Firefox challenges Chrome with full browser voice controls – here’s how to try them

Just say the word

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Mozilla has released Firefox Voice – an experimental feature that lets you control your browser using natural-sounding spoken commands.

You can use your voice to search the web using your chosen search provider, but that’s not all; Firefox Voice also allows you to manage tabs in your browser, and control media that’s playing on websites (ideal for streaming services andYouTube).

Firefox Voice works much like Siri,GoogleAssistant orAmazonAlexa, allowing you to ask questions using natural language. For example, you could say ‘Search forSamsungGalaxy Fold reviews’, ‘Look up the best iPhone 11 deals’, or ‘Go to TechRadar’.

You can use commands like ‘Play’, ‘Pause’ and ‘Mute’ if you’re on a website containing media, ask for translations, set timers, and open maps. It’s also possible to find specific tabs using your voice, open new tabs and close existing ones, and you can even select, copy and paste content using the clipboard.

Give it a try

To try Firefox Voice, justdownload the browser extensionand follow the instructions, granting the relevant permissions if you’re happy to do so. As Ghacks notes, Firefox Voice uses theGoogle Cloud Speech Service, which means all voice commands are submitted to Google for processing. However, Mozilla says that Google doesn’t hold any records of them.

You can also decide whether your voice snippets can be submitted to Mozilla for research and to help develop the service, though this isn’t mandatory.

To start speaking, just click the Firefox Voice icon in the address bar. The tool currently only works with the desktop version of Firefox using English language commands, but hopefully it will be expanded to more platforms and languages if it proves successful.

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Cat is TechRadar’s Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She’s been a tech journalist for 15 years, and is here to help you choose the right devices for your home and do more with them. When not working she’s a keen home baker, and makes a pretty mean macaron.

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