How to Debloat and Harden Brave Browser [Windows, macOS, Linux]

Brave is a popular browser known for protecting your privacy. But out of the box, it comes with extras many people never asked for: a crypto wallet, a rewards program, a VPN offer, an AI chatbot, a news feed, and more. It also quietly sends some usage information back to the company.

The good news: you can switch all of that off with a free tool called SlimBrave Neo. You don’t need to be a tech expert. This guide walks you through it step by step.

What is SlimBrave Neo?

Think of SlimBrave Neo as a control panel for Brave. Instead of hunting through dozens of hidden settings, you get one simple screen where you can:

Turn off features you don’t use (wallet, rewards, AI chat, news and so on)
Stop Brave from sending usage reports
Add extra privacy protection
Choose a ready-made “preset” with one click

It’s free, open source (anyone can inspect the code), and doesn’t install anything extra into your browser.

Pick a preset

A preset is a ready-made bundle of settings. You can pick one and then change anything you like before saving.

Preset	Best for
Balanced Privacy	Most people. More privacy, but everyday things still work. A good place to start.
Maximum Privacy	People who want the strictest protection. Note: it also turns off printing, the built-in PDF viewer and developer tools.
Performance Focused	Anyone who just wants a lighter, faster Brave.
Developer	Web developers who need their tools to keep working.
Strict Parental Controls	Parents, schools and workplaces who want a restricted browser.
Brave Origin	People who want Brave to match its official “no extras” edition.

Tip: Nothing changes on your computer until you press the final Apply button, so feel free to explore.

Before you begin

You need Brave already installed.
You need permission to make changes on your computer (an administrator account, or your password on Mac and Linux).
Only download this tool from the official page: https://github.com/ChaoticSi1ence/SlimBrave-Neo. The creator says there are no official installers (no .exe, .msi or .dmg files). If you find a download elsewhere claiming to be SlimBrave Neo, don’t trust it.

A quick word about “the terminal”

The steps below use a terminal, a window where you type short instructions instead of clicking. It looks intimidating, but you only need to copy and paste a few lines. Here’s how to open it:

Windows: Click the Start button, type PowerShell, and press Enter.
macOS: Press Cmd + Space, type Terminal, and press Enter.
Linux: Press Ctrl + Alt + T (on most systems).

To run a line, paste it into the window and press Enter.

Windows

You’ll need Windows 10 or 11.

Open PowerShell (see above).

Paste these three lines, pressing Enter after each:

git clone https://github.com/ChaoticSi1ence/SlimBrave-Neo.git
cd SlimBrave-Neo
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\SlimBrave.ps1

Don’t have “git”? Use this single line instead:

iwr "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ChaoticSi1ence/SlimBrave-Neo/main/SlimBrave.ps1" -OutFile "SlimBrave.ps1"; powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\SlimBrave.ps1

Windows will ask whether to allow the app to make changes. Click Yes.
A window opens with all the options. Click a preset card or flip individual switches on and off. Each option has a plain-English description under it, and there’s a search box if you’re looking for something specific.
Click Apply Settings when you’re happy.
Close Brave completely and open it again.

macOS

Open Terminal (see above).

Paste these three lines, pressing Enter after each:

git clone https://github.com/ChaoticSi1ence/SlimBrave-Neo.git
cd SlimBrave-Neo
sudo python3 slimbrave-mac.py

Type your macOS password when asked. (You won’t see the letters appear as you type. That’s normal.)
A menu appears. Use the arrow keys to move, Space to switch things on or off, and Enter to select buttons. Press ? any time for a help screen.
Choose Apply.
Close Brave completely and open it again.

macOS extra: making the changes stick

On newer macOSs, your settings can disappear after a restart. If that happens, run the tool this way instead, which makes them permanent:

sudo python3 slimbrave-mac.py --persist on

You’ll then finish with a few clicks: open System Settings → General → Device Management, double-click SlimBrave Neo - Brave Policy, click Install, and enter your password.

Linux

Open a terminal.
Paste these three lines, pressing Enter after each:
```
git clone https://github.com/ChaoticSi1ence/SlimBrave-Neo.git
cd SlimBrave-Neo
sudo python3 slimbrave-linux.py
```
💡 Linux Tip: If you use brave-origin (the official telemetry-free Brave build), SlimBrave-Neo detects it automatically and applies your policies seamlessly.
Enter your password when asked.
Use the arrow keys to move around, Space to toggle options, and / to search. A description of each setting appears at the bottom of the screen.
Choose Apply.
Close Brave completely and open it again.

Good to know: Linux users can also try Brave Origin, an official version of Brave that already has these extras removed. SlimBrave Neo is better if you want to pick and choose.

How to check it worked

Open Brave.
Type brave://policy into the address bar and press Enter.
You should see a list of the settings you applied.

How to undo everything

Changed your mind? No problem.

Windows: Open SlimBrave Neo again and click Reset.
macOS or Linux: Run the tool with --reset at the end. For example, on Linux:
```
sudo python3 slimbrave-linux.py --reset
```

Then restart Brave.

Things to keep in mind

Stronger privacy can mean less convenience. For example, blocking location access means map sites will ask you to type your address. If something stops working after you apply a preset, open the tool again and switch that option back.
Syncing: Some presets turn off Brave Sync, which keeps your bookmarks and history matched across devices. If you rely on it, switch that option off before applying.
Start gentle. Try Balanced Privacy first. You can always go stricter later.

Final thoughts

With a few minutes and a handful of copy-and-paste steps, you can turn Brave into a quieter, cleaner and more private browser, set up exactly the way you want it.

Project page: https://github.com/ChaoticSi1ence/SlimBrave-Neo

How to Debloat and Harden Brave Browser [Windows, macOS, Linux]