However, some individuals prefer disabling the JavaScript support from their browsers so it is not loaded at all. This is done due to several different factors. Below we discuss why disabling JavaScript may be beneficial for you, and how to do it in different popular web browsers.
Why Disable JavaScript
JavaScript controls how the content of a website is displayed and brought up in front of you. For example, developers can add 2D and 3D animations to a website using JavaScript, add interactive maps, display drop-down menus, display timers, and much more. Some users may find these additional things irrelevant and annoying. Not only that but these additional unimportant details also put a load on your system’s memory, as the JavaScript is executed on your PC. Here are a bunch of reasons why you may want to disable JavaScript support on your preferred browser:
You find the additional JavaScript features annoyingYou do not want any unnecessary load on your RAMYou want to avoid the companies from tracking you online through cookies, where JavaScript does most of the workYour browser does not support JavaScript and causes inconsistencies in displaying a website that uses JavaScript
Either way, if you feel like disabling JavaScript, simply go to the respective section below for your web browser. But before you do, here are a few caveats about disabling JavaScript:
Some items may not display correctly, which can result in a confusing presentationYou may not see maps, images, videos, and other mediaJavaScript refreshes websites and searches to make it easier to scroll through the information. Once disabled, you will have to click the “Next” button many times to see images or content
How to Disable JavaScript in Web Browsers
Disable JavaScript in Google Chrome
JavaScript will now be disabled in Google Chrome. Click on the ellipses (3 dots) in the top-right corner and then click Settings. Alternatively, you can also add selective websites to the “Not allowed to use JavaScript” block list by clicking the adjacent Add button. This way, JavaScript will be enabled on all websites except the ones in that list. Or, you can disable it on all websites and allow it only on selective websites. To re-enable JavaScript, all you need to do is select the “Sites can use Javascript” radio button.
Disable JavaScript in Microsoft Edge
JavaScript will now be disabled across all websites while you’re using Edge. If you want to re-enable it in the future, simply toggle the slider again into the On position. Click on the ellipses (3 dots) in the top-right corner of the browser, and then click Settings. Similar to Chrome, you can also allow or block JavaScript on selective websites from the “JavaScript” settings page in Edge.
Disable JavaScript in Mozilla Firefox
Unlike the other browsers we have discussed above, there is no visible option to control how JavaScript behaves in Firefox. However, you can still do it using the Firefox flags. Here’s how: JavaScript will now be disabled in Mozilla Firefox. The status of the flag will now change to “false.” However, if you wish to enable it, simply repeat the given steps above and toggle the “javascript.enabled” flag to switch it to “true” again.
Disable JavaScript in Opera
JavaScript will now be disabled in Opera. Click on the 3 lines in the top-right corner of the browser, then scroll down the expanded menu, and then click “Go to full browser settings.” To re-enable JavaScript, all you need to do is select the “Sites can use Javascript” radio button. Similar to Chrome, you can also allow or block JavaScript on selective websites from the “JavaScript” settings page in Opera.
Disable JavaScript in Vivaldi
Vivaldi also doesn’t have any visible JavaScript settings that you can control. However, since it is also Chromium-based, you can use a Chrome path to open the JavaScript settings. Note: Vivaldi uses a Chrome flag to open the JavaScript settings. Note that accessing the page using Vivaldi flags will open a different page. Follow these steps to disable JavaScript in Vivaldi: JavaScript will now be disabled in Vivaldi. You will now see the same JavaScript settings page as chrome. If you want to re-enable it, you will need to access the same page using the same Chrome URL given in step 1 above, and then select “Sites can use Javascript.”
Final Verdict
JavaScript can be useful and can be annoying at times – depending upon how a developer has used it. If you see a lot of popups and other distractions on a website you visit frequently, you can disable JavaScript and save yourself, as well as your system’s resources. That said, you can also block JavaScript on selective websites only while having the regular UI and experiences on other web pages since most modern browsers support JavaScript and allow you to disable or enable it. Also see:
How To Open PDF Files In Your Preferred Browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi)Disable Hardware Acceleration In Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera and VivaldiHow to Disable Pop-Up Blockers in Web BrowsersCompletely Disable Push Notifications In Chrome, Firefox, Opera And VivaldiHow To Show/Hide Bookmarks Bar in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Vivaldi, Opera
