The modern web is often slow and invasive. Brave Browser offers a fundamentally different approach, prioritizing user privacy and speed by blocking intrusive ads and trackers by default. Built on the Chromium web core, it provides a familiar, high-performance browsing experience without the surveillance inherent in many other popular browsers. This focus on security makes it a top choice for users who value their digital autonomy.
In This Article
Brave Browser Quick Start
Accessing Experimental Features (Brave Flags)
- Open the Brave Browser application.
- Type brave://flags directly into the address bar.
- Press Enter to load the Experiments page.
- Use the search bar to find specific experimental settings, such as Vertical Tabs or Hardware-accelerated video decode.
- Change the setting’s dropdown from Default to Enabled or Disabled.
- Click the Relaunch button that appears at the bottom of the screen to apply the changes.
Why to do this: This advanced menu allows power users to test and enable features still under development, fine-tuning performance or accessing hidden UI elements not yet available in the standard settings panel.
Configuring Advanced Shield Filters
- Navigate to the main browser menu (three horizontal lines or dots).
- Select Settings > Shields.
- Scroll down and click on Content Filtering.
- Enable the Fanboy Annoyances List and uBlock Annoyances List for maximum filter coverage.
- To add a custom filter, scroll to the bottom and click Add a custom filter list.
- Paste the URL of a third-party filter list (e.g., a specific regional ad list) and click Add.
Why to do this: While Brave Shields are powerful by default, enabling additional, community-maintained filter lists significantly increases the browser’s ability to block regional ads, social media widgets, and other non-essential elements, further improving speed and privacy.
Download Brave Browser
Size – 122 MB
Android
Download Brave Browser from Google Play Store
iOS
Download Brave Browser from Apple Store
Windows
Download Brave Browser for Windows – x64
Linux
Download Brave Browser for Linux
Mac
Video Tutorial
Latest Updates in Version 1.86.139
- Upgraded the underlying Chromium engine to version 144.0.7559.59.
- Increased the maximum number of top site tiles on the New Tab Page from 48 to 120.
- Added an “ask” keyword shortcut for “Ask Brave Search” in the URL bar.
- Replaced “Llama 3.1 8b” with “Qwen 14B” in the recommended model list for the Leo AI.
- Added support for Zcash Testnet within the Web3 wallet functionality.
For complete changelog, visit the official release notes.
Required Specs
- OS: Windows 10 or later
- Processor: 64-bit Intel/AMD CPU that is SS3-capable or ARM64 CPU
Tech Specs
| Software Name | Brave Browser |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.86.139 |
| License | Free |
| File Size | 122 MB |
| OS Support | Windows 10 or later; macOS Monterey 12 or later; Linux (64-bit Ubuntu 18.04+, Mint 19+, Debian 10+, etc.); Android 10 or later; iOS 17 or later |
| Language | Multi-language |
| Developer | Brave Software Inc. |
| Homepage | https://brave.com |
| Changelogurl | https://community.brave.com/t/release-channel-1-86-139/ |
| Last Updated | January 2026 |
What We Like & What Could Be Better
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built-in ad and tracker blocking (Brave Shields) is enabled by default. | The optional Firewall + VPN feature requires a paid subscription. |
| Faster page loading and reduced data consumption due to content blocking. | Some websites may break due to aggressive script and tracker blocking. |
| Integrated Web3 wallet for managing cryptocurrencies and NFTs. | |
| Optional Brave Rewards system allows users to earn Basic Attention Tokens (BAT). |
Core Features
- Brave Shields: This core feature automatically blocks third-party ads, trackers, and fingerprinting scripts on every website you visit. It also forces an upgrade to HTTPS connections whenever possible, ensuring your browsing is secure and private by default.
- Brave Wallet (Web3): A native, self-custody crypto wallet is integrated directly into the browser, allowing users to buy, store, send, and swap crypto assets and NFTs. This eliminates the need for third-party extensions like MetaMask, streamlining Web3 interactions.
- Brave Search and Leo AI: The browser uses its own independent search engine, Brave Search, which does not track users or profile their activity. The integrated Leo AI assistant provides instant, private answers and summaries directly within the browser interface.
- Brave Rewards (BAT): Users can opt-in to view privacy-respecting ads that are not based on personal tracking. In exchange for their attention, users earn Basic Attention Tokens (BAT), which can be used to tip content creators or kept in their wallet.
- Tor Private Windows: For maximum anonymity, users can open a Private Window with Tor connectivity. This feature masks the user’s IP address and routes traffic through the Tor network, hiding the user’s location from the websites they visit.
Questions & Answers
Is Brave Browser completely free to use?
Yes, the core Brave Browser download, including the ad blocker and private search, is completely free. Optional features like the Brave Firewall + VPN and Brave Talk Premium are available through a paid subscription.
What is the Basic Attention Token (BAT)?
BAT is a cryptocurrency token used within the Brave Rewards ecosystem. Users can earn BAT by opting to view privacy-respecting ads, and they can use these tokens to tip their favorite content creators.
Does Brave Browser block YouTube ads?
Yes, the built-in Brave Shields feature is designed to block ads on video sites like YouTube, providing a cleaner and faster viewing experience.
What operating systems support the Brave Browser download?
Brave is a cross-platform application. It supports all major operating systems, including Windows 10 or later, macOS Monterey 12 or later, Linux, Android 10 or later, and iOS 17 or later.
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