Website
https://support.brave.app/hc/en-us/articles/360039248271-Group-Policy
Short description
For those unfamiliar with IT like I am, group policies for Brave exist and essentially allows you to configure settings for Brave in a key-value config file on Linux and macOS, and provides additional group policies on Windows specifically for configuring Brave.
It works in a very Arkenfox-like manner for Linux and macOS, where you list in some designated file the preferences you want to change as the key and the value you want it to be set as.
Here are some threads on this forum on the topic of Brave policies:
- Are there undocumented group policy options in Brave Browser?
- Debloat chromium browsers with policies
Why I think this tool should be added
Here are some usecases.
Debloating
As noted above, there is currently a thread discussing its debloating capabilities, which I think is a useful addition. This is especially considering the unwanted features of Brave like AI browsing, crypto, and web3, etc. Although it’s possible to debloat via the GUI, advantages are had when you have fine-grain control, cross-profile management, and exportability (all discussed below).
Fine-grained control of settings
Group policies allow people to control their browser settings and preferences in a fine-grained fashion. Unlike Arkenfox, however,
Because of the limited amount that is available, it can undermine
Even so, I still think it is useful to add or at least acknowledge its existence. It can still provide convenience in other ways (discussed below).
Cross-profile management of settings
Another functionality is that all Brave profiles (at least on Linux, based on what I tested) will have their options and preferences set by the group policy. This removes unnecessary initial configuration and continued maintenance of settings for various Brave profiles.
One disadvantage of this is that some profiles may require more or less settings toggled than what the policy allows. As it stands, I don’t think there’s a way to have different profiles follow different policies (i.e., there is only one policy that all profiles follow; someone correct this if it is wrong). In cases like this, however, it would still be better to have a limited policy, and then set profile-specific settings in their respective profiles.
Exportability
Group policies can also function as an export of your settings (at least on Linux and macOS, AFAIK) because you can easily transfer config files between devices. I’m not sure how this will work on Windows since I am (1) not familiar with Windows group policies and (2) do not use Windows.
Section on Privacy Guides
Like Arkenfox’s recommendation, this would be directed towards advanced users. There would therefore be a new advanced section in the Desktop Browsers page for Brave.