from Firefox” text from WhatsApp messages
If you’d rather keep your shared links signature-free, Mozilla did include a toggle. Here’s how to turn it off:
- Open Firefox on your mobile device.
- Tap the three-dot menu and go to Settings.
- Scroll down to the Support section.
- Look for the ‘Include Firefox Download Link on WhatsApp Shares’ option and toggle it off.
The setting appears to be enabled by default for users enrolled in this particular feature rollout. After disabling it, your future WhatsApp shares will go out clean, without the promotional footer. That said, you might not see it just yet since it’s set to release with the stable build on version 145.3.
This latest move fits into a broader pattern some Firefox loyalists find concerning. Mozilla has been experimenting with various monetization and promotion strategies lately, including pushing AI features that not everyone asked for. For users who picked Firefox specifically because it positioned itself as the more ethical browser choice, these marketing tactics feel like a step in the wrong direction.
The “Sent from Firefox” text joins a growing list of browser features that toe the line between helpful and intrusive. Google recently launched something similar with their share.google redirect links, adding another layer to what should be simple link sharing.
Whether this promotional feature sticks around long-term or gets quietly shelved again probably depends on user pushback and adoption numbers. For now, at least there’s an off switch buried in those settings menus.
Dwayne Cubbins
1783 Posts
My fascination with Android phones began the moment I got my hands on one. Since then, I've been on a journey to decode the ever-evolving tech landscape, fueled by a passion for both the "how" and the "why." Since 2018, I've been crafting content that empowers users and demystifies the tech world. From in-depth how-to guides that unlock your phone's potential to breaking news based on original research, I strive to make tech accessible and engaging.
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